HELOTES — Boerne ISD had four entries at the 5A state tennis tournament last week – three from Boerne High and one from Champion – and two of those entries returned to Boerne with bronze medals.
Both medals were earned by the Greyhounds after Aidan Cebe picked up bronze in boys singles, while Gavin Cebe teamed up with Nick Dube to earn bronze in boys doubles.
Boerne’s Paytin Johndrow and Justin Barraza played in mixed doubles at state and were knocked out in the first round, while Champion’s Alexandra Morris qualified in girls singles and was also eliminated in the opening round.
It was a bittersweet tourney for Aidan Cebe, who had a chance to win it all, but he injured his ankle and had to withdraw in the state semifinals. Cebe opened with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Alois le Coz from Carnegie Vanguard in the quarterfinals.
Cebe was playing Aaditt Rishi of Frisco Lebanon Trail in the state semis but wasn’t able to continue because of the injury with the match tied at 3-3 in the first set. Rishi went on to win state, and what made it hard for Cebe is that he had played Rishi on at least three different occasions and had never lost to him.
Champion’s Alexandra Morris and coach Kristin Cantu at the 5A state tennis tourney that took place last week. Submitted photo
“It’s tough staying positive because it’s my senior year. I had the opportunity and then hurt myself,” he said.
Aidan played his freshman year at BHS and then didn’t play for the Greyhounds during his sophomore and junior years but returned for his senior year because it was going to be his only chance to be on the same team with his brother Gavin, a freshman.
“I decided to have fun and play and get involved with my friends again one last time before I go off to college,” said Aidan, who plans to play at Arizona State. “I don’t have any regrets about it; it was a good decision to come back.”
Immediately after the tourney, Aidan said he was processing the bronze medal he won when gold was the goal.
“Looking back, I’ll probably be proud,” he said. “At least I gave it a chance.”
Aidan’s brother Gavin and his doubles partner Nick Dube also won their firstround match with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over McCall/ Sides from Abilene Wylie. The BHS duo lost in the semis to Sharma/Kommineni of Frisco Centennial, 6-3, 6-4.
Dube, a senior, said making it to state and medaling is a great way to close out his high school tennis career.
“We got here and won a match, there’s nothing to be too mad about, it’s a great team that we lost to,” he said. “It was a fun way to go out, making it to state. It was a great season; this whole season has been fun.” Gavin is just a freshman and hopes to return to state over the next three years.
“We got third place and I’m happy with it, but I think I can go further next year,” said Gavin, who noted the best part of the year was being on the same team as his brother. “The goal is to win state. I want to play singles, so I’m going to train this summer.”
When Dube and Cebe play, they are very vocal on the court and they can holler with the best of them after earning a point. While it may have bothered some of their opponents, both said they didn’t care.
“We play better when we yell and are loud and moving; it amps us up and it keeps us active,” Dube said. “It’s legal, but the main goal is to hype us up, but if it annoys them, then even better.”
Champion’s Alexandra Morris dropped her opening-round match to Marriella Davies of Frisco Wakeland, 6-1, 6-4, to end her senior season at state.
Boerne High’s other entry at state, Justin Barraza and Paytin Johndrow, were knocked out in the first round by Wendt/ Parvathaneni of Frisco Lebanon Trail, 6-5, 6-3.
Barraza is a senior and Johndrow is a junior.
Comment
Comments