Notebook: Hanna trying to regroup
Hanna just can’t seem to get its top players together.
"We should qualify, but you never know," Hanna coach Adrian Garcia said of his boys team. "We’ve had a decent year this year, but I haven’t really played my top five in any tournament."
Three of the five players — captain Ryan Hollander, Jose Carlos Elizondo, Carlos Acevedo — will play for the remainder of the season. Filling in the next two spots, which are now open, will be a combination of seniors Matt Vidos and Mark Franco, freshman Cesar Elizondo, and Tre Paz.
The Golden Eagles, who will compete with Weslaco High for the district title, will be off until the Rio Grande Valley Boys Tournament of Champions on March 25-26.
The girls meanwhile are in a competitive race with Weslaco High and defending champion Los Fresnos for the district title.
"The coaches are (making) them the favorite," Garcia said of his team. "It’s going to be interesting there."
Los Fresnos will have an advantage, though, as the course they practice on — South Padre Isle — will be the course used in District 32-5A competition.
OFF TO STATE
La Feria will participate in the 3A State Team Tennis Tournament today and Saturday in San Marcos.
Eight boys and eight girls from the Lions will make up the six singles, three doubles, and one mixed doubles teams in the event, which is sponsored by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association, not by the UIL.
"You’re hoping your key players come through," La Feria coach Juan Hernandez said. "As long as you get a majority of victories, it doesn’t matter if it comes from the top or the bottom."
Key again for the Lions will be the mixed doubles team of Erica Gilbert and Eli Ramos — but the two won’t be playing together this time around. They’ll both play singles and doubles instead.
Still, La Feria will go through them.
"Pretty much," Hernandez said. "They’ve been the leaders since last year, pretty much they set the standards."
RESULTS
Thursday in the La Joya Girls Invitational, Harlingen South won the 5A division with a 368. La Joya High was second (394) while Edinburg North was third (404). In the 4A division, Edcouch-Elsa won with a 336. Rio Grande City (373) placed second while Mission Veterans Memorial (472) was third.
Individually, PSJA High’s Priscilla Nevarez shot an 81 to lead the 5A ranks. Michelle Villarreal of Edinburg North (86) and Harlingen South Crystal Bradley (89) followed. In 4A, Weslaco East’s Angela Luna led with an 81. Josclyn Carrejo (82) and Megan Cantu (83), both from Edcouch-Elsa, followed.
Today and Saturday, the Boys Invitational will tee off with 5A and 4A divisons. Most teams from the Rio Grande Valley are expected to attend, but top teams from Sharyland and McAllen High will not be there.
As for last week, in the Sharyland Girls Invitational, the host’s A squad won the competition with a two-day total of 688. McHi was second was a 747 while Harlingen South and Brownsville Hanna tied for third with a 763. Low scores went to Jessica Tamen of Edinburg High (143), Kassandra Rivera of Weslaco High (155) and Veronika Vasquez of Hanna (157).
In the Mercedes Invitational, on the boys side, Los Fresnos came out on a top with a one-day total of 304. Raymondville (319) and Edcouch-Elsa (326) were next line. Individually, Hector Loya of Los Fresnos went low with a 71. Raymondville’s Albert Silva and Los Fresnos’ Ernie Segura tied for second with a 75.
For the girls, Edcouch-Elsa shot a 316 to take first. Los Fresnos (385) was second while Rio Grande City (387) was third. Edcouch had the top three finishers, as Megan Cantu shot a 77 while Josceline Carrejo and Miranda Nichols both shot 78’s.
Todd Orodenker covers golf and tennis for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at torodenker@brownsvilleherald.com.
