The girls’ tennis team for Selma High began practicing over this past summer, working to be ready for their pre-season matches. Now that they have entered the regular season, the senior leaders of the team come to realize their fleeting moments of their culminating season in high school.
“All our captains will soon graduate, so they’re playing in their final season,” said Coach Dan Casarez. “It’s a great deal of experience that we’ll miss,” he added. “They’ve been great leaders on this squad. I’ve been reminding them before each match to ‘Have fun!’ and enjoy their last tennis season in high school.”
He also stated that Mia Balderas, Miranda Mendoza and Kimberly Bojorquez have been great captains and leaders to all the new players on the team.
“Mia and MIranda have taken their game beyond high school and successfully compete against adults in local tennis tournaments,” he noted. “Kim has been great and caught onto tennis fast. She’s a multi-sport athlete, an extremely coachable athlete, someone you want in a competitive sport.”
Even as the season commences however, the team’s top players, most of whom are preparing for graduation and college applications, are beginning to look ahead, while also remembering past challenges.
“I regret not joining the sport sooner,” explained Balderas, a senior and co-captain of the team. “I started my freshman year and I really enjoyed it throughout my four years so I think more time would’ve been more fun for me.” Unfortunately, this sentiment is commonly felt by athletes who come to realize their appreciation for their particular sport but feel as though they lost valuable time they could have spent immersing themselves, a result of not joining earlier.
As a testament to this belief, Balderas implores those interested in tennis to at least try it out, before coming to conclusions.
“I’d say just do it,” she added. “You really have nothing to lose. All I’ve gained has been positive things, so it’s worth it to join and it’s a lot of fun.”
Balderas made the varsity team her freshman season. She’s been a leader of the tennis team for three years, since she became a captain her sophomore season. The challenges of being in a leadership position at such an early period of her tennis career have strengthened her and made her vital to the team.
“It’s definitely been a lot,” she said, “especially my sophomore year because that was only my second year playing, but it’s helped me grow as a leader. I feel like I can see the difference in myself through leading the team for so long,” said Balderas.
Unfortunately for the tennis world, Balderas does not want to pursue competitive tennis in college but, most admirably, she wants to attend culinary school instead.
Miranda Mendoza, a senior and another captain of the team who has been in the position since her sophomore year, also shared this sentiment.
“As much as I do love tennis,” Mendoza said, “I probably won’t pursue it in college. I might sign up for tournaments and stuff, but I think I’m going to focus more on academics.”
Despite this, she pointed out how beneficial being a part of school sports has been as well.
“Honestly, meeting new people,” she added, “and realizing what your skills are, personally and physically, it’s great to unlock all that. It’s a great sport, it challenges you both physically and mentally, helping you grow your character too.”
Bojorquez, a senior, has already earned her captain’s stripes. Bojorquez is a leader by title on the tennis team and explained the ups and downs of serving as a captain in only her second season of her final year.
“There are a lot of mixed emotions, it being my last season,” Bojorquez explained. “In [being in] leadership positions, it’s taught me a lot on how to get people motivated and to come together as a team. I know going into college I’ll be able to use those skills.”
Bojorquez explained as well that she does not intend to go to college for tennis, but will instead pursue track and field.
“Tennis has been really fun and I would love to be able to continue it as a hobby, so even though I don’t see myself doing it professionally, it’s been a good experience,” she said.
She then recalled what will remain one of her fondest memories of being on the team, one which undoubtedly will be remembered by all members of the squad.
“My favorite memories are definitely the van rides to get food with the team after matches. We’re able to be so silly, Mia’s in charge of music so we can just sing along to songs and there are a lot of laughs.”
