MISSION — When Mission Veterans tennis head coach Aaron Garza took over the program four years ago, his No. 1 goal was to help grow the game at the school.
This past week, Garza coached the Mission Veterans boys team to make program history by winning its first district championship since the school opened 20 years ago. The Patriots split the title along with Roma as District 30-5A co-champions.
“We put in the work day in, day out, and we understand what it takes,” senior boys singles regional qualifier Andrew Reyes said. “I’m proud of the team because everybody’s played their part, everybody’s done what they needed to do to get to this point now.”
Now, six Patriots are preparing to compete at the Region IV-5A meet Tuesday and Wednesday at North East ISD Tennis Center in San Antonio. They earned their trip to regionals by finishing first or second at the District 30-5A Meet on March 30.
Reyes, a Schreiner tennis signee, successfully defended his boys singles title to punch his ticket to regionals for the second-straight season. His goal at regionals is to top his performance last year, which ended in the quarterfinals. He said big matches bring out the best of him.
“It’s all in the mind. I was nervous at first, but when I stepped onto the court, I was me,” he said. “At the end of the day, that was Andrew Reyes playing the game he loves.”
The doubles team of senior Eddie Garcia and freshman William Garza will also be representing Mission Veterans at regionals after they finished as runner-up at the District 30-5A meet.
Garcia has regional experience under his belt after qualifying in 2021 playing mixed doubles.
“I was determined to make it this year. I’m so glad my last year, I got to help us win a gold ball, which is the first we’ve won in 20 years; I still can’t believe it and I’ll always cherish it,” he said. “It might be the last for me, but I’m glad it’s going to be the first for some.”
Garza has grown on the court and off the court since the start of his first season of varsity tennis.
“The whole year has been a learning session. I’ve learned a lot from my coach, my teammates and of course, my partner here,” Garza said. “He taught me a lot about communication and it does help a lot.”
Mission Veterans girls tennis is also sending three athletes to regionals in doubles partners Isabella Garza and Itza Nunez, and Aliyah Rodriguez in singles.
Garza and Nunez won the District 30-5A championship in girls doubles. The two have built quick chemistry as partners despite playing just three matches.
“I trust her with my whole life in the front, I go in the back, and honestly, she’s such a great partner,” Garza said of Nunez. “I hope to keep her with me next year too.”
The doubles partners have their sights set on advancing to Day 2 of the regional meet.
“It’s not going to be handed to you. Those teams up there know how to play,” Nunez said.
Rodriguez spent the year playing girls doubles but switched to singles just before the District 30-5A meet. She played well enough to earn a silver medal and a spot at this year’s regional meet.
“I only had one tournament to practice playing singles, but I pulled through in the end. I kept the ball in, I stayed consistent and I reminded myself over and over again how bad I wanted it,” she said.
