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Goose Creek Memorial Team Tennis
TEAM TENNIS: Goose Creek Memorial Patriots seek return trip to playoffs in 2022
Ismael Dutchover is one of the originals when it comes to Goose Creek Memorial. Dutchover has been on campus since the doors opened and enters his 15th season of coaching tennis for the Patriots this fall.
“It has been nice to watch kids progress from the time they join tennis to the time that they leave us,” Dutchover said. “Nothing is more rewarding.”
Last fall, the veteran coach watched his team tennis group improve from the year prior and punch their ticket into the UIL Team Tennis Playoffs.
“It was great for the kids to see improvement within the program. Having the same teams in our district for two years and seeing us finish one spot higher than we did the year prior was good for the program,” Dutchover said. “It lets them know we’re improving and we’re hoping to keep that trend going for years to come.”
Now, what will they do for an encore, especially going into a new district in 2022? On the boys side, Harsh Agrawal will be in that No. 1 line for the Patriots - “He’s going to be taking things to the next level,” Dutchover said.
David Ramirez will be another name to remember, along with Owen Baker and Jiayi Yang.
On the girls side, Amy Chen will hold down the No. 1 spot, followed by Mariam Malhi in the No. 2 line, which could make for a potent one-two punch up top.
“The depth of our team should improve from what it has been,” Dutchover said. “[Our goal is to] stay in the playoffs. We finished fourth last year and if we can continue the trend and adapt to the new district we’re in, improve a spot, that’s a good goal for us to have.”
This story was originally published in the VYPE GCCISD Fall Magazine in August.
Baytown Sterling Team Tennis
TEAM TENNIS: Baytown Sterling Rangers eye deeper playoff run in 2022
This has been “the program” in Goose Creek CISD for the past few seasons.
The Rangers, led by coach John Tremmel, have been unbelievable the past two years, reaching the Regional Semifinals of the UIL Team Tennis Playoffs.
Now, after the graduation of a solid senior class – including the likes of Bryce Stork, Caroline Wells, Brian Ward, Dalia Sifuentes, Carson Malpass, Sakshi Singh and Crystal Smith – who is next to carry the torch at Baytown Sterling?
On the boys side, watch for Matthew DeLuna to take over the No. 1 spot that Ward left as a back-to- back District 22-5A boys singles champion. DeLuna has the “ice water in his veins” to hold down that spot. Also, watch out for Lucas Northcutt and Braydon Webb.
On the rise is Edward Villareal, who took third in boys singles at the JV District Tennis Tournament last spring and Raul Torres, who won the District Championship in boys singles at the Freshman District Tournament last spring. At the same tourney, Micah Ebow and Joel Sanchez brought home the district crown in boys doubles.
On the girls side, Nataly Velasco and Lauren Perry return after finishing third in doubles play at the District Tournament last season and were Regional alternates. Other names to remember include Emali Campbell and Sophia Valencia.
Also watch out for Dreha Hernandez, who took the District Championship in girls singles at the JV District Tennis Tournament last spring. Riley Ortiz finished right behind her. In doubles, Moriah Shuttlesworth and Betel Sanchez took second in girls doubles at the same tourney.
This story was originally published in the VYPE GCCISD Fall Magazine in August.