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CV duo advances to semifinals at CCC event
• Zaragoza, Perez post 2-1 record at league doubles tournament
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Senior Rogelio Perez competed for the final time as a member of Central Valley’s varsity boys tennis team this past month in Atwater. Perez represented the Hawks at the Central California Conference singles and doubles tournaments.

Juan Zaragoza, Rogelio Perez, Adrian Gomez and Alexsander Kishore represented Central Valley High School’s varsity boys tennis team at the Central California Conference Doubles Tournament on April 18 in Atwater.

The Hawks’ third-seeded tandem of Juan Zaragoza and Rogelio Perez finished in the top four.

“The experience from playing together at last year’s WAC Doubles Tournament helped them out,” head coach Mike Rodriguez said. “They complement each other well. Rogelio is good at the net. Juan has a lot of power. It makes it hard for other teams to return the ball.”

Zaragoza and Perez lost 6-1, 6-1 to Patterson’s second-seeded and CCC runner-up duo of Chris Tapia and Lolyn Tejada in the semifinals.

They defeated Merced’s Brian Jaymes and Brian Garcia 6-4, 5-7, 10-8 in the quarterfinals.

Zaragoza and Perez bested Buhach Colony’s Rafael Hurtado and Javier Mendoza 7-5, 6-0 in the first round.

Gomez and Kishore lost 6-2, 6-1 to Buhach Colony’s fourth-seeded duo of Jensen Ballesil and Devon Patel in the first round.

“It was their first time playing together,” Rodriguez said. “They had a tough draw. They did what they could. I have no complaints.”

Perez, Zaragoza fall in first round

Central Valley’s Rogelio Perez and Juan Zaragoza dropped their respective matches during the first round of the CCC Singles Tournament on April 17 in Atwater.

“They both had solid years,” coach Rodriguez said.

Perez lost 6-3, 6-3 to third-seeded Aiden O’Herin of Atwater.

O’Herin beat Perez three times this year.

“Rogelio played better this time,” Rodriguez said. “He was more consistent hitting the ball. He wasn’t trying to kill it. He was more patient.”

Zaragoza lost 6-1, 6-3 to second-seeded Chris Tapia of Patterson.

Tapia also beat Zaragoza three times in 2019.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Rodriguez said. “Juan just needed to hit the ball better. He made a lot of unforced errors.”

Perez and Zaragoza both split playing time at No. 1 singles during their senior campaigns with the Hawks.

Zaragoza compiled an 8-7 record.

Perez finished 7-8.

Juan and Rogelio were four-year members of Central Valley’s boys tennis program.

“They’re both great kids,” Rodriguez said. “They had good attitudes. They were easy to coach. They played hard. They got better each year.”