DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Edinburg Vela’s Andre Mercado, and Sharyland High’s Carlos Ramones, Sebastian Arizola, Stephanie Falcon and Hector Ronquillo advanced Tuesday to the Region IV-5A tennis semifinals today in San Antonio.
Mercado defeated Uvalde’s Backor McLaughlin and Vandegrift’s Zachrey Delmonico to earn a boys singles match with Alamo Heights’ Liam Crawley today.
The top two seeds in each category advance to the state tournament next month.
“He placed the ball well, moved the ball well, served the ball well,” Vela coach Monica Gonzalez said. “He was patient. We came in hoping to get him to the semifinals.”
Mercado faced Crawley during a USGA tournament in January, a match Mercado lost.
“He knows he’s in for a tough match, and he knows what to expect,” Gonzalez said.
Sharyland High was expected to do well at regionals, and the Rattlers didn’t let down. The Rattlers’ boys doubles team of Ramones and Arizola and mixed doubles team of Falcon and Ronquillo starred to play another day.
Falcon and Ronquillo took down teams from Gregory-Portland and East View to set up a match today with Alamo Heights’ Ethan Carlson and Sara Thompson.
“They played very well,” Sharyland girls coach Yvette Vela said. “They played aggressive and together. They communicated very well to work together on points.”
Ramones and Arizola beat teams from Flour Bluff and LBJ. They will meet up against Dripping Springs’ Sam Brodsky and Andy Varnell today.
Dripping Springs ousted Mercedes’ Michael Gomez and Payton White in the second round to earn a trip to the semifinals.
“It was their teamwork,” Sharyland boys coach Mike Salinas said of Ramones and Arizola. “They never got flustered out there and they stayed in control of the points. They never got down on themselves and grinded out wins.”
While the Rattlers are facing different competition in a new class of play this season, Salinas said the experience of being in Class 5A, previously the biggest class, last year is a big help.
“We knew what kind of competition was going to be up here,” Salinas said. “The talent is nothing we hadn’t seen before. Our guys picked up their level, and they had to. Every point is crucial.”
At the Region IV-6A tournament, McAllen Memorial’s Alvaro Rocha and Jack Wang advanced to the boys doubles semifinals with wins over San Antonio Clark and Eagle Pass.
“They practice a lot together and they understand each other,” McAllen Memorial coach Rhodora Elizondo said of her star duo. “They just connect and really know each other’s moves. At this point, communication will win you matches, and they have that. The secret to doubles is when your partner and you work well together, it becomes a dance.”
Rocha and Wang will face New Braunfels’ Austin Moninger and Josh Van Winkle today.
“They’re beatable,” Elizondo said. “We have a chance. They’re feisty and move very well, but our boys are pretty good too. I think we’ll have an edge.”
McAllen Memorial was the lone upper or Mid-Valley representative, including individuals, to move on to the semis. Harlingen South will be represented in boys singles and girls doubles, and Harlingen High will have a mixed doubles team still in contention for state today.