TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — The paint on Sharyland Pioneer’s shiny new tennis complex has barely had time to fade.
The high school is just in its second year of competitive sports and tennis coach Rick Rivera still tells visitors that the tennis complex is not even completely finished yet. The sun-kissed tennis team is still waiting for a canopy to be erected in between courts to provide shade.
And while it’s been around just two seasons, this new team isn’t playing like a bunch of rookies on the court. The Diamondbacks played well much of the year and are sending three players to the Class 5A state tournament — a rare feat even among the most established tennis power houses in the Rio Grande Valley, let alone an infant program.
What’s more, none of the Pioneer boys reaching the state tournament — to be held today and Tuesday at Texas A&M University — are seniors. Singles player Joaquin Delgado is a junior, as is doubles player Steven Guarneri. Gabriel Martin, the other doubles partner, is just a freshman.
But none of this surprises Rivera.
“They’ve worked extremely hard all year long. It was expected. It was expected especially after winning district,” said Rivera, who demanded the team take its talents further
than district. “Regionals and then state. It’s that simple.”
For Guarneri and Martin, making it to Texas’ top school tennis tournament wasn’t the aim at the beginning of the year. The pair hadn’t played together as a doubles team before and had to take some lumps before they started rolling right about the time the district tourney rolled around.
Martin, the freshman, provides the energy, effort and is the more vocal of the two. Guarneri is the elder statesman, a quiet strategist whose experience comes into play. Either way, they’ve proved successful, won the boys District 31-5A doubles title and placed second at the regional tournament in San Antonio.
“It was ugly tennis until we got to district and we just clicked and realized what we could do,” Guarneri said. “We knew we were supposed to be good, but it just didn’t happen until district. This entire season in playing the small tournaments, district and regional, it was just a matter of putting ourselves in position so at state we can just play relaxed and play the tennis we know we can play.”
Martin says he believes they are ready to compete with the best of them at College Station because of how they’ve prepared and the tough competition faced in Region IV.
Rivera calls Delgado, the junior singles player, the complete package. A lanky player with a big serve and great footwork, Delgado is a patient thinker on the court as consistent as he is successful. Injuries kept him out of the playoffs last year. This year, Delgado won district, lost in the regional final but still qualified for state.
Delgado said he expects to play well and would like to win it all. However, he’s also going in with a level head.
“I try not to pressure myself too much because then I won’t enjoy the sport,” the 16-year-old said. “In singles, it’s pretty tough because it’s just you. You miss a shot, it’s all on you. But I also like that pressure because when I win it makes me feel better about myself.”
The junior said the competition level will be high, but he will rely on his serve and level, consistent play to get him wins. That is what’s got him this far.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve tried to be really patient on the court,” Delgado said. “Sometimes it’s tough. Sometimes you want to get angry, but you cannot, otherwise you will show your opponent your weakness.”