Ceres High's McKenzy Harden and Aaron Salazar participated in the Second Annual All-Star Tennis Classic on Saturday, May 17 at the Dog Pound.
Sponsored by City Signs, the exhibition pitted talent from the Stanislaus District against each other in Ceres.
"Both of them showed that they deserved to be a part of this event," said founder and longtime Ceres High tennis coach Bryan Harden.
McKenzy won one of two matches and Aaron fell twice during the Red team's 139-130 loss to the Blue team.
"The scoring makes it harder for any one team to win easily when all the games are counted," Bryan said.
McKenzy and Patterson's Paola Hernandez teamed up to beat Modesto High's MacKenzie Cook and Orestimba's Gwen Marks 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) in the top girls event.
Harden and Brian Casey lost 6-4, 6-3 to Marks and Turlock's Michael Sims in mixed doubles action.
Salazar lost 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 (super tiebreaker) to Pitman's Anthony Narsi.
Aaron and Modesto High's Synclaire Waldron lost 6-4, 6-4 to Modesto High's Jeffrey Solomon and Modesto Christian's Pressli Pilati.
"Both McKenzy and Aaron had a great time, but they were somewhat upset at the team's very close loss," Bryan said.
The Red team was coached by Modesto Fitness & Racket Club Pro Mark Fairchilds and featured McKenzy, Aaron, Paola Hernandez, Brian Casey, Synclaire Waldron, Nick Lowe (Modesto High), Bianca Palotta (Beyer), Robbie Hoile (Escalon), Mostafa Anis (Manteca) and Yassen Anis (Manteca).
Coached by Turlock Fitness & Racket Club Pro Jack Schneider, the Blue team featured Cook, Marks, Sims, Narsi, Solomon, Pilati, Calvin Goreal (Downey), Doug Chesney (Pitman), Elise Cusenza (Turlock) and Erik Segerstrom (Sonora).
McKenzy, a sophomore, helped lead the Ceres High girls tennis program to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs and second-place finish in the Valley Oak League (11-3) this past season. She accomplished her goal of an undefeated conference season, going 32-0.
Aaron, a senior, guided Ceres High's boys team to its second straight postseason berth and a runner-up finish in the VOL standings (11-3). The second-team, all-league selection compiled a 20-8 record while splitting time between No. 2 and 3 singles play for the Bulldogs.
Sponsored by City Signs, the exhibition pitted talent from the Stanislaus District against each other in Ceres.
"Both of them showed that they deserved to be a part of this event," said founder and longtime Ceres High tennis coach Bryan Harden.
McKenzy won one of two matches and Aaron fell twice during the Red team's 139-130 loss to the Blue team.
"The scoring makes it harder for any one team to win easily when all the games are counted," Bryan said.
McKenzy and Patterson's Paola Hernandez teamed up to beat Modesto High's MacKenzie Cook and Orestimba's Gwen Marks 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) in the top girls event.
Harden and Brian Casey lost 6-4, 6-3 to Marks and Turlock's Michael Sims in mixed doubles action.
Salazar lost 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 (super tiebreaker) to Pitman's Anthony Narsi.
Aaron and Modesto High's Synclaire Waldron lost 6-4, 6-4 to Modesto High's Jeffrey Solomon and Modesto Christian's Pressli Pilati.
"Both McKenzy and Aaron had a great time, but they were somewhat upset at the team's very close loss," Bryan said.
The Red team was coached by Modesto Fitness & Racket Club Pro Mark Fairchilds and featured McKenzy, Aaron, Paola Hernandez, Brian Casey, Synclaire Waldron, Nick Lowe (Modesto High), Bianca Palotta (Beyer), Robbie Hoile (Escalon), Mostafa Anis (Manteca) and Yassen Anis (Manteca).
Coached by Turlock Fitness & Racket Club Pro Jack Schneider, the Blue team featured Cook, Marks, Sims, Narsi, Solomon, Pilati, Calvin Goreal (Downey), Doug Chesney (Pitman), Elise Cusenza (Turlock) and Erik Segerstrom (Sonora).
McKenzy, a sophomore, helped lead the Ceres High girls tennis program to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs and second-place finish in the Valley Oak League (11-3) this past season. She accomplished her goal of an undefeated conference season, going 32-0.
Aaron, a senior, guided Ceres High's boys team to its second straight postseason berth and a runner-up finish in the VOL standings (11-3). The second-team, all-league selection compiled a 20-8 record while splitting time between No. 2 and 3 singles play for the Bulldogs.
