Colts, Lady Colts get victories at Goddard Invite

Karen Boehler
NMMI Sports Press

The Colts wrapped up their first tennis tournament of the season in positions both the boys and girls probably aren’t used to, but head coach Will Cavin is happy how his netters are performing.
“I think we’re in really good shape as long as we can keep everybody on track and do what we need to do come the middle of March,” the coach said.
Playing in the season-opening Goddard Invitational, the boys finished third behind St. Michael’s and Santa Fe — the two teams were playing for first when the Colts wrapped everything up — and the girls finished fourth.
For the Colts, the finish was somewhat lower than they’re used to, but without their No. 1, 4 and 5 players, Cavin was pleased.
“St. Mike’s is going to be one of the top teams at the state tournament, and for us to split with them today was a good sign that we’re headed in the right direction as far as the boys are concerned.”
NMMI lost 5-4 — the same margin they lost to Santa Fe Friday — but Saturday, it was the No. 4, 5 and 6 players who earned wins, along with the No. 3 doubles duo.
Felix Higuera, Ignacio Ongay and Sebastian Aguirre defeated the Horsemen they faced, and Ongay and Aguirre combined to win in doubles. (The duo were the only NMMI doubles team to get four victories in the tourney, and Higuera the only Colt to win all four singles matches.)
With almost everyone playing in unaccustomed spots — and without their usual doubles teammates — the Colts are working through some rough edges. But many of the losses were hard-fought, three-set affairs, so Cavin is thinking positive.

“As we move forward towards state, hopefully we’ll have our top seven players to work with, and be a lot more competitive with St. Mike’s,” he said. “So I think we’re in good position to be right where we need to for the district and state tournament.”
NMMI then made it look easy vs. Roswell, sweeping the Coyotes 9-0, to go 2-2 for the tournament.
The inexperienced Lady Colts also finished in an unusual spot, defeating Roswell High 5-4 — despite losing two matches to forfeits — putting them in fourth place.
“That was good for the girls morale, to get some wins and continue that development I’m looking for with them,” Cavin said. “They’re just starting their careers, so it’s always good to get some wins, especially with them just starting out. So that was good for them to do that.”
Besides getting two more singles wins from Megan Lynch, Claudia Gerhardus Blancarte won at No. 4, defeating Coyote Elizabeth Sarellano, 6-2, 6-0; Miranda Nepip defeated Kirsten Griffen 7-5, 6-4; Lynch and JinXiu Dong got their third win of the tourney over Roswell, and Brassea/Gerhardus took a doubles victory.
Cavin is looking forward to the Coyote Classic March 4.
“That should be a good tournament for us, and even though we won’t have our Nos. 1 and 4 for those next two tournaments, we’ll continue on with our competitiveness,” he said. “And our doubles players will get to where they’re more accustomed to playing as a team.”
Results:
Boys
St. Michael’s 5, NMMI 4
Singles
No. 1, Will McDermott, SF, def. Francisco Saracho, NMMI, 6-1, 6-1
No. 2, Ian Watson, SF, def. Luis Fontes Plascencia, NMMI, 7-6, 6-0
No. 3, John Anderson, SF, def. Spencer Treat, NMMI, 3-6, 6-2, 10-8
No. 4, Felix Higuera Rodriguez, NMMI, def. Tristen Gress, SM, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
No. 5, Ignacio Ongay Campuzano, NMMI, def. Jared Smith, SM, 6-3, 7-6
No. 6, Sebastian Aguirre Russek, NMMI, def. Asa Anderson, SM, 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1, McDermott/Watson, SM, def. Saracha/Fontes, NMMI,6-1, 6-4
No. 2, Gress/J. Anderson, SM, def. Treat/Higuera, NMMI, 6-4, 7-6, 10-6
No. 3, Ongay/Aguirre, NMMI, def. A. Anderson/Smith, SM, 3-6, 7-5, 11-9
NMMI 9, Roswell 0
Singles
No. 1, Francisco Saracho, NMMI, def. Clayne Williams, RHS, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2, Luis Fontes Plascencia, NMMI, def. Victor Campos, RHS, 6-2, 6-0
No. 3, Spencer Treat, NMMI, def. CHasen Richardson, RHS, 6-0, 6-0
No. 4, Felix Higuera Rodriguez, NMMI, def. Joaquin Andrade, RHS, 6-1, 6-1
No. 5, Ignacio Ongay Campuzano, NMMI, def. Alex Fortuna, RHS, 6-4, 6-3
No. 6, Sebastian Aguirre Russek, NMMI, def. Daniel Campuzano, 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1, Saracha/Fontes, NMMI, def. Williams/Andrade, RHS, 6-3, 6-0
No. 2, Treat/Higuera, NMMI, def. Lonnie White/Fortuna, RHS, 6-0, 6-1
No. 3, Ongay/Aguirre, NMMI, def. Nathan Monroy/Danny Cardenas, RHS, 6-1, 6-1
Girls
Santa Fe 8, NMMI 1
Singles
No. 1, Megan Lynch, NMMI, def.Haley Garcia, SM, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2, Tianna Baca, SM, def. JinXiu Dong, NMMI, 6-0, 6-0
No. 3, Alexis Gallegos, SM, def. Sofia Brassea Flores, NMMI, 6-0, 6-0
No. 4,Kyra Chavez, SM, def. Claudia Gerhardus Blancarte, NMMI, 6-0, 6-0
No. 5, Abby Cugans, SM, def. Miranda Nepip, NMMI, 6-1, 6-1
No. 6, SM wins by default
Doubles
No. 1, Garcia/Baca, SM, def. Lynch/Dong, NMMI, 6-4, 6-3
No. 2, Gallegos/Chavez, def. Brassea/Gerhardus, 6-1, 6-1
No. 3, SM wins by default
NMMI 5, Roswell 4
Singles
No. 1, Megan Lynch, NMMI, def. Evelyn Williams, RHS, 6-1, 6-0
No. 2, Alejandra Ruiz, RHS, def. JinXiu Dong, NMMI, 1-6, 6-0, 10-6
No. 3, Candy Gonzalez, RHS, def. Sofia Brassea Flores, NMMI, 8-6, 2-6, 14-12
No. 4, Claudia Gerhardus Blancarte, NMMI, def. Elizabeth, Sarellano, RHS, 6-2, 6-0
No. 5, Miranda Nepip, NMMI, def. Kirsten Griffen, RHS, 7-5, 6-4
No. 6, RHS wins by default
Doubles
No. 1, Lynch/Dong, NMMI, def. Williams/Ruiz, RHS, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2, Brassea/Gerhardus, NMMI, def. Gonzales/Kathia Hernandez, RHS, 7-5, 6-3
No. 3, RHS wins by default