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Tennis Teams Set for Fall Playoffs
A playoff path full of potential begins next week for three Killeen ISD squads that earned at least one more team tennis match this fall.
“Preparing for a playoff match is an exciting experience. It’s a chance to come together as a team and enjoy the thrill of competition. The atmosphere is lively, with players engaging in practice, sharing laughs and focusing on improving their skills,” Ellison coach Holly Ponce said. “The energy of the team spirit is noticeable. It’s about having fun, working together, enjoying the game and creating lasting memories along the way.”
The Eagles open the Class 5A postseason at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 7, against Corsicana at Robinson High School. On the same day in the Class 6A bi-district draw, Shoemaker travels north to face host Waxahachie at 11 a.m. while Harker Heights will host its first-round match Oct. 8 versus Duncanville.
More specifics for that match will be added here when the details are finalized.
Ellison advanced out of District 16-5A along with Lake Belton, Belton and Waco. The Grey Wolves and Knights made it through District 12-6A along with Temple and Waco Midway.
The postseason journey often can contain ups and downs and be a tad bit unpredictable, kind of like surfing. So, in that regard, it’s “serves up” for Ellison, Harker Heights and Shoemaker, all of which hope to catch a wave of momentum and ride it out as long as possible.
Harker Heights is in the fall team tennis playoffs for the sixth time in eight years under head coach Mark Drake. He said this year’s team is especially motivated and aiming for the program’s first bi-district title in that eight-season span.
“This year we are more of a team than ever. The negativity is down. The support for each other is up,” Drake said. “They have worked hard and deserve this.”
Drake pointed to the strong singles play of Cody Jarrett, Xavier Tilmon, Ikem Eneli, Myck Tiglao, Caleb Turner and Hailey Opolot, and the success of doubles tandems Jarret-Tiglao and Tilmon-Turner as highlights through a competitive district slate that went down to the final day to determine seeding.
“We have a strong team from a variety of grade levels –– sophomores to seniors, that are determined to show the district what we can do,” Drake said.
Shoemaker head coach Shannon Bell said one of the keys to her team notching a playoff spot is keeping the sport fun.
“I just make sure that they do their best,” Bell said. “We are very excited. We have been working on several new drills to improve our tennis skill level.”
Bell said senior Willyxon Lebron-Hernandez and junior Juan Naranjo-Gomez have formed a formidable doubles pair that helped get Shoemaker to this point. The same goes for sophomores Cory Hudgins and Adrian Lindo.
A boys doubles tandem at Ellison also has thrived this fall. Ponce pointed to seniors Jeremy Cassens and Norris Richardson –– they also play No. 1 singles and No. 2 singles, respectively –– who’ve paired up and produced favorable records during district action. Junior Kris Pelayo and freshman Alex Han provided added punch in singles.
“This remarkable group of kids has truly gone above and beyond for the team's success. We’ve reached the playoffs with a skeleton crew,” Ponce said. “While most varsity teams typically have eight to 10 boys and eight to 10 girls, every district match we have started one point down due to not having a mixed doubles team.
“Achieving this milestone with such limited numbers is a testament to their dedication and resilience. A few players even stepped up to compete in varsity matches, showing incredible selflessness. Their commitment has been nothing short of inspiring,” Ponce added.