As the JV Girls Tennis team rushes into a group huddle, customary shouts of “Good game, San Marino!” ring through the air to signal the end of the last game of the season, finishing the match with a score of 11-7. The players wear victorious smiles on their faces, having earned the title of Rio Hondo League Champions with an overall undefeated record of 18-0.
To come out as an undefeated team during both pre-season and season is no small feat. San Marino, La Cañada and South Pasadena were tough rivals for the girls to beat in order to secure the top spot in the championship. The team has also defeated opposing schools three times with scores of 18-0, winning every single game for each of the three matches.
“This year’s team improved vastly compared to any other team I’ve ever coached in the 15 years that I’ve coached girls’ tennis. The girls just kept working harder and harder, and they really meshed as a team,” Coach Jerry Lawrence said. “Running an 18-0 streak is hard, but this team adapted far more than any other team I’ve had before—they had the mentality to fight and to win.”
The girls faced a tough challenge when they played La Cañada this season. They finished their first match against the school with a close score of 11-7. In the second match, La Cañada came back strong, but the starters pulled through to beat them 10-8, their closest score of the season.
Throughout the season, the team experienced numerous highs and lows. For instance, even though Junior Emily Huang injured her ankle, she chose to keep playing and refused to fold under the pressure. Also, Junior Rebecca Villagomez suffered from heat exhaustion during a match, but she battled on, stayed strong and carried the singles players with her solid consistency and ability to return every shot.
“All of us had the same determination to win, and with every game, we were one step closer to becoming League Champions,” Villagomez said. “Everyone had each other’s backs no matter what, and even if we lost a game, we would be there to pick each other up and motivate each other to win the next one.”
This season brought the girls together and taught them valuable lessons in playing with heart and finding a way to win in each match. The players forged strong bonds that reached beyond a team dynamic. They became a family that held each other up and supported one another.