TENNIS ANYONE? — Bishop Badger tennis team recently competed at the regional tournament in San Marcos. Pictured are front row, from left Michael Crisman, Kasey Cavazos, Caleb Lee, Caleb Holmes and Josh Smith; back row, Leslyn Baker and Morgan Vassaur. The Bishop Badger tennis team recently competed in the regional tournament held in San Marcos last week.

The Badgers showed no mercy and played extremely well in a very competitive tennis region.

“As a whole, Bishop has not had this much success at regionals before,” Bishop Badger Tennis Coach Claudia Esquivel said.

Seniors Josh Smith and Caleb Holmes went into the regional tournament seeded at the No. 1 spot.

Indeed, they proved they were worthy of that seed as they finished as the 2A Region IV champions in boy’s doubles.

In the opening round of play, which proved to be their most difficult, they defeated a very tough and competitive team from Lexington with scores of 7-5 and 6-3.

DYNAMIC DUO — Bishop seniors Josh Smith and Caleb Holmes were crowned Region IV boy’s doubles champions and earned a trip to the state tournament to be held on May 10-11 at the Pennick-Allison Tennis Center at University of Texas in Austin. In the quarterfinals, they easily defeated the team from Industrial with scores of 6-1 and 6-0.

In the semifinal match, they outperformed a team from Weimer with scores of 6-1 and 6-0.

In the championship round, they defeated a team from Florence with scores of 6-2 and 6-2, thus earning them a spot in the state tournament to be held on May 10-11 at the Pennick- Allison Tennis Center at University of Texas in Austin.

Juniors Kasey Cavazos and Michael Crisman brought home the bronze medal in the mixed doubles division.

This team barely missed the state competition since the first two places advance.

In their opening round, they defeated the Odem team 6-1 and 6-2, followed by yet another victory in the quarterfinals over the Navarro team 6-1 and 7-5.

In the semifinals, the Cavazos/Crisman team faltered to the eventual regional champions from Industrial in a very close three set match.

They went on to beat the team from Navarro 6-4 and 6-2 to clinch third place, but in the challenge for second place, the team fell short to the team from Three Rivers.

“Kasey and Michael now know what they have to work on to make into the state tournament,” Esquivel said.

Sophomore Lesley Baker also earned a bronze medal in the girl’s singles division.

The was Baker’s second year returning to the regional tournament and played a much improved game from last year.

“We are positive that Leslyn will return next year and earn her place in the state tournament,” Esquivel said.

Tournament results for Baker were as follows: round one defeated Randolph 6-1 and 6-2, quarterfinal round defeated Weimer 6-4 and 6-0, semifinal round defeated Florence 6-4 and 6-1.

In the finals, Baker was defeated by the girl from Navarro 6-1 and 6-1.

Baker was challenged for second and lost to Kelsey Schwind from Blanco, thus falling out of contention with a third place finish.

Sophomore Morgan Vassaur was probably Bishop’s most improved tennis player for the season.

Vassaur was the underdog all season and proved everyone wrong when she defeated three other girls to earn a second place finish at the regional tournament.

“We expect a lot of great things from Morgan in the next couple of years,” Esquivel said.

Meanwhile, junior Caleb Lee got his first taste of regionals this year.

Lee finished in second place to earn himself a trip to the regional tournament, unfortunately he drew a tough bracket, facing the #2 seeded boy from Blanco in the opening round.

Lee never gave up in his match, but came up short with the loss.

“I look forward to Caleb’s performance in our new district and hope that along with his tennis talent, he has some “good luck” on his side next year,” Esquivel said.