Tennis Wildcats building off state-semifinal loss

 Raul Fernandez
Raul Fernandez
photo Raul Fernandez

The road to a state championship is long and winding. It takes hard work, dedication, belief and will to overcome the roadblocks along the way, and only a few can say they reached that destination. For others, the road ends abruptly, and the next season it starts all over.

The Hixson High School boys' tennis team made a surprising deep postseason run in the 2014 Class A/AA state tournament, and the sting of defeat has the Wildcats ready to begin the journey again with some motivation in the tank.

"I told them to remember that feeling," Wildcats coach Raul Fernandez said of his team's state-semifinal loss. "Most of them were sophomores at the time, so I told them to remember what that feels like because they are going to have two more years to try and come back and win it. I've heard some of the guys talking and they want another chance, for sure."

Hixson had a 3-2 lead heading into doubles and was a match point away from the state finals in the No. 1 doubles match, but instead the Wildcats left with a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to Christ Presbyterian Academy.

This year's team will be without three players from last year. One, who would have been the lone senior, had to leave the program because of a medical condition.

"Assuming we stay healthy, three of my top five will have been there and they're better, " Fernandez said. "There's no question that they're stronger, better tennis players than they were nine months ago. My biggest hurdle will be figuring out doubles. Normally we've been super strong in doubles, but last year's team lost some matches they probably shouldn't, and I have to figure that out."

Aside from solidifying doubles, Fernandez said his newer players will have to get match experience and build throughout this season and next.

While a similar run to last year's is not on the Wildcats' radar yet, they are aiming to progress and continue to be competitive.

"Our goal is to win the region again, but I'm not going to put pressure on them that if they don't make it to the state, it's not a good season," Fernandez said.

Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.

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