Ceres High's McKenzy Harden, Angie Prak, Luis Ochoa and Harman Bains, and Wilson Liang and Raul Massie were on opposing teams during the Fourth Annual Brenda Athletics All-Star Tennis Classic.
Harden, Prak, Ochoa and Bains helped lead the Black team to a 121-104 victory over the Blue squad on Saturday, May 22 in Ceres. Total games won determined the overall winner.
"Our kids more than held their own," Bulldogs head coach Bryan Harden said.
A total of 16 matches were played, including two singles and 14 doubles.
Harden and Ochoa teamed up to beat Turlock's Elise Cusenza and Scott Grays 6-1, 7-5 in doubles play during the second round. Ceres High won the battle of the Bulldogs.
All four players claimed individual league titles during the regular season.
"It was pretty cool to see that high level of kids go at it," coach Harden said. "McKenzy and Luis have played together quite a bit over the years at the Modesto Racket Club. They're both capable of blowing you off the court."
In the first round, Ochoa and Pitman's Michael Davis posted an 8-4 victory over Grays and Downey's Matt Cabrera.
Harden and Los Banos' Alexis Barcellos lost 8-6 to Cusenza and Modesto High's Mackenzie Cook.
Prak, runner-up at the VOL singles tournament, defeated Central Catholic's Katie Greer 8-3 in singles play.
Angie hadn't played a real match since November.
Greer, a standout player in the Western Athletic Conference, just concluded her season.
"Angie is a competitor," Harden said. "She gets after it."
Prak and Bains lost 6-4, 6-1 to Massie and Elise Derby.
Bains and Adrian Husain fell 8-2 to Massie and Central Catholic's John Styer.
Liang lost twice in doubles play.
Wilson and Cook were beaten by Central Catholic's John Fenton and Beyer's Eve Bybee (8-6).
Wilson and Pitman's Tiqi Brown suffered an 8-3 loss to Fenton and Modesto High's Garrett Cook.
The all-star event featured 30 of the top high-school players from the Stanislaus District.
Mike Erwin, a tennis pro at Modesto Fitness Racket Club, offered a doubles seminar before any matches were played.
"It gave the kids a better idea of where to be and what to do," coach Harden said.
Food from Panda Express was served during lunchtime.
Bryan established the all-star classic in 2007.
"I couldn't believe nobody had anything for tennis," he said. "I'm trying to bring the sport to the forefront of the public's mind. If we don't start building it up, and praising these kids that are working their butts off to become better players, it's always going to be the step child."
Harden, Prak, Ochoa and Bains helped lead the Black team to a 121-104 victory over the Blue squad on Saturday, May 22 in Ceres. Total games won determined the overall winner.
"Our kids more than held their own," Bulldogs head coach Bryan Harden said.
A total of 16 matches were played, including two singles and 14 doubles.
Harden and Ochoa teamed up to beat Turlock's Elise Cusenza and Scott Grays 6-1, 7-5 in doubles play during the second round. Ceres High won the battle of the Bulldogs.
All four players claimed individual league titles during the regular season.
"It was pretty cool to see that high level of kids go at it," coach Harden said. "McKenzy and Luis have played together quite a bit over the years at the Modesto Racket Club. They're both capable of blowing you off the court."
In the first round, Ochoa and Pitman's Michael Davis posted an 8-4 victory over Grays and Downey's Matt Cabrera.
Harden and Los Banos' Alexis Barcellos lost 8-6 to Cusenza and Modesto High's Mackenzie Cook.
Prak, runner-up at the VOL singles tournament, defeated Central Catholic's Katie Greer 8-3 in singles play.
Angie hadn't played a real match since November.
Greer, a standout player in the Western Athletic Conference, just concluded her season.
"Angie is a competitor," Harden said. "She gets after it."
Prak and Bains lost 6-4, 6-1 to Massie and Elise Derby.
Bains and Adrian Husain fell 8-2 to Massie and Central Catholic's John Styer.
Liang lost twice in doubles play.
Wilson and Cook were beaten by Central Catholic's John Fenton and Beyer's Eve Bybee (8-6).
Wilson and Pitman's Tiqi Brown suffered an 8-3 loss to Fenton and Modesto High's Garrett Cook.
The all-star event featured 30 of the top high-school players from the Stanislaus District.
Mike Erwin, a tennis pro at Modesto Fitness Racket Club, offered a doubles seminar before any matches were played.
"It gave the kids a better idea of where to be and what to do," coach Harden said.
Food from Panda Express was served during lunchtime.
Bryan established the all-star classic in 2007.
"I couldn't believe nobody had anything for tennis," he said. "I'm trying to bring the sport to the forefront of the public's mind. If we don't start building it up, and praising these kids that are working their butts off to become better players, it's always going to be the step child."
