by MARK CAUL
Although the Lehman tennis team has made its mark over the last few years with several players advancing to the state meet - Alamo Heights has been one of the most storied programs in Texas over the past two decades winning 10 team titles and numerous individual championships.
The Mules appear to be headed towards another great run in 2010 as they kept their district title hopes alive with a 17-2 win over the Lobos at Lehman High School.
Lehman’s top two players, Adolfo Gonzalez and Desiree Kittel, were among the winners for the Lobos to keep their fall unblemished records in tact. While senior John Martin, who has lost only one match in the fall, managed to secure a win as well. All three have been counted on to lead a relatively inexperienced team this season.
“Our three veterans have done everything I’ve asked them to do this season,” Lehman head coach Orlando DeLaFuente said. “They’ve all played the way I expected them to play. Alamo Heights has such a talented program. Just having them in our district makes us compete a lot harder.”
Lehman seniors Royce McCabe and Mark Fernandez were also big contributors in the Alamo Heights match.
A trio of freshmen, Olivia Marzullo, Derrick Robertson and Zane Zezulka, also competed strong for Lehman against the stubborn Mules.
DeLaFuente believes that his team’s district record belies how competitive they have been during the fall campaign.
“A lot of those matches could have went either way,” said DeLaFuente. “We have been close in every one of them. A point here or there is what separates us from the pack.”
Lehman will close out the district slate with a road match at Clemens before district begins next Tuesday at Steele High School.
“We just need to get a few things worked out before the district meet,” said DeLaFuente. “It will be a huge meet for us to try and win.”
