NATHANIEL MATA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
Sharyland Pioneer’s Joaquin Delgado is returning to the state tournament after finishing second at the Region IV-5A Tournament on Wednesday in San Antonio.
The Pioneer senior cruised to the Regional final without dropping a set. In the championship, he met the No. 1 seed in the region, Alamo Heights’s Campbell Erwin, and fell 6-2, 6-3.
“I feel blessed, and I feel so happy to go,” Delgado said. “It was tough coming into this tournament, because I wasn’t well. I had doubts that I would be able to finish this tournament. I was happy to come through and be able to make it.”
Delgado was fighting a stomach virus but expects to be at full health in a month’s time for the state tournament at Texas A&M University in College Station. He said preparation is not just about the physical aspect.
“I learned that it’s going to be tough at state,” Delgado said. “I’m going to have to work harder than I’ve worked if I want to bring back that state title. Like my coach said, it’s going to be mostly mental. I have to believe in myself. … If I have a little bit of doubt, I’m just going to lose. I feel like I’m ready.”
The match was his second regional final in as many years. He reached the final after defeating Vishwa Aduru of Laredo LBJ in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-2.
Delgado to use his experiences to prepare for his return to state. At last season’s state tournament, he advanced all the way to the final before losing.
“Every loss that he’s taken, like last year and this year at the regional level, it just makes him a stronger and better player,” Pioneer coach Rick Rivera said. “He’s the type of guy that learns from his mistakes and rarely repeats them.”
Sharyland High’s mixed doubles team of Leo Armendariz and Carolina Falcon competed in the true-second match for a trip to state but was unable to overcome the No. 2 seeded team from Alamo Heights, losing 6-3, 6-0.
Sharyland High coach Mike Salinas said he admired their performance, saying they “played hard and never quit.”
He also noted that he has a young team that will benefit from the regional experience.
McAllen Memorial’s Jack Wang was not able to reach the 6A state tournament in his final season. The senior lost his semifinal match to eventual Region IV-6A singles champion Roger Chou of Westlake.
The state tournament takes place May 18-19.