HARLINGEN — Harlingen High junior Charlie Hirst spent his birthday afternoon on the Harlingen High tennis court.
Hirst paired with fellow junior Stanton Keath. The two are the Cardinals’ No. 1 boys doubles team. They are undefeated in District 32-6A and continued their district form with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over San Benito‘s No. 1 boys doubles team.
“I felt pretty confident going into it. It is my birthday today, so I had a lot of energy going into it,” Hirst said. “The energy is passed around throughout the team in our huddle, so walking on the court you are fairly confident you are going to play your best tennis as well your partner.”
Hirst enjoys playing doubles because it suits his talkative personality, he said. This is his first year playing with Keath after transferring from Dallas.
“It is fun, it is new because it is his first year on the team,” Keath said. “It is fun to play with the new guy.”
The two joked about not becoming mad at each other yet.
“We both played at the top of our game,” Hirst said. “We served well, volleyed well and executed pretty well.”
Harlingen High defeated San Benito 18-1 Tuesday.
Harlingen High sophomores Seven Omick and Olivia Villarreal, the Cardinals No. 1 girls doubles team, are also undefeated in doubles so far in District 32-6A. The Cardinals girls team have not dropped a match in district, they are 21-0.
Omick and Villarreal are also playing with each other for the first time this year. The pair are enjoying doubles with each other this season.
“I like doubles a lot,” Villarreal said. “I like using and communicating with a partner, using them to help set up points. It a lot more fun, interactive and not all on yourself.”
The pair won over their San Benito counterparts 6-0, 6-0.
“I think we worked together very nicely,” Omick said. “This was a good match to help us get ready for other district matches and playoffs.”