NATHANIEL MATA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
Sharyland Pioneer’s Joaquin Delgado is a silver medalist in Class 5A boys singles for the second straight season. He finished runner-up at the UIL state tennis tournament on Friday in College Station following a 6-3, 6-2 loss to San Antonio Alamo Heights’ Campbell Erwin.
Delgado represented the last Valley tennis player competing. He was a founding student at Pioneer and is the only player in program history to earn two medals at the UIL state tournament. He also led his boys team to its first two team district championships in the program’s three-year existence.
“I feel lots of pride and accomplishments representing my school and Valley,” Delgado said. “Senior (year) was special, receiving so many awards and honors, and that gold medal was literally the only thing left on my checklist. It wasn’t able to happen, and I am very disappointed with my performance in the final, but I tried my hardest, and I am happy with the hard work I put in.”
The Diamondbacks senior and his coach admitted it wasn’t his best day but found positives in his season and future.
“I felt a lot of support from everyone in the Valley, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get the gold, but I know they’re still proud of me,” Delgado said. “I will continue to work hard in the summer and get ready for bigger and better things at college.”
The graduating senior will continue his tennis career at Abilene Christian University.