Selah Neal
Fresno Christian boys tennis honored seven seniors as the season took a major step into the second round of playoffs against East Bakersfield, May 6.
Teammates hand out homemade signs and gift baskets made by friends and family for this year’s seniors.
Seniors (left to right) Jacob Pimentel, Mason Meade, Tyler Maxey, Bek Jett, Caleb Iest, Nathan Bridges, and Trevor Engelman.
Captain and four-year varsity athlete, Jacob Pimentel, has learned a lot over the course of his high school career as both a teammate and participant. Pimentel finds difficulty not in the physical aspects of tennis but in the mental challenges it presents.
“The biggest advice I can give you outside of working hard and showing up, is to change in your mind what winning means for you,” Pimentel said. “There’s gonna be days where the player on the other side of the court is better, or you’re not playing your game and just can’t win, and if the only thing that matters to you is winning, it’s a sure way to get frustrated and burnt out of the sport.”
Caleb Iest, a two-season tennis athlete, notes that his favorite memories come not from the competitive matches but the pre-practice rituals that the team partakes in.
“My favorite memories on the team have been playing with many of my close friends and going retro on Wednesdays before practice,” Iest said.
Multi-sport athlete and four-year varsity tennis player Mason Meade looks back on the community he has built during his time as an Eagle.
“Being on the team has impacted me positively by showing me community and perseverance throughout different times,” Meade said.
The Eagles beat The Blades 8-1, The Eagles now move on to CIF Div. 3 Valley Championship game against Atascadero, for the chance to make Fresno Christian history, May 12.
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For more from The Feather visit Seniors declare future plans on National College Decision Day or Freezing water refreshes media feeds.