Shamrocks eye return to Team Tennis Championship

This year they don't just want to get to the championship match, they want to take home some hardware

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Fueled by last season’s disappointment, Yuma Catholic’s girls tennis team has turned redemption into results.

After falling short in the team championship a year ago, the Shamrocks responded with a perfect 14-0 regular season and carried that momentum into the postseason with a sweep of Pima in the opening round of the Division III playoffs.

The Shamrocks’ dominance has been built on consistent effort and preparation. Players train five days a week, often for nearly two hours a day, sharpening their skills and building the foundation for a championship run.

Yuma Catholic Head Coach Porfirio Gonzalez said the girls team will even practice against the boys team sometimes.

“It stems from like a lot of practice and a lot of dedication,” said No. 1 player Sofia Gallegos. “We practice five times a week for almost two hours every day. Our amazing coaches are constantly on us about everything, and we’re all just really passionate. None of us are slackers. We all try and we all really want to win.”

That mindset has resonated throughout the roster, especially among returning players like senior Annie Scarborough, who has used last year’s postseason loss as motivation.

“Last year during state for semifinals, I had like a pretty rough game,” Scarborough said. “After I lost, I just sat there and thought I never want this to happen again. Ever since then, I’ve just been working my butt off, and so is the whole team.”

Beyond the results, the team credits its close-knit bond as a key to its success.

“We always say we’re like no other YC sport,” Scarborough said. “We’re literally a family. I know I could tell this team anything. I trust them to give me good advice, to keep my secrets and to comfort me.”

Gonzalez, who began playing tennis as a child and competed in the Junior Olympics at 17, said watching his players grow on and off the court remains the most rewarding part of coaching.

“I’m so proud of every year, all the kids,” he said. “They graduate, they go to college, and every year is a little different. You can see the tennis is getting better and better.”

Yuma Catholic now turns its attention to individual singles and doubles competition before returning to team play in the next round of the playoffs on May 5. The Shamrocks hope to maintain the same intensity that has carried them this far.

With an unbeaten record and a renewed sense of purpose, the Shamrocks remain focused on finishing what they started.