The Girls’ Tennis team is starting the 2015 year with a new varsity lineup. Looking to build on their 7-3 record and CCS run last year, and three years removed from their first league title, this year’s team will start a new era.

With only six returning varsity players, the new and returning players will have to carry the mentality and tradition established by Coach Memo Camacho, who is uneasy by the prospect of starting fresh. “The new players need to step up with a whole new focus, and a new mentality,” he said.

According to the players, Camacho sets the tone for the team. He shows a great passion for the sport, which he tries to instill in his players.  His love of the sport began with his family, and he has tried to establish that type of family with his team, resulting to their championship in 2011. This year, he still expects a challenge from his main competitors, Salinas and Hollister. He believes that the girls can win the league championship but only on the amount of effort that the players put to the sport. “I don’t set the expectations, the players do,” said Camacho.

Even though he will work with almost half of a new team, his coaching will still rely on his previous tactics, dedication, and commitment. He has guided players to get better by setting up a summer program offered to experienced players or beginners.  Many players did improve by this program and gained experience in both jamborees that occurred at Alvarez and Alisal during the summer.

Another strategy that Camacho utilizes is having his players take notes. “The notes help them acknowledge their mistakes and how to make any improvements”. Camacho evaluates that the notes help the players gain honesty, confidence, and self-discipline. These three characteristics are acquired and it eliminates the players cheating on themselves. Magallanes agreed that the notes seemed ridiculous at first but then she stated that “it’s so easy to forget the little things, the notes give me an opportunity to remember my technique.” The players usually take notes during practice after each match they play, returning with a different concept for their next match.

These effects according to Camacho, have helped many players show their dedication for this team such as juniors Monica Magallanes, and Dariz Odad, and seniors Susie Juarez, and Celina Juarez. Both Camacho and the team see these players as leaders. “Monica and Susie stand out, their technique, their passion, mind set and focus to the sport”, said junior Brianna Lovato. Camacho agrees, saying both Magallanes and Juarez improved their technique during the summer by practicing regularly. “She (Magallanes) shows good leadership and sets a good example for the rest in the team,” said Camacho.

In addition, new players such as Nancy Gomez, will rely on these leaders to help her learn and maybe earn a varsity spot for her last year in high school.  Gomez, a senior, who wants to spend her last year participating in school activities, agreed that she joined late because she was never really allowed to join sports before. “This is going to be my last year in high school and I wanted to do something different because I never really had the high school life, like I wasn’t involved much in school activities.” Therefore, this will be her first year in tennis and she will try to make the best out of it.

Overall, Camacho wants the girls to learn on how to build self-discipline and grow confidence outside of the sport. “Tennis has helped the players become a different person, discover who they really are,” he said. This is one of the main reasons why Camacho enjoys coaching for the girls’ tennis team. “It can help make a difference.”

The team has started their first two games with an unfortunate loss, Stevenson and York High, two difficult teams to start the preseason. Coach Camacho said that the team will have to come back even stronger. They will have to “experience through this, and learn from this.”  They may have lost their first two games but they came back defeating Gonzales (7-0), North high (5-2), and Monte Vista (4-3).