COLLEGE STATION — Recent Harlingen South graduate Jeremiah Gonzalez took home RGV Tennis Player of the Year honors Tuesday night at the All Valley Sports Awards Banquet.
He wasn’t in attendance to receive the award, but only because he was out showing why he deserved that honor.
Gonzalez competed at the Capsher Texas Grand Slam tennis tournament in College Station.
With more than 1,000 competitors, it’s the largest tournament in Texas and features some of the top talent around.
Gonzalez held his own.
While Gonzalez competed in singles, he was most effective playing doubles with partner Erik Kerrigan (Austin).
Gonzalez and Kerrigan, began as a ninth seed and upset four of the top-five seeded teams to claim the Boys’ 18 Doubles championship Thursday afternoon.
They defeated Jonathan Sheehy (Arlington) and Parker Wynn (North Richmond Hills) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to capture the title.
Gonzalez and Kerrigan easily breezed through their first four matches and then pulled out a close contest against Trey Hilderbrand (San Antonio) and Kevin Zhu (Pearland) 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3 in the semifinals.
Gonzalez didn’t fare so well in singles competition, but still came away with a 3-2 record for the tournament.
The former Hawk had a rough start in the Boy’s 18 singles round of 128, falling to Austin Abbrat (17) 6-3, 7-6 (2).
Gonzalez rebounded and rattled off wins against Hunter Terrell, Garrett Reiter and Aaron Mackie, another 17th seed, in the consolation bracket.
Unfortunately, Gonzalez fell to AJ Barrington, finishing his singles run at the tournament with a 3-2 record.
There were multiple RGV athletes competing, but Gonzalez was the last standing in competition.
