‘Dawg Tennis is exceling
Coach Paul Talbet and his staff have built a solid and reputable tennis program over recent years. The 2016-17 Copperas Cove netters have made a great deal of improvement at all levels (sub-varsity and varsity). Both the girls and boys teams competed well in district and qualified several to regionals.
In the girls doubles play, Latoya Alokoa and Alyssa Gonzalez placed 3rd place in district. They dropped the district semi-final match 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, with the match going down to the wire in the 3rd set. They won the 3rd place match 7-5, 6-1 to earn a spot at regionals.
In boy’s singles, Noah Chapman breezed through the first round but had a three and a half hour battle in the quarterfinals. He eventually lost in a 3rd set. Noah was serving at 3-4 in the 3rd set and lost a big thirty-five minute service game changing the momentum of the match. Noah finished up as a quarter finalist.
The mixed doubles duo of Brett Alber and Shelby Sayers made it to the quarterfinals. Shelby came up from the junior varsity to fill in for injured Terry Bliss. Shelby stepped in and did a great job. Brett and Shelby lost to Midway’s number two team that finished 2nd in district. They lost in 3 sets 7-5, 5-7, 6-0.
Boy’s doubles team of Ariel Diaz and Noah Samarippa also made it to the quarterfinals. Although they lost in the quarterfinals to the number one seed from Belton 6-0, 6-2, they played great sets. Almost every game went to deuce (or multiple deuces). This hard fighting duo defeated a team they had previously lost to in the first round 6-1, 6-4. This was awesome play for two sophomores on a varsity squad.
How about the girls doubles of Martha Abraham and Zamira Manuel? Although they were defeated in the first round by a very experienced Harker Height’s number one team, this group fought hard the entire match. Only being a freshman and sophomore, their future is very bright.
Gavin Glick and Jalen Nix (boy’s doubles team) lost to Belton’s number two group. This dynamic duo fought to 4-3 in both sets but were unable to close out. Coach Talbet stated this group fought hard on every serve. Although they did not advance to the finals their hard working attitude exemplified winning tradition to the program.
Just how much improvement did this year’s squad make? In the previous year Copperas Cove only had two entries participate past the first round. This year’s squad had four entries reach the quarterfinals, and one qualify for regionals (girl’s doubles squad of Alyssa Gonzalez and Latoya Alokoa). The ‘Dawg netters also had three very close loses in the first round. This year’s group has six boys and girls returning for next school year.
Not only does the varsity group have several returners for next year’s squad, the sub-varsity squads demonstrated they are bringing some potential winners up also. The junior varsity boys’ team placed 3rd in district. Top finishers for the boy’s double team were BJ Abraham and Ethan Hernandez. Singles players Kevin Gillespie and David Bekkerus proved to very strong competitors as well. Other junior varsity boys returning include doubles team players Andrian Nani and Isiah Ramirez. Nani and Ramirez finished 4th in junior varsity boys doubles.
Freshman girls also had a 3rd place finish in district play. Girls doubles squad, Marina Slater and Tiffany Tara were district quarterfinalist. Dominique Jackson placed 4th and Aurora Durzo was a quarterfinalist in singles play.
The junior varsity girl’s squad were district runner-up champions. Returning to strengthen next year’s squad are junior varsity girls doubles team players Angie Gorman, Telsa Mackwelung, Bre’Ana Johnson and Nadrena Reid as well as Gorman and Mackwelung (finished 2nd in girls doubles). The team of Johnson and Reid finished 3rd in junior varsity doubles play.
On the freshmen boys side Charles Aker and Matthew Derosia placed 3rd place in boy’s doubles, while Najair Reid placed 4th singles. In the freshmen mixed doubles Kayla Clemmons and Christain Alejandro placed 3rd, while Jacob Frazier and Rebecca Earl placed 4th.
All this depth is an obvious sign of a strong program. Plenty of good players from the varsity to the freshmen ranks. Can this program win district next year? Only time will tell. There is definitely a nucleus of quality returners.
Tennis is a sport that does not receive a lot of fan support at their meets. I want to encourage you to come out to matches next fall season. There are plenty of bleachers with shade covers and good concessions. Most importantly you will see some very competitive ‘Dawg athletes on the quality Copperas Cove tennis courts.
Thought for the week, “You always want to win. That is why you play tennis, because you love the sport and try to be the best you can at it.” Roger Federer