On September 7, the Varsity Tennis team and five JV players, secured their championship title in the California Tennis Classic in Clovis, California with four consecutive wins, successfully defending their title from the previous year.
On the first day, they competed against Coalinga HS winning 5-1 and in the afternoon they competed against River Valley HS, ending the day with a narrow win of 56-53. On the last day, they secured the championship by beating Reedley HS 5-1 and Sanger West HS 6-0.
“It was the doubles that really helped us win … especially the deciding match,” said Varsity Tennis Coach Art Soriano, who had the athletes focus on skills used in doubles matches to prepare for the tournament.
While attending Clovis was critical for the players to get back into the rhythm of playing matches, team bonding was also an important aspect to this tournament.
One of three Varsity Tennis Captains, senior Bella Svanberg, conveys her own goals surrounding the team’s relationship when going into Clovis.
“I just really wanted to make sure that we came together and became more unified and that we got to know each other more on a personal level and not just as people who just play on the court together.”
Svanberg also expressed her pride in the team’s adaptability and resilience. Players had to compete in different positions with little notice, a testament to their flexibility. While this is her last time at Clovis, sophomore Minna Al-Dabbagh has two more years to compete in this tournament.
While this was her first time attending Clovis, she attended as a JV doubles player, highlighting that competition caused her to recognize areas of needed improvement that she will use throughout the season. To her, the most memorable part of the competitions was getting to cheer on her teammates and experience a real tournament.
The Varsity tennis team is filled with pride as they reflect on the hard work and determination that led to their championship win. They are now eagerly looking forward to the rest of the season with a clear goal in mind: secure more wins for their team.
