Harlingen Hawks: 2009 District Champions

Twas the night before the game, and all through my house.
A fire was stirring no water could douse.

The graphics were drawn, on the website with care
The pics of our heroes would soon be hung there.

The warriors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of forehands danced in their heads....

I promise I'll post the rest of that soon, but now I have the task of
reporting on the big Civil War District Championship between the

Harlingen Hawks and the Harlingen Cardinals.

As the poem says, I was a little nervouse the night before. After all, I am close with many of the Harlingen players on both teams. I arrived promptly at 7:45 a.m. having driven through a heavy fog. On one side were the Hawks; on the other, the Cardinals. Both teams warming up and beginning to hit hard and heavy shots, preparing for what was ahead. I shook the hands of each coach and asked, "Ready?" They all responded the same, "Ready as we'll ever be...". The Hawks begin with their usual huddle and pep talk from coaches and captains. The Harlingen Cardinals begins with prayer. It would take more than prayer, in the end, to have a prayer against the powerful Harlingen Hawks.

The Boy's Doubles

On the first court, the Hawks team of Tomas Stillman and Shane Kyral faced the Cardinals team of Juanito "Nito" Flores and Bonner Youngblood. Flores and Youngblood started out strong and won a close first set 7 - 5. In the second set, a frustrated Kyral and Stillman seemed to make a decision and would quickly take the next two sets. A match that took slightly over two hours with incredible shots that drew a big crowd and many "Ooooo's" and "Aaaah's". Both teams hit amazing shots and showed athleticism that would make the average gasp, cough, wheez and faint. The Hawks would win the Number one doubles match with a final score of: 5 - 7, 6 - 4, 6 - 3. Stillman and Kyral would cross the fence to "Way to go's!" and Flores and Youngblood would feel the first heartache and hear the first "good match, guys. You played well's". The Cardinals would find no solace. The Hawks would find no rest.

On the next court, the Hawks team of Solis and Forman would take on Bracken and O'Reagan. Yes, it is the same team we wrote the article "I Want To Believe" about; and they did more than believe. Daniel Bracken and Chris O'Reagan won the first set easily 6 - 0. Such was their comittment that they would chastise themselves for losing a single point...even when they were up 40 - love at the time. Solis and Forman would take the second set for the Hawks 6 - 3 as they began to hit agressively, and they seemed to slow down the pace of the match. It worked; and a frustrated Bracken and O'Reagan would have to regroup, as they felt the pressure of all the eyes that were upon them. Daniel Bracken and Chris O'Reagan would not be denied, however. In the third set, they began to speed things up and played with the agressiveness that has become their trademark. From the other side of the tennis center, one could hear Bracken yelling, "Come on!" and O'Reagan yelling, "Yeah!". One didn't need to see the match to know they were winning. In the end, their belief (and talent!) would secure them the first win for the Harlingen Cardinals. Their final score was 6 - 0, 3 - 6, 6 - 3. Congratulations abounded as a very proud Coach Tanamachi walked them from the courts. Pats on the back and cheers from the Cardinals bench - such were the earnings of their hard work.

On court three, Co and Regan of the Harlingen Hawks (we hope to bring you more on these two later) defeated the team of Stephen Gray and Rolli ramirez. The final score was 6 - 2, 6 - 0.

The Girl's Doubles

The Number one doubles team for the Harlingen Cardinals was comprised of Victoria Wright and Mary-Hayden Manning. They would peer across the court at a daunting Catherine Weber and Sara Perez. We all held our breath as they warmed up. "Oh, man! This is gonna be so good!", we hear the bystanders and fellow team-mates exclaim. In the darkness of the warm up and fog, the match began as if someone shouted, "Let there be light!"...and we beheld that it was good. It was very good! Wright and Manning would pick on a, seemingly nervous, Sara Perez in the first set. Perez and Weber seemed out of it; and things looked very promising to Wright and Manning, as they "high fived" to the cheers of their families and team-mates that looked on. Then both Hawks coaches walked up; and, I expected a tongue lashing to ensue. It was quite the opposite. The coaches were calm ("how can they be so calm?!?), assuring and somewhere after that conversation, the Hawks remembered the hard work they put in. They remembered the Stillman Summer, their coaching, their friends....but, mostly, they remembered how much they don't like to lose. The second set began as the first with Wright hitting a short ball to the feet of Perez, expecting the ball to be netted. With eyes wide open and new found focus, Perez would come to hold her own and volleyed the ball back for a winner. Wright and Manning had easily won the first set 6 - 3 and began to let down their guard a bit. Catherine Weber would find her hard first serves still being returned, yet she would find her footwork, run around and find the forehand that commands the respect of all who have faced her. In the hardest battle the girl's doubles (on both sides) have seen, the second set would have to be decided in a tie breaker. Parents and well-wishers would bite their nails, hold their breaths, pray to whoever they pray to, and wish upon whatever stars they wish upon; however, in the end, it would be up to the girls to decide. In the middle of the tie-breaker, I was approached by an older gentleman that we quoted in an earlier article. "Remember me?", he says. "I was the one you quoted as saying 'I don't see how these girls can look like Miss America and hit like Reggie Jackson'? Well, I still feel the same; but thank you for not printing my name". He walks away, and I had missed most of the tie-breaker. I look at the bleachers, and everyone is leaning forward. I look at the fence on the side, and it is also leaning forward. Everyone cheers between points and forgets to breathe during. The Hawks would gather themselves and ride their momentum winning the second set in a tie-breaker. Perez and Weber would find their game and easily take the third set and the match with a final score of 3 - 6, 7 - 6, 6 - 2.

The other girl's doubles would be won easily by the Harlingen Hawks girls. Lopez and Means would defeat the team of Garcia and Dawy 6 - 2, 6 - 1. Similarly the other Hawks team of Winters and Diaz would defeat Mattar and Youngblood with the same exact score of 6 - 2, 6 - 1.

The Mixed Doubles

Coming off a defeat from the previous week, the mixed doubles team of Felicia Garcia and Benett Holder had something to prove. Facing them on the other side of the net was Matthew Montes and Hailey Swanberg. Swanberg would be the surprise with an amazingly powerful forehand. Even the Hawks fans had to wonder how such a little girl could have such a big weapon. Garcia and Holder would not be denied, however. In most mixed doubles, they guys always go at the girls; and such was the case in this match as well. Felicia Garcia was ready... Felicia Garcia was ready!... Felicia Garcia was READY!! Garcia hit almost everything back, even when it was directed at her backhand. Point after point her confidence grew. This allowed Holder to prove his worthiness as a partner; and prove it, he did. Holder would "Hold" his own and then some, hitting a variety of well placed; and, at times, spectacular, shots that continuously tormented Montes and Swanberg. Usually, the mixed doubles in virtually ignored. Not this time! The spectator bleachers were full and the cheering was some of the loudest yet. The Hawks team of Felicia Garcia and Benett Holder would easily be the victors. The final score was: 6 - 2, 6 - 2.

The Boy's Singles

First court singles was Tomas Stillman for the Harlingen Hawks against Daniel Bracken of the Harlingen Cardinals. Tomas Stillman is known as one of the best players to come out of the Rio Grande Valley in a long time, then again, so is Daniel Bracken. Bracken walked out onto the court and seemed to favor his right foot during the warm up. Gone was the ease of movement that he is known for. It didn't seem like he was able to be at his absolute best. Anyone who knows Daniel, however, knows that a Daniel Bracken at fourty percent, is still better than most at a hundred percent...especially it you are facing Tomas Stillman. Stillman would have too much offense and won the match 6 -1, 6 - 2. The audience was shocked, as was I. If Daniel Bracken can't stop Tomas Stillman, what hope is there for anyone else? Everyone knows that Daniel Bracken is awesome! What does that say about Tomas Stillman? Can anyone stop Tomas Stillman? He was truly awe-inspiring. It is no secret that these two are heroes to those of us that call ourselves men merely because of our age. If tennis defined what men are, Daniel and Tomas would be the men and we would be the boys.

Second court singles was Shane Kyral for the Hawks. His antagonist would be none other than Chris "Bread Basket" O'reagan. O'Reagan gets his nickname from being so good that he usually eats a dinner roll (from the bread basket) while defeating you with the other hand. Kyral, however quiet in his demeanor, would deliver his own message loud and clear. In his past two very memorable battles, he had to pull out the last winning singles match in three grueling sets. This time, things would be very different. Shane Kyral would give the Hawks their next win in straight sets winning the match 6 - 3, 6 - 3. Both are great friends, both are great competitors. After their match, I talked to Shane Kyral and asked "Hey, Shane. You hit your backhand with one hand"? He almost apologetically replied, "Yes, sir" (did he just call me sir?!?). I look him in the eye and say, "So do I". He looks me in the same eye and says, "We also use the same racquet". Shane Kyral would not only make his team proud, he would admit to being cool as well.

The other boy's singles were all won by the Harlingen Hawks, with Nathan Solis defeating Juanito Flores in the final match that went three very long sets. The Hawks would all show their pride by walking all the way around the far side fence in order to cheer for their team member. Solis would win the match with a final score of 7 - 5, 3 - 6, 6 - 4. Tim Forman defeated Bonner Youngblood 6 - 4, 6 - 0; Bennett Holder defeated Rolli Ramirez 6 - 1, 6 - 2; Kenneth Co defeated Matthew Montes 6 - 0, 6 - 2.

The Girl's Singles

The girls's singles match of the day would be fought, of course, by Catherine Weber and Victoria Wright. Wright had previously attended Harlingen South and was trained by Coach Stillman. No love loss between these two senior players and you could feel the animosity in the air. The match would be the most emotionally filled one for the parents and all on the sidelines. Wright would thwart Weber by taking away the pace and hitting high looping balls with tons of topspin in order to back her up. In addition, some gamesmanship was noticed by all on the sides when she would call balls out by saying, "That would be out! That would also be out!" when a simple "Out!" or a raised finger would do. Moreover, Wright would call "That's a double fault!" when Weber would hit the second serve into the net, mentioning the obvious out loud in order to get under her skin and get her out of her game. The first set lasted eons with several rallies lasting more than twenty shots a piece. At one point, I thought the spectator's heads were going to fall off from all the back and forth. But, back to the match. At one point, Wright called a ball out that clearly infuriated Weber. Weber responded with, "You gotta be kidding me! You're kidding, right"? But, Wright wasn't kidding and pointed to a spot two inches beyond the baseline. Several bystanders began to chant, "It was in"; and Weber called for a line judge. Weber seemed more at ease and was able to pull her game back together winning the first set with a narrow 7 - 5 score. After the first set crossover, Weber seemed to remember her training and who she was and ran away with the score. Catherine Weber would prove herself to be mentally and physically strong, and would win the match 7 - 5, 6 - 2.

Dalia Lopez defeated Jennifer Garcia 6 - 4, 6 - 1; Sara Perez defeated Fahima Dawy 6 - 3, 7 - 5; Ashlee Winters defeated Hailey Swanberg 6 - 1, 6 - 1; and Thalia Diaz defeted Camille Youngblood 6 - 1, 6 - 0. The Harlingen Hawks would only suffer one more defeat on the court, wich was in girl's singles. Manning of the Harlingen Cardinals defeated Vanessa Means 6 - 2, 6 - 1.

Afterwards, the Hawks would gather together, congratulate each other and pose for pictures. Coach Stillman would gather his team and let them know the reason they won in their post-game huddle, "You guys did great, and I am very proud of you. The reason that you guys won, the reason that you guys won today, and we only lost two matches, is because of the hard work that you put in. It feels good to win, doesn't it? You won because you put in the effort today and over the summer. In everything, in tennis and in life, you work hard and get what you work hard for". They all agree.

I take a couple more pictures of the coaches; and, to my surprise, they thank me for covering the matches and promoting tennis. In turn, I thank them for showing the world what a true tennis coach should be. RGVtennis thanks the Harlingen Hawks and the Harlingen Cardinals (both!) for showing us what high school tennis should be. Part of me didn't want this match up to happen, because I wanted both teams to win. It's a shame there has to be a loser, but the real winners are those of us that have come to admire these kids and come to learn from them. Congratulations to the Harlingen Hawks Tennis team. They are our 2009 District Champions. Well done!