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By Jessica Cheung and Ruby Wong
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May. 22, 2009 |
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Richie Tenenbaum, some tennis prodigies are famous for choking
during tennis matches, giving up short-lived tennis careers and
escaping to a cruise line. Unlike Richie Tenenbaum, the boy’s tennis
team ended their triumphant season on the perfect, choke-free note.
Ending
the season undefeated and emerging as champions on May 7, the team
swiftly defeated the Lincoln Mustangs with a score of 6-1. This winning
streak started with their 7-0 win against Washington at the playoffs on
May 5.
The championship game was a breeze for the Cardinals as
they have trained hard, gained confidence and used their game faces.
“Everyone was nervous before championships,” sophomore varsity doubles
player Kameron Chang said. “We all fought through it and played some of
our best matches of the year.”
Strolling through school hallways with the same confidence that they
showcased on the courts, the team carries their new, well-deserved
medals into NorCals, their ultimate goal.
The All-City
tournament is highly anticipated, as the boys made significant
improvement from last year. In the singles tournament, sophomore
varsity player Alex Zhu placed third, as the duo of sophomore Will
Scharffenberger and junior Will Chan placed second overall. In addition
to these achievements, partners Chang and senior Victor Kai placed
fourth. “Looking at the results of this year, we’ve definitely come a
long way,” Chan said. “Next year we’ll be losing key pieces of the
team, some key leaders, but I believe that the rest of the team has a
lot of potential.”
As the season winds down to a close, the boys
reflected on their past few months together. “I’ve improved and learned
that practice makes perfect,” said sophomore varsity doubles player
Charlie Wu.
The
bond between players on the team has also strengthened throughout the
season. “The comradery between the players definitely exceeded my
expectations,” junior JV player Calvin Chin said. “In addition to
learning more about tennis, I became more dedicated to the team.”
Many
players agree that the season was a success in all factors and aspects.
“The season went very well and everyone supported each other,” Chang
said. “We took the trophy back, which felt very satisfying.”
Partings are always bittersweet, but the team is stepping off the
courts on a positive note. “As a senior, I’m sad to leave the team,”
senior co-captain Frank Lu said. “After four years of being part of the
team, I’m optimistic that the rest of the players will continue to
dominate.”
Most Valuable Player
Hardworking. Supportive.
Headstrong. Motivated. Confident. These apply to the entire 23-player
tennis team, one way or another. However, one player possesses all
these qualities: co-captain Frank Lu, the Lowell team season’s best
singles player and The Lowell’s pick for MVP.
“He’s a hard
worker and a magnificent team leader,” sophomore JV doubles player
Dexter Lee said. “He takes charge of practice and supports us all.”
Sophomore JV singles player Barry Tse agreed with Lee. “He’s a great
tennis player,” he said. “Watching him play makes me want to better
myself as a tennis player.”
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