Senior Anantah Sivongxay represented Central Valley’s boys tennis program for the final time this past month when he competed at the Western Athletic Conference Championships.
Hawk teammates Silas Rodriguez, Avori Ortega, Manny Carranza, Roman Parodi and Alex Alvarez all gained valuable experience at the league finals.
Sivongxay, Ortega and Rodriguez represented Central Valley at the WAC Singles Tournament on April 22 at Johansen High School.
Sivongxay lost 6-1, 6-1 to top-seeded/eventual-champion Cyriel Dury of Grace Davis in the first round.
Dury, a foreign-exchange student from Belgium, finished WAC play undefeated. He didn’t lose a set all year.
“It was a tough draw,” head coach Nimrat Chahal said. “He (Sivongxay) went out swinging. He had some really good points.”
Sivongxay, Central Valley’s No. 1 singles player for the past two years, compiled a 2-9 record in WAC play during his final season with the Hawks.
He contributed at No. 4 singles as a sophomore and No. 3 doubles as a freshman.
It didn’t take long for Chahal to ascend to the top spot in Central Valley’s starting lineup.
“He took a big leap,” Chahal said. “His tennis IQ got better the more he played. He figured out the importance of playing longer points. His soccer background helped. He’s a really good athlete. He’s fast. He moves well on the court.”
“It’s always hard to lose seniors, especially four-year guys,” he added. “There’s no replacing a kid like that.”
Ortega lost 6-2, 6-3 to fourth-seeded Aram Baltazar of Lathrop in the opening round.
“I thought he played well,” Chahal said. “He played a lot of competitive points. The skill gap was too much.”
Ortega, a junior, compiled a 5-6 record in WAC play.
He split playing time at No. 2 and 3 singles this year.
“He improved a lot throughout the year,” Chahal said. “Next year, his goal should be to get to the finals. It will depend on his summer if he buys in and wants to practice.”
Rodriguez lost 5-7, 6-1, 10-7 in the opening round.
“If you ask Silas, he’d say he should have won,” Chahal stated. “He played well. He fought admirably.”
Rodriguez, a junior, compiled a 5-6 record in conference play.
He started at No. 3 singles the majority of the season.
“I’d expect him to be one of the better No. 2 singles players in the league next year,” Chahal said.
Carranza (Sr.) and Parodi (So.) posted a 1-1 record at the WAC Doubles Tournament on April 24.
They prevailed 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.
They lost 2-6, 6-2, 10-7 in the quarterfinals.
“They should have got to the semifinals,” Chahal said. “They lost a little focus. It’s their first year playing. Nerves probably got to them.”
Sivongxay and Ortega lost 6-2, 6-2 to No. 1 seed/eventual champions Aram Baltazar and Adam Godinez of Lathrop in the first round.
“I definitely think they had fun out there,” Chahal said. “They enjoyed the experience. They’re good friends. They practice together. That helps on the court.”
Rodriguez and Alvarez (Jr.) lost 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.
“You can’t control the draw,” Chahal said. “They played against a really good team. It was a learning experience for them.”
