As the school year and spring sports come to a close, the Boys Tennis team reflects on a year of impressive moments together. Led by Head Coach Farren Casad, Assistant Coach Sean O’Brien, Captain Conor O’Brien, and Co-Captain Maksim Guzman, the team ended off with a league record of 8-2, only losing two close matches to Stevenson. They also finished off with a 15-2 overall record. Their success earned them second place in the Pacific Coast Athletic League (PCAL), giving them the opportunity to play Hollister in order to qualify for CCS.
To start, there were numerous incoming freshmen and sophomores ready to face the challenge of high school tennis. After interviewing freshmen Teddy Salameh, he expressed how his first year helped him grow as a player and a teammate. He states, “The team atmosphere was nice with everyone cheering each other on, being encouraging, and giving out great advice”. Teddy’s favorite play he made this year was an ace on match point against Alisal in his first match!
The team had many strengths, especially their doubles lineup. First-year duo Cassidy Flaherty-Caitlin and Robby Peacock started their high school career off strong with a record of 14-1. In singles, sophomore Oliver Crandall rose to the occasion and proved himself with an impressive 15-3 record, even making the finals of the PCAL individual tournament.
Based on feedback from the team Captain, Conor O’Brien, it’s clear he has proven his personal achievements, and spent his time well with the team. This season he won the PCAL individual tournament and qualified for CCS individuals. Looking back on his four years attending PGHS he shared his bittersweet thoughts, “I’m very lucky and happy to say that I’ve gotten to play on the team for all four years and have gotten to be a captain. I really appreciated how much fun the team has while still being serious competitors, and I hope it’s a culture I’ve managed to foster.”
As the season concludes, the team says goodbye to the seniors whose leadership proved them to be mentors, and have a long-lasting impact. Despite this, the young team next year will be able to reminisce on memories, remain buoyant, and continue moving forward with their strength.
