After the culmination of the 2020-2021 season, boys tennis is headed into state ranked 6th overall with a 9-4 record. After most recently losing to Brophy Prep on Apr. 20, 0-9, winning state seemed out of reach. However, during the first team round of state, the boys beat Sanda Day O’Connor, 5-2, and are now set to compete in the quarterfinals on May 5, against Pinnacle. “It’s definitely going to be a close game,” sophomore Weston Webb said. The boys later lost to Pinnacle 0-5. 

One of the team’s biggest accomplishments this season was “being able to rebuild [their] whole varsity,” Webb said. Due to the majority of last year’s varsity team being seniors, and having no current seniors either, forming a team was a challenge. Despite this, the boys have only lost 4 out of 13 matches so far this year. 

Similarly, girls tennis finished their season ranked 7th in state, with a 10-3 record which was their “biggest accomplishment” this season, coach Keith Castillo said. Despite winning the majority of their matches 9-0, their last loss of the season against Xavier, 0-9, right before state seemed to put a damper on the team. However, in the first round of the state team tournament, the girls beat Corona Del Sol 5-2, advancing them to the quarterfinals where they played Hamilton on May 4, later losing to them 0-5.  

Next year the girl’s team will lose four of their top six varsity players, leaving openings for upcoming players who are “working very hard in the offseason” to work their way up to the top positions Castillo said. 

Preparations and practices are already underway for next season, as state matches continue through the rest of May.