By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
A year after earning his first district title, Del Rio High sophomore Max Camarena now has his second.
Camarena went undefeated en route to earning the boys singles district championship at the District 30-6A Varsity Tournament this weekend at the Lillie Castellano Tennis Center here.
Camarena was one of four Del Rio tennis players to qualify for the regional tournament that will be held in San Antonio April 11-12 at the North East ISD Tennis Center.
Joining him will be Alejandra Solar, who took second in girls singles, and Jose “Pepe” Castañeda and Andrea Favela, who took second in mixed doubles.
Alfredo Solar was third in boys singles and is currently an alternate to compete at the regional tournament.
As a freshman, Camarena teamed with Will Proffit to win the boys doubles district championship. With Proffit gone due to graduation, Camarena struck out on his own to find singles success.
And that he did.
Camarena, the No. 1 seed, began the district tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Mauricio Forno of Laredo United. He then won 6-0, 6-1 over Marcelo Mora of Laredo Alexander. That win put him into Saturday’s finals against United’s Nicolas Sanchez.
In the finals, Camarena continued to roll, taking down No. 2 seeded Sanchez in straight sets – 6-1, 6-2 – to claim his first singles district title.
It was nearly a Del Rio versus Del Rio final as Solar and Sanchez met in the semifinals, but Sanchez got the better of Solar, beating him 6-4, 6-3. Solar did bounce back to beat Mora in the third place match, 7-5, 6-2.
Favela was no stranger to success on the court. The two-time defending district girls singles champion decided to try her hand at mixed doubles this season alongside partner Castañeda. The duo entered the tournament ranked No. 2 behind the nearly unbeatable duo of Barragan and Rodriguez from United.
Castañeda and Favela started the tournament with a 6-1, 6-1 win over United’s Ramirez and Gonzalez. They then beat LBJ’s Salazar and Chapa 6-0, 6-0 to move into the finals where they’d take on Barragan and Rodriguez.
Barragan and Rodriguez took the first set, 6-3, but then Castañeda and Favela rallied to beat them in the second set, 6-2. According to Del Rio’s coaches, it was the first time all season the United duo dropped a set in competition. Unfortunately, the Del Rio duo couldn’t maintain their momentum and lost in the third set, 6-1.
The loss should have given the Del Rio team second place, but a win by Alexander’s Ramirez and Casellas meant there would be a playback match to determine the second place finisher.
After a 30-minute break to rest and regain their composure, Castañeda and Favela returned to the court and took down Ramirez and Casellas, 6-2, 6-2, to officially claim second and earn a place at regionals.
Alejandra Solar’s previous best finish in the spring tournament was third. She had twice finished as an alternate, but with Favela competing in mixed doubles, this was her best chance to break through and earn a spot at the regional tournament.
Entering as the No. 3 seed, Solar defeated Emmanuella Jimenez of Eagle Pass, 6-1, 6-0, and then upset the No. 2 seed, Andrea Ortega of Alexander, 6-1, 6-1, to advance to the finals. In the finals, Solar lost to No. 1 seeded Pamela Ramos of Alexander, 6-1, 6-1.
In boys doubles, Alexander’s Barragan and Nan won the district title. United South’s Reyes and Gomez were second after winning the playback match.
In girls doubles, United’s Sanchez and Glass were district champions with Alexander’s Garcia and Houben taking second.
Also competing at the district tournament were Mariana Garcia, who finished fifth in girls singles; the team of Garza and Maltos, which finished seventh in boys doubles; the girls doubles teams of Perez and Rodriguez and Fernandez and Rendon; and the mixed doubles team of Flores and Gomez.
United was the district champions overall on the boys side with Alexander finishing second. Alexander was district champs on the girls side with United taking second.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
