Central Valley High School’s boys tennis team enjoyed a success-filled season this spring.
The Hawks returned to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs following a six-year absence, compiled an 8-5 overall record and won eight of 12 matches while finishing in third place in the Central California Conference standings.
“To get to the playoffs, it’s a credit to the kids for working hard,” coach Mike Rodriguez said. “It’s what we expected. We had a lot of depth and experience. We had nine seniors on the team.”
Central Valley closed out the 2022 season last month when it made an appearance in the playoffs for just the third time in program history.
The 14th-seeded Hawks lost 9-0 to the third-seeded McClatchy Lions in the Division-I bracket on May 5 in Sacramento.
“They did the best they could. All of the teams in Sacramento have club players. The tennis is just different up there. Our guys don’t play tennis until they get to high school.”Coach Mike Rodriguez
“They enjoyed the experience,” Rodriguez said. “They did the best they could. All of the teams in Sacramento have club players. The tennis is just different up there. Our guys don’t play tennis until they get to high school.”
Central Valley dropped all six singles and three doubles matches to heavily-favored McClatchy, which posted a 16-2 overall record, advanced to the semifinals of the playoffs and tied for first in the Metropolitan Conference.
Ruben Hernandez lost 6-0, 6-0 to Winston Holtkamp in No. 1 singles play.
Omar Lepe lost 6-0, 6-0 to Harrison Z’Berg in No. 2 singles play.
Lourdvic Polanes lost 6-1, 6-1 to Leo Abramsky-Sze in No. 3 singles play.
Willy Souksavath lost 6-1, 6-1 to Bennett Caisley in No. 4 singles play.
Enriquez Lepe lost 6-1, 6-3 to Ansel Ang-Olson in No. 5 singles play.
Jesus Hernandez lost 6-3, 6-2 to Zachary Gee in No. 6 singles play.
Aiden Sinlapaxay and Joaquin Pulido lost 6-3, 6-1 to Weston Williams and Nathan Seale in No. 1 doubles play.
Jose Alvarez and Braulio Arellano lost 6-0, 6-0 to Jacob Wehling and Joseph Gray in No. 2 doubles play.
Kai Sivongxay and Dylan Chauhan lost 6-1, 6-0 to Ben Goldman and Sean Wu in No. 3 doubles play.
Central Valley will face a rebuilding year next season.
The Hawks lose nine players to graduation, including Polanes, Souksavath, Pulido, Sinlapaxay, Alvarez, Arellano, Ruben Hernandez, Omar Lepe and Melvin Morales.
Hernandez, Lepe, Polanes and Souksavath were singles players.
Pulido, Sinlapaxay, Alvarez, Arellano and Morales contributed at doubles.
“We had a great group of guys,” Rodriguez said. “They learned and got better every year.”
