Going hand in hand with the growth of the tennis team is the goal of placing at a regional level. This is now a realistic goal after the team secured second place at the district tournament this past week, enabling them to qualify for the regional tournament.

   Creating legacies and traditions is the aspiration of every sport, and Viper tennis is almost there. Although the Vipers lost 10-2 against Lake Travis, the team left with optimistic hopes for the future. The loss against Lake Travis was Vandegrift’s first real challenge.

   Pushing themselves mentally and physically on the court is a common goal for the athletes. But months of sprinting suicides and doing push-ups on the burning court payed off when the team earned their place at district.

   “I think we are ready to play our best,” Coach Larremore said, “but we have to accept in our minds that we can win the district title; if we do that we will be hard to beat.”

   Junior Alejandro Santilana had high hopes for the match against the Cavaliers. Santilana and his doubles partner, freshman John Jacob, played energetically as they poached the net and hit winners.

   “We have the best chance out of all the schools of beating Lake Travis,” Santilana said.

   Even though they lost, the team continues to be confident about regionals and demonstrated good sportsmanship as they shook hands with their opponents and left the court.

   “I feel that it’ll be a very challenging and close match,” junior Mikaela Pope said. “If we are able to play to our maximum potential there is no doubt in my mind, and the rest of the teams’ [minds] that we will win.”

   The entire team was excited to play Lake Travis with the hopes of winning, but were satisfied the outcome because they put forth their best effort.

   After the Lake Travis match, Vandegrift beat Cedar Park 10-1 the following morning, securing their spot at regionals Halloween weekend, which will be an overnight trip  on the 28-30 of October.

   Larremore is proud of what the team has accomplished and expects great things from the team in the upcoming years.

   “I  think we are 100 percent better than we were two months ago,” Larremore said, “our team is playing at a very high level.”