DAVE FAVILA | Staff Writer
Earlier this year, Harlingen South tennis coach Noe Stillman summed up his freshman phenom Valeria Montero like this:
“She is the best freshman I’ve ever had play for me here at South. And at a program like ours, that’s saying quite a lot.
“She’s just a natural. She’s a super ball striker and has just taken to the sport. It’s comforting to me as a coach to know that she’ll be around for the next few years.”
Montero did indeed have one heck of a debut season, dominating several tournaments including the District 32-6A meet to earn a spot at regionals.
And while she ultimately fell short of securing a berth to the state tournament, Montero has the drive and determination to get there.
For her outstanding efforts this past tennis season, Montero is a finalist up for Girls Tennis Player of the Year at the upcoming All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet.
Montero sat down with the Valley Morning Star to discuss her nomination.
Q: How does it feel to be nominated for this award?
A: It feels very breathtaking and honorable because it’s just my first year in high school tennis, and I’m already nominated for an award just doing my passion.
Q: What would it mean to win the award?
A: It would mean the world because I’m doing something that is very special and that I love, and I’m earning awards for doing it.
Q: How would you sum up your first year of high school on and off the tennis court?
A: I would sum it up as very successful in tennis and in academics. During this year, I became a super champ in the United States Tennis Association Texas Section and got qualified for regionals; this year was a warm up for getting exposed to prepare for the challenges for next year. I also got very good grades at the Harlingen School of Health Professions.
Q: You set the bar pretty high this past season. Do you worry that you won’t live up to expectations come your sophomore year?
A: No, I still have more goals to achieve next year. I shined at the end of the season this year, but I want to be able to achieve throughout the whole year. It is not easy to be able to keep playing at a high level continuously. It requires more dedication and effort on my part.
Q: You still have three years of high school. What are your goals athletically?
A: My goals are the same as this year, which is to win state.
Q: What is your favorite memory of playing tennis for Harlingen South this past season?
A: My favorite memories playing for South were always what happened after we played. How the team bonded and how connected we all were; we weren’t just teammates, we were family.
Q: Who Is your favorite pro athlete and why?
A: My favorite pro athlete is (pro tennis player) Vicky Duval. She has endured many difficult obstacles and one of the toughest one was cancer. This didn’t even come close to setting out the fire in her heart. She became a champion while fighting like one; she teaches me that I cannot have any excuses and to always keep a positive attitude. The only excuse I can have is death.
Q: Are there any sports you wish you could play other than tennis?
A: I would like to play basketball or track.
Q: If you could play tennis against anyone, who would that person be?
A: I would want to play against Serena Williams; I would like to see how many points I can win.
Q: What served as your motivation to succeed on the tennis court?
A: My motivation was always making my parents proud because I wouldn’t be anywhere without them, in or outside the court.
Q: If you could win one major, which one would it be: The French open, the Australian open, Wimbledon or the U.S. Open? Why?
A: I would like to win the U.S. Open so I can do it in front of my home crowd, in the country I grew up in.