La Feria once again wins 32-3A title

HARLINGEN — Some things came as a surprise at the District 32-3A tennis tournament on Monday at HEB Tennis center.

Others didn’t.

Starting with the non-surprises, the La Feria Lions won another district championship.

For the boys’ team, it was there 10th straight under 13-year head coach Juan Hernandez. The girls captured their 13th title in a row to continue the Lions streak of success in tennis and establish their place in Valley tennis history as a true and legitimate dynasty.

La Feria won district titles in all five categories: boys and girls singes, boys and girls doubles and mixed doubles.

“We have some high hopes this year,” Hernandez said. “Our boys’ doubles team is very strong and the girls’ doubles is strong too. So we’re looking forward to regionals.”

The boys’ tandem is made up of Ray Randle and Onorio Ramos. The girls’ pair consists of Jackie Marquez and Karilu Hernandez.

But it was the mixed doubles pair of Alecxia Ceballos and Jeremy Rodriguez that brought the biggest surprise to the courts.

The Lions team outdueled fellow La Feria mixed pair and and 2010 Class 3A state silver medalist Erika Gilbert and Eli Ramos to clinch the mixed title.

Ceballos-Rodriguez won the three-setter 6-7, 7-6, 7-6.

“It was pretty intense,” Hernandez said. “They exchanged shot for shot.”

In singles competition, Juan Rodriguez won the boys title and Bianca Chavez won the girls championship.

The girls tandem of Samantha Gonzalez and Gabby Banos was second and the boys team of Mike Molina and John Martinez also ended up second. Both teams are from La Feria.

District 32-3A

HARLINGEN — The following are the restults from the District 32-3A tennis tournament held on Monday at HEB Tennis Center at Pendleton Park.

Mix doubles

1, Jeremy Rodriguez/Alecxia Ceballos- LF; 2, Eli Ramos/Erika Gilbert- LF; 3, Raymond Guerrero/Carolyn Medrano- RH

Boys doubles

1, Roy Randall/Onorio Ramos-LF; 2, Mike Molina/John Martinez-LF; 3, Garrett Umphres/Javier Zapata- Zapata

Girls doubles

1, Jackie Marquez/Karilu Hernandez- LF; 2, Samantha Gonzales/Gabby Banos- LF; 3, Jeniffer Guajardo/Virginia Duran-RH

Boys Singles

1, Juan Rodriguez- LF; 2, Matt Lashbrook- RH; 3, Trey Alvarez- Zapata

Girls singles

1, Bianca Chavez- LF; 2, Isabella Martinez- Zapata; 3, Amanda Ortiz- LF