Chemistry key as tennis seeks district title
The Panthers take on Galena Park in a 3 p.m. match at home today.
August 27, 2021
The tennis team has consistently been to playoffs and hopes to work towards a district championship this year.
“I’m excited for a great year ahead of us,” tennis coach John Macapaz said. “I think we are definitely in a position to do really well, improve on last year’s results and just keep aiming to go higher and higher.”
The varsity roster of 25 is the most balanced team Macapaz has seen in a while. The chemistry of this year’s team is one of its biggest strengths.
“As soon as we found out exactly who our roster was going to be,” Macapaz said, “they all wanted to buy into reaching some goals together.”
To get to the playoffs, confidence will be the biggest key, Macapaz said.
The team set the tone early when it beat Macapaz’s former school MacArthur, 16-3, in the first home match of the season. It was the first time Kingwood Park came out on top against MacArthur and it meant a lot to Macapaz.
“Just trying to prove that we can hang with all the big boys,” he said. “I think that we have the variety but we just need to work at being confident with our playing. I believe in them. I just need them to believe in themselves.”
Senior Marshall Simmons and junior Shawn Helton set the energy for the team in the top 2 spots for the boys, Macapaz said. He added junior Pippi Timpanaro will be key on the girls side. She is the No. 1 player, who officially started playing varsity last spring.
“I think she is going to be one of our big x-factors and determine where we go,” Macapaz said.
As long as the team keeps working and playing to their potential, Macapaz expects them to have a good shot at winning the district championship.
“I really think we can be district champs as long as we work toward it,” Macapaz said. “We need to keep improving at the little things and fight for every moment.”
