The Division 2 Coronado High School Girls Tennis Team began league play on Tuesday at home with a tightly contested 10-8 win versus Mira Mesa High. All twelve available players played. The win is especially impressive given that the team is starting anew this year.

Only three players are returning from last year’s varsity squad, and two of them are injured and unlikely to be able to play at all this season. That leaves just one returning varsity player, Grace Elardo, available for on-court matches. Most teams would call this year a “rebuilding” year, but the coaches and players are confident about their chances for a winning season.What many on the team lack in tennis-playing experience, they make up for with athleticism, commitment, and teamwork. “I’ve never had a group that is so positive,” said coach Dennis Navarro.

“We have a solid team,” said Carlotta Peralta, one of the two injured players. “They want to be here. They want to support each other. We have a chance to be really competitive this year.”

Because the team needed players, the three varsity returners and previous junior varsity players worked hard to recruit athletes who may have only rarely picked up a racket but who had a strong work ethic, commitment to learning, and success in another sport.
As a result of their recruiting efforts, the team includes eight lacrosse players, one softball player, and a soccer player. Lacrosse and softball are especially complementary sports to tennis. To be successful, the three sports require exceptional eye-hand coordination, the ability to anticipate where a ball or player is headed, and speed. Relatively new tennis players who are already successful lacrosse and softball players have a leg up on others who are learning the sport because they already have many of the crossover skills that are required for tennis. Their backgrounds bode well for player improvement over the season as well.

“They all have killer instinct from other sports, want to improve and are such a pleasure to coach,” said Beth Elardo, a volunteer assistant coach.
Grace Elardo won all three of her singles matches, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1, and the doubles team of Lilah Cade and Logan Shapiro also finished strong by winning their three matches, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Samantha Aldworth and Brynn Belong won two sets in convincing fashion, 6-2, 6-0, while Josephine Zwierzynski won sets in doubles with different partners: Casilda Sanchez and Daniela Osio, 6-4, 6-4.

The young team of three seniors, three juniors, eight sophomores, and two freshmen is led by four team captains: senior Carlotta Peralta, juniors Maria Anaya and Grace Elardo, and sophomore Lilah Cade.

Grace Elardo won all three of her singles matches, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1, and the doubles team of Lilah Cade and Logan Shapiro also finished strong by winning their three matches, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Samantha Aldworth and Brynn Belong won two sets in convincing fashion, 6-2, 6-0, while Josephine Zwierzynski won sets in doubles with different partners: Casilda Sanchez and Daniela Osio, 6-4, 6-4.

Rounding out the players on the team are Rio Kramer, Ella Petersen, Ines Gil, Millie Rosen, Abbie McKissick, and Alyssa McWilliams.