Charger tennis earns bronze at state tournament

Charger tennis earns bronze at state tournament

KERRY BARBOZA Sports Editor

Boerne Champion’s successful fall team tennis season concluded Wednesday in Waco at the 5A state tournament.

The Chargers played Austin LASA, or Liberal Arts and Science Academy, in the 5A state semifinals and the Raptors won the match 10-4.

Champion’s fall season ends with a record of 17-5 and with state bronze medals. Coach Joey Cantu said it was a great year.

“I’m very proud of the team, we did well and got the most out of the team this year,” he said. “They fought to get there. It was a successful year and they accomplished a lot.”

After a two-hour rain delay, state semifinals action began at the Waco Regional Tennis Center and Austin LASA was up 4-3 after doubles play.

The Chargers won at No. 2 girls doubles (Addison Day/Serena Sharma), No. 3 girls doubles (Greta Clauss/Katelyn McLaughlin) and in mixed doubles (Bradley Gunnells/Sydni Sage) to get their three doubles wins.

Once it turned to singles play, the Raptors closed it out by winning six of the first seven matches on the courts.

Isabella Davila won her match at No. 3 girls singles for Champion’s fourth overall win.

“They had some great players at the top and credit to them, they played better where they needed to,” said Cantu about LASA that improved to 20-0 after Wednesday’s win. “Going down 4-3 at state makes it tough. We had to win some of those 50-50 matches and didn’t get any of those.”

This was Champion’s fifth appearance at the state tournament (08, 09, 10, 14, 23) and Cantu has taken the Chargers to all five tourney appearances.

The longtime Chargers coach said he’s fortunate to be in a community like Boerne and at a program like Champion.

“(Assistant coach Kristin Cantu) and I can get the most out of our kids but you have to have players who are good athletes and parents who support you and a community that drives the sport and we have all that,” he said. “It makes it easier for Kristin and I to coach, but it comes back to the kids, parents and community.”