It has been a banner month for the Temple High School freshman and junior varsity tennis programs. Over the past four weeks, the Wildcats have traveled across Central Texas, hauling in a massive collection of hardware and establishing themselves as the team to beat in the region.
From Waco to Belton, and finally back home at the Temple Invitational, these young athletes have shown remarkable consistency and grit. Here is a look back at the highlights of their recent tournament run.
Tournament Highlights
Week 1: Waco Invitational
The Wildcats started the season strong with Rohan Raju and Christian Yepez taking the gold in Boys Doubles. Katelynn Larson earned a silver in Girls Singles, while the duo of Chloe Griffith and Henleigh Bononcini fought their way to a 3rd-place finish.
Week 2: Midway Invitational
In a highly competitive field, Rohan Raju and Vihaan Murthy secured 2nd place in Boys Doubles. The girls’ side saw a gritty performance from Haley Rogers and Diamond Schafer, who battled back to be named Consolation Champions.
Week 3: Belton Invitational
Temple dominated in Belton, sweeping the top spots. Julian Luna and Christian Yepez claimed 1st in Boys Doubles, while Rohan Raju took home the 1st place trophy in Boys Singles. Katelynn Larson continued her streak with another 2nd place finish.
Week 4: Temple Invitational
Closing out the month at home, Rohan Raju remained undefeated in singles with another 1st place win. Julian Luna and Christian Yepez took 2nd in doubles, and the team showed their depth in the consolation brackets with wins from Katelynn Larson (A-Singles) and Chloe Griffith (B-Singles).
Key Takeaways
The Rise of Rohan Raju
Raju has been a force of nature over the last month. Whether playing doubles or singles, he has found his way onto the podium in every single outing, including back-to-back 1st place finishes in boys singles at Belton and Temple.
Doubles Chemistry
The duo of Julian Luna and Christian Yepez has solidified themselves as a premier pairing, clinching the top spot in Belton and a hard-fought second-place finish at the home invitational in Temple.
Girls Program Depth
Katelynn Larson has been a model of consistency in girls singles, securing two 2nd-place finishes and a consolation championship. Meanwhile, the doubles teams of Griffith/Bononcini and Rogers/Schafer have proven that the Wildcats have the depth to compete deep into any bracket.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats aren't resting on their laurels just yet. The team is currently back on the practice courts, sharpening their serves and volleys for their next big challenge.
Next Match: The Freshman and JV teams will travel to face off at Killeen High School on March 5th.
