Hays’ boys doubles team of Zack Curry (left) and Josh Bieter finished second at the District 27-4A Tournament. That earned the pair a right to compete in the regional tournament, which will be held April 17-18 at San Antonio’s Blossom Athletic Center. (courtesy photo)
Lehman’s Adolfo Gonzalez is now 26-0 on the season after winning the boys singles title at the District 27-4A Tournament. Teammate Desiree Kittel won the girls singles title, and is 25-0 on the year as the pair heads to regionals. (photo by Judy Cooper)
By JASON GORDON
Both the Lehman and Hays tennis teams will be sending players to the Class 4A Region IV Tournament next week.
Lehman’s Adolfo Gonzalez won his fourth straight district tennis title, and fellow senior Desiree Kittel won the third district title of her career at the District 27-4A tournament hosted by Lehman and Hays last week.
Hays High boys doubles team of Josh Bieter and Zack Curry finished second to advance to regionals, which will be held April 17-18 at San Antonio’s Blossom Athletic Center.
“We were very excited to get a team to regionals this year,” Hays head coach Debbie Cook said. “We were able to qualify for regionals in team tennis in the fall, and hopefully that will help Josh and Zack next week. I’m very proud of our entire JV and varsity’s performance at district. It’s been a great year for Hays tennis, and I’m also very proud of Lehman’s two regional representatives.”
At the regional tournament, only the two finalists in each event qualify for the UIL Class 4A State Tennis Tournamnet April 30-May 1.
Bieter said he and Curry are confident heading into regionals.
“I think we have a good shot to make the finals,” Bieter said. “We’ve practiced hard ever since last summer and it’s really showing.”
Gonzalez and Kittel have certainly been in the tennis zone all singles season long. Gonzalez is 26-0 and Kittel is 25-0, an amazing undefeated run both hope to continue at regionals in their quest to make State.
“I was really excited to win district my senior year,” Kittel said. “I’m not taking anything for granted at regionals. I know there will be some great players there, and only two will qualify for State. But I’m really confident in my game right now and my goal all season has been to make the State Tournament.”
Gonzalez will be favored to make it back to Austin for the first time since he was a State semifinalist as a freshman. Gonzalez was plagued by injuries his sophomore and junior years.
“I believe I am at the very top of my game,” Gonzalez said. “I will make a trip to state this year.”
Lehman head coach Orlando De La Fuente agrees both Kittel and Gonzalez have a great shot to get to State.
“It’s been nice to see both of them perform at such a high level all season long,” De La Fuente said. “I believe they are peaking at the right time. We hope that continues at regionals. It will no doubt take a complete effort to get to State.”
