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UHS dominates district tennis tournament


James Volz|Leader-News
Uvalde High School tennis players who qualified to play in the upcoming regional tennis tournament include (front row, left to right) Michelle Miller, Hope Dube, Elizaria Hernandez, Ashley Garcia, Briana Amor, Elizabeth Phillips, Allison Goggans, Reagan Dodson, (back) Reilly Mize, Hector Lopez, Jonathan Garcia, Aidan Burt, Jack Brock and Ty Gonzales.

Three Uvalde High School players won first place and UHS captured top teams honors in the District 30-4A tennis tournament.

The two-day event staged at the UHS’s Terri Rambie Tennis Complex, wrapped up with championship and third-place matches last Saturday morning.

“Our kids played exceptionally well,” said UHS head tennis coach Terri Rambie. “With all the things that have gone on this school year, our kids have stepped up and done very well. I was proud of our overall performance in the district tournament.”

Ty Gonzales defeated Pearsall’s Philip Lang, 6-0 and 6-1, in the boys’ singles title match.

Hector Lopez won the third place match. He came from behind to post a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory Hondo’s Reese Simpson.

In semi-final action last Friday, Ty Gonzales shut out Reese Simpson, 6-0 and 6-0, while Philip Lang beat Hector Lopez, 7-5 and 6-1.

It was an all-Uvalde championship match for the girls’ singles title as Elizaria Hernandez topped Hope Dube, 6-2 and 6-1, for top honors.

In the tourney semi-finals, Elizaria Hernandez downed Lindy Berger of Hondo, 6-1 and 6-1, while Hope Dube bested Hondo’s Felicia Alvarado in a 6-1, 5-7, and 6-1 marathon match.

Jack Brock and Jonathan Garcia won the boys’ doubles championship.

They recorded a 6-2 and 6-4 decision over Hondo’s Leonardo Lopez and Logan Kindred in the title match.

In the semifinals, Jack Brock and Jonathan Garcia blanked Tollett and Perez of Carrizo Springs, 6-0 and 6-0, while Leonardo Lopez and Logan Kindred defeated Abraham Valdez and Jackson Beever of Pearsall, 6-4 and 6-0.

Uvalde’s other doubles team of Gilbert Garza and Damian Weigand lost to Lopez and Kindred, 6-4 and 6-3, in the quarterfinals.

Two UHS teams battled it out for third place in girls’ doubles.

Elizabeth Phillips and Allison Goggans topped Brianna Amor and Ashley Garcia, 6-1 and 6-2, for third-place honors.

In semi-final play, Erika Rogers and Annalisa Salazar of Hondo outlasted Elizabeth Phillips and Allison Goggans in a lengthy 1-6, 6-3, 6-6 (7-4) match, while Maddie Everett and Cassidy Reus narrowly beat Briana Amor and Ashley Garcia by scores of 6-4 and 6-4.

UHS’s two mixed doubles teams played each other for third place.

Aidan Burt and Michelle Miller won a thrilling, split-set victory, 2-6, 6-6 (10-8), and 7-5, over Reilly Mize and Reagan Dodson.

In semi-final competition, Aidan Burt and Michelle Miller lost a split-set decision, 4-6, 6-4, and 6-4, to Hernandez and Hernandez of Pearsall, and Reilly Mize and Reagan Dodson lost to Kaleb Hernandez and Emma Neuman of Hondo, 6-1 and 6-6 (7-3).

“Our boys have been solid this spring and our girls have shown that they are big competitors. I am proud of all our kids, the freshman players up to our seniors,” Rambie said. “Thanks go to my coaches, Eric Mahler and Madelyn Mize, for the work that they do for our program. It is a team effort from the players to the coaching staff.”

First- and second-place district finishers advance to play in the Class 4A Region IV tennis tournament at Corpus Christi’s H-E-B Center on April 28-29.

Ty Gonzales, Jack Brock, Jonathan Garcia, Elizaria Hernandez, and Hope Dube will represent UHS in the regional tennis tournament.

“The competition at the regional tournament will be tough,” said Rambie. “But our kids look forward to the challenge.”