Varsity Tennis Takes District Title

The championship breaks Rock Bridge’s 21-year district streak

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Jayce Haun

Junior Cameron Payne returns a shot during a varsity match earlier in the season.

Emily Hammock, Reporter

It was a memorable season for the boys tennis team, breaking Rock Bridge’s 21-year district title streak. The Eagles broke the streak with a 5-3 victory to win districts.

“We’ve been preparing for districts pretty much the whole season with all of the matches we’ve been playing,” junior Rafay Cheema said. “We’ve all improved over the season from all the hard work and practice that we’ve put in, and districts were just the payoff.”

The boys had a great season, with lots of bonding opportunities, including going to Shakespeare’s Pizza in Columbia after beating the reigning district champions. Many players say that this is their favorite memory.

“I have so much confidence in the boys on this team who believe in themselves and each other when they play,” coach Campos said. “At match time, they lock in, go to work and play hard to win their matches.”

The team got straight-set singles wins from Cheema, junior Alex Meyer, senior Tyler Gonzales and senior Eli Bartek after Cheema and Meyer had won at No. 1 doubles.

The team has made so many accomplishments this season. They have worked very hard this year and winning districts and beating Rock Bridge just makes this season that much sweeter.

Other highlights of this season is that four of the players qualified for individual state tournament. In singles play, Cheema (third time qualifying) and Alex Meyer (second time qualifying) made it. In doubles, Gonzales (third time qualifying) and Bartek (second time qualifying) qualified.