Tribe Tennis took the bi-district championship on Oct. 8 with a 10-1 win over Sweetwater.
They play area today versus Clint in Alpine. Clint advanced from bi-district with an 11-8 win over Monahans.
“We check the scores of past games and matches to try to improve from preseason,” Coach John Armstrong said. “We embrace the target because of the scores we are getting. The work ethic is great. We had students coming during the summer to practice. That helped us improve as a team, but we could always do more.”
Junior Ivy Flores looks up to her coach for motivation.
“I tell myself what Coach Armstrong tells us,” Flores said, “‘Keep your eyes up and look to God for motivation.’”
Junior Nathan Salazar said he prefers doubles over singles.
“I match other peoples energy,” Salazar said. “For example, during singles, I am by myself on the court, and I tend to get in my head which causes me to drag myself down from the potential I can reach. Thankfully I have a very fun and energetic teammate that boosts my mood and allows me to have fun.”
Senior Isabella Hare rehabbed through two torn ligaments before coming back to play tennis.
“This season has been good so far,” Hare said. “The first matches were kind of a challenge because I had just gotten my boot taken off after 10 weeks with it on. Thankfully I have a partner who is understanding but competitive (Nathan Salazar).”
Sophomore Derek Ware said district play with Shallowater was tough.
“We had around 5-6 tiebreaker,” Ware said. “They were a really balanced team, but we pushed through and won.”
Senior Zeke Carrillo said he likes the high after a win. “I feel relieved and excited after playing a match,” Carrillo said. “I want to be undefeated in singles. I keep motivation throughout the match by keeping myself to a high standard, so my siblings can have someone to look up to.”
Senior Isabella Rudder said there was always room for improvement in her game.
“A skill I struggle with is keeping my serves consistent,” Rudder said. “I sometimes struggle with my shoulder, but I manage to push through every match.”
Salazar said the mixed doubles team from Lamesa was the toughest competition during district.
“Their playing style is so different from other teams we have played against,” Salazar said. “It took us a while to get used to how they play.”
With district and bi-district behind them, team members look to take another area championship with play beginning at 1 p.m. today.
Bi-District Results: Seminole 10, Sweetwater 1
Men’s doubles–Senior Clancey Cope and junior Tristan Hare defeat Danny Yang/Noah Dodd, 6-0, 6-2; senior Zeke Carrillo and sophomore Derek Ware defeat Vicente Orduna/Brady Kilgore, 6-3, 6-1; sophomores Aldo Caballero and Maddox Savage defeat Mason Yang/Hefner, 6-0, 6-4.
Women’s doubles–Sophomore Addison Armstrong and junior Jazlynn Holmstrom defeat Frazier/Leah Pittman, 6-0, 6-0; juniors Ivy Flores and Melany Vazquez Campos defeat Avery Scott/Anna Rosson, 6-0, 6-0; seniors Isabella Rudder and Haylee Villanueva defeat Krisylynn Guelker/KK Lopez, 6-2, 6-0.
Mixed doubles–Junior Nathan Salazar and senior Isabella Hare fall to Isaac Lotzenhiser/Sydney Ramirez, 7-5, 6-4; juniors Nathan Lorenzo and Karolynn Caballero defeat Bryan Rangel/Kinzley Hutton, 8-5.
Men’s singles–Cope defeats Yang, 6-0, 6-3; Ware defeats Dodd, 6-3, 6-1.
Women’s singles–Holmstrom defeats Pittman, 6-1, 6-2; Vazquez Campos defeats Scott, 6-0, 6-0.
