By: Noor Abdullah, Opinions Editor
The girls’ tennis team has been dominating courts in the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division, holding an impressive record of 11-2. These successes were celebrated on October 12th, which marked both Senior Night and the team’s tenth win of the season. With seven thrilling matches against Westmoor High School, two bunnies in the audience (the designated team mascots), and 16 boxes of pizza, the day was filled with suspense and laughter.
The day started as the players and managers arrived to the tennis courts and were greeted by balloons, flyers, and the cheer team. Enthusiastic family and friends arrived soon after, arms loaded with food. With full plates, everyone settled in to watch the matches that would secure the team’s double digit win.
The seniors of the team were set to showcase the skills they had honed through their years in the sport by playing singles matches: Ayana Watabiki (12) competed in Singles 1, Reina Watabiki (12) in singles 2, and Samantha Padilla (12) in Singles 4.
Ayana Watabiki gave the performance of the day. In a match lasting nearly two hours, she delivered perfect serves, well-aimed rallies, and rapid volleys. A tie after the first two sets led to a third set which lasted 17 games. The intense match resulted in a win for Westmoor’s Clarise Wu and a score of 5-7, 6-1, 7-10.
Reina Watabiki displayed unwavering focus on the court, was quick on her feet and precise in her form. Her impressive playing was reflected in her near perfect win, with a score of 6-1, 6-2.
When asked to provide insight on their strategies for playing matches, both Ayana and Reina stated, “Always trust yourself.”
Samantha Padilla, who usually plays doubles, faced off in new territory during her Singles 4 match. It was an attention-holding match as she was neck and neck, game for game, and left the stands holding their breath. The match ended in a close 5-7, 5-7, with Westmoor taking the win. When asked to comment on her proudest moments from the game, Samantha shared, “My serves were really consistent. I #served.”
In addition to the seniors’ matches, Mills won another four. Singles 3 player Kylie Huynh (10) secured a perfect score of 6-0, 6-0. Doubles 1 players Kaylee Chang (9) and Natalie Cheng (10) claimed a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Doubles 2 players Sage Lowe (11) and Taylor Gee (10) also won with a perfect score of 6-0, 6-0. And lastly, Doubles 3 players Emily Anning (9) and Mia Khan (11) won with a score of 6-0, 6-4.
The team ended the day with an overall score of five matches won and two lost, defeating Westmoor and winning their tenth win of the season.
Every point in these matches was hard fought, and every win hard earned. The team’s rigorous schedule averages three practices and two games per week, with individual training encouraged on weekends. The team has thrived under the guidance of Coach John Daquioag and Assistant Coach Gilbert Chang (AKA Coach G). Together, they devote much of their time to helping the team succeed, both on and off the courts.
John Daquioag is a constant member of the San Mateo Union High School District, working as a Campus Safety Specialist daily across multiple district schools, coaching Mills’ Girls’ Tennis in the fall, coaching San Mateo’s Boys Tennis in the spring, and holding additional pre-season practices in the winter and summer. Coach John described the team’s enthusiasm and determination as “infectious”, and credited these factors for their success this season. He praised the players for their commitment to improvement, noting “despite carrying a full academic load, more than just a majority of the time, players choose to stay past the end of practice”. With his years of playing and coaching tennis, Coach John wished to share some advice for aspiring tennis players, advice that carried the team through their victories: “Don’t stop learning when setbacks happen. Feel your confidence and how strong it is. Make commitments and find a way, not promises. Be a super-positive person.”
Engineer by day and volunteer coach by afternoon, Coach G focuses his efforts on perfecting form and encouraging goal-centered mindsets. Coach G is no stranger to competitive sports having played competitive badminton in his years at South San Francisco High School and currently competing in USTA and Company League tennis matches. As a result, he understands the importance of both physical and mental training. He shares his knowledge with the team stating, “Always believe in yourself. Even against a tough opponent, you’ve got to tell yourself that you can beat them, if you don’t, you’ve already lost the game.”
Sports bring students together, in spite of different grades and interests, the shared love for tennis creates new relations. The players are in agreement that the highlight of the season is the friendships made along the way.
