Los Banos High School’s varsity tennis duo, juniors Melissa Fernandez and Gabby Romo, played the CIF Individual Duos Tournament at Johnson Creek and Roseville on Oct. 5 and 6, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until almost 3 p.m. each day.
The pair claimed first place in the last home doubles tournament before advancing to the quarterfinals in the Division II playoffs held in Roseville. The game ended going against Mountain House, with a final score of 1-6, 1-6.
Even with the loss, the duo proudly finished in the top eight of the D2 bracket, a great achievement especially for teammates who had only been playing together for one week before the tournament.
Players were selected by their coaches to make sure that the most competitive pairs advanced to represent their school.
For Fernandez, the win at home and the playoff achievement were both memories she will never forget.
“It feels great to have come all the way and get first place. During the final match, the only thing going through my head was to win,” said Fernandez.
The quick chemistry between Fernandez and Romo was the key to their success. Even under pressure or in disagreement, Fernandez explained she would stay composed in order to do the best with her teammate.
Fernandez said, “We communicate clearly and our styles work well together making us a strong doubles team. Under pressure or in disagreement, I tend to zone everything out.”
Balancing academics and athletics isn’t easy, especially the time around important tournaments. The duo faced many challenges and setbacks in life that they had to overcome while being a student and an athlete. The dedication to the game is what kept players improving daily.
LBHS junior and tennis player Julianne Gurgen said, “We had to be selected and seeded by our coaches. These tournaments last two days and demand a lot of energy from everyone competing.”
Even though their playoff journey ended in Roseville, Fernandez and Romo’s accomplishments say a great amount about their teamwork, talent, and drive. Their ability to play in a new partnership and make it to the top eight finishers in the Division II bracket is proof hard work and communication can take a team far.
