George Ranch misses out on regionals

RICHMOND — The George Ranch Longhorns hosted the closing event of their tennis season on Tuesday at the District 20-6A championships.

However, this did not dampen first-year head coach Luis Rivera’s feelings on another successful season for the program.

The Longhorns will undergo changes heading into next season, but Rivera believes the future is in good hands. “The team made an incredible run at the district title,” Rivera said. “They had several wins at King Daddy Tournaments and a strong showing at major tournaments with several trips to the quarterfinals, semis, and finals. While we are graduating seven seniors, the future looks promising as the next group of players is ready to hit the courts next year.”

The boys’ doubles team of Darren Cheng and Santiago Allub came the closest to qualifying for the area round, making it to the playback for a chance at second place. Unfortunately, they lost 7-6 (7-9), 6-2. The pair had knocked out fellow Longhorns Clay Watson and Sebastian Johnson in the third-place match for a shot in the playback. Watson/Johnson earned wins over teams from Dulles and Austin while Cheng and Allub defeated teams from Ridge Point and Dulles.

In the girls’ singles, Avery Knight and Addison Powell advanced to the quarterfinals. Knight started strong, defeating Austin’s Nina Gerlovich in the opening round, but was bested by Ridge Point’s Sophie Tahtouh in the quarterfinals. Powell also had a commendable performance, winning her first-round match against Ridge Point’s Julia Mattson, but was unable to advance past Dulles’ Enrich Escondo in the quarterfinals.

The mixed doubles team of Zayne Smith and Maddie Sams won their first-round match against Fort Bend Travis and played a tough match in the quarterfinals but lost to the second-seeded team of Dulles. Rivera’s second mixed doubles team of Schilling and Le took a loss in the quarterfinals to the No. 1 seeded team from Clements.

The girls’ doubles team of Victoria Chaveleh and Lillian Sams lost to Ridge Point in the quarterfinals. Chaveleh and Sams beat Elkins in the first round.