By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Let the record show the first district championship of the new school year in athletics at Brownsville Veterans Memorial was won by the Chargers in team tennis.
“It feels nice (to be district champions),” team member Robert Rodriguez said. “We hope the rest of the teams at school do as well and we have many more trophies. It’s pretty good to be playing with people who are close to you and your friends.”
Added teammate Garret Wild, “It’s a great opportunity (to be on this team).”
Brownsville Veterans captured the District 32-5A title in team tennis earlier this month with a 7-0 record, just ahead of second-place Donna High, which finished 6-1. Also qualifying for the playoffs from 32-5A were third-place Porter and fourth-place Edcouch-Elsa.
All four schools will play in an eight-team Class 5A area tournament next Wednesday at Sharyland High along with four squads from District 31-5A. The top two teams from the area tournament advance to regional competition Oct. 27-28 in San Antonio.
Playing in the numbers 1-6 singles positions for the Chargers are Raul Hernandez, Nick Marroquin, Wild, Rodriguez, Alejandro de la Garza and Jose Garza. Also on the boys squad are Joseph Flores and Adrian Santillana.
Playing in the first through sixth singles spots for the Lady Chargers are Brianna Garza, Cassandra Sanchez, Sofia Garza, Christina Alcala, Isabella Vasquez and Alejandra Munoz. Also playing for the Lady Chargers are Issayana Gavino and Brenda Torre.
Vasquez and Gavino, both sophomores, are undefeated this season as No. 3 doubles partners. Other members of the team also have gone unbeaten through district.
“We go in and just play, not expecting that we’ll (continue to) be undefeated,” Gavino said. “We practice hard and work together. We’ve all worked hard together to get this district title.”
Added Vasquez, “We get out there, have fun and win. It’s great to represent the Veterans tennis team. It’s an honor for both of us and the rest of the team. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Directing the team is second-year coach Leo Casanova.
“This is the first district title in team tennis for the school,” Casanova said. “We’re hoping for big things in the playoffs and we hope the momentum carries over to next year (and spring tennis). We’re trying to set the tone (for Brownsville Veterans’ athletics) for the school year.
“Our boys have been running through the (district) competition,” Casanova added. “They usually come through with victories in at least eight of the nine (singles and doubles) matches and sometimes all nine. There’s been a lot of pressure on them, but they’re up to the challenge. The girls are doing their thing, too. We’re just hoping for good things (to happen).”
The Chargers are in the team tennis postseason for the second straight year. Last season they finished fourth in District 32-6A to qualify for the playoffs.
“It feels extraordinary because it’s the second time we’ve gone to the playoffs,” Marroquin said. “The majority of the team are seniors. It’s our last year, so this is kind of like our final hurrah. It’s exciting because we’ve been here since summer practicing pretty hard every day.”
Added Hernandez, “We’ve never actually won district before in all my four years here. We’ve done a lot of things as far as drills and practicing to get to where we are now. We’re going to go out, do our best in the playoffs and hope to make it to state.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess