La Feria tennis keeps tradition alive

HARLINGEN — As the La Feria Lions tennis team prepares to send four doubles teams to the 3A State Tournament May 12-13, expectations range from ‘just being happy to be going there’ to ‘winning it all’.

But coach Juan Hernandez has high expectations for his athletes.

“Overall, I expect our kids to compete,” Hernandez said. “Over the years, we have stepped it up and proved that we belong.”

La Feria has made it a habit of sending players to the state tournament and has continued to represent the Valley year in and year out.

“Tradition has a lot to do with it now,” said Hernandez. “The younger players expect it [to qualify for state].”

The Lions have held practice matches among the remaining Valley teams that still hold practices since the only other program with a state qualifier is Harlingen South.

South will be represented by Tomas Stillman in the 5A State Tournament, who reached the boys single’s final last year.

Also reaching the finals in last year’s tournament is the Lions’ mixed doubles team of Eli Ramos and Erica Gilbert.

Both and Ramos and Gilbert are lefties, while most teams are right-handed and have a difficult time adjusting to two left-handers.

“I think it’s definitely an advantage,” said Gilbert.

Ramos and Gilbert qualified by placing first in the Region IV tournament by defeating their teammates Jeremy Rodriguez and Alecxia Ceballos.

Rodriguez and Ceballos upset Ramos and Gilbert in the district tournament final to earn the 32-3A crown, however.

“Our goal is to have an All-La Feria state final,” said the junior Rodriguez.

The intensity that these doubles teams will face in the state tournament will be unlike any other that they have seen this year.

“Every point [at the state tournament] is important,” said the veteran Ramos.

The Lions will be represented on the boy’s side by the tandem of Roy Randall and Onorio Ramos, who placed second at the regional tournament and hope to have a good showing at the state tourney.

Randall and Ramos face a team from Groesbeck High School in the first round.

“We believe we can go there and compete,” said Randall.

In the girls draw, the duo of Jackie Marquez and Karilu Hernandez face a strong doubles team from Abilene Wiley, who beat La Feria 19-0 in team play earlier in the year.

“We’re going to go out there and try our hardest,” said Hernandez.