HARLINGEN — East Valley tennis athletes from Class 6A and Class 5A competed in the regional tournament Tuesday in San Antonio.
Brownsville Hanna’s Sofia De Leon and Alyssa Luna finished first and second to qualify for the regional tournament. Luna was knocked out in the first round, but the junior had a good experience.
“I think I played pretty hard,” Luna said. “I was really impressed with all of the girls that I saw and all of the talent that was there. Being able to play with them at such a high level was a great opportunity.”
De Leon won her first match 6-2, 6-2, but ran into the second seed in the quarterfinal round.
“I could have done better,” De Leon said. “I do not play in as many tournaments as these girls, but I think I played pretty well against the last girl. She is from Austin and went to the Austin Tennis Academy, and I play with one coach three times a week. I think I gave her an OK match.”
Harlingen High’s Julia Macmanus and Naomi Macmanus won their first-round match 6-3, 6-4 over a team from New Braunfels. The sisters lost in the next round to a team from Round Rock.
The mixed doubles team of Francisco Buford and Victoria Gonzalez, also from Harlingen High, won its first-round match as well, but lost in its second match. The Cardinals’ boys doubles team of Stanton Keath and William Buford lost in their opening match.
Harlingen South’s Diego Garcia advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory, but also was defeated in the quarterfinal round. Teammate Vicente Rodriguez lost in the first round, and so did the girls doubles team of Caitlyn Morales and Michelle McFarland.
South’s mixed doubles team of McLean Wittenbach and Clarissa Rubio won their first match 6-3, 6-0 and lost their second-round match.
The boys double team of Ethan Carter and Ryne McMinn lost in a close match, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3 against a team from Laredo Alexander.
In 5A, Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Patricio Castaneda picked up a 6-1, 6-3 victory during the first round and then lost in a quarterfinal. Teammates Diego Huerta and the mixed doubles team of Jeremy Sanchez and Yareli Lira lost in the first round.
Porter’s girls double team of Maribel Ortega and Victoria Mendez lost in the opening round, as well as the boys doubles team of Jesus Garza and William Tanguma.
