Tennis team swinging into national finals

The Eastfield tennis team is participating in the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association Tennis Tournament through mid May. They are getting ready for make a good performance in the tournament.

The female team attended the finals in Tucson, where sophomore Sofia won the singles title for Div. III. Scores of 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 helped her take home the gold medal.

Molina and team captain Rachel Schomer were the National Women's Doubles runners-up and second team All-Americans.

"I am very excited about the results," tennis coach Chris Geyman said.

Due to new policies and regulations some tennis players left the team.

"We lost players from the girls team, and we only took four players to the finals. All my hopes and expectations were in Sofia." Geyman.

This semester was not easy for Molina. She had to recuperate from an injury but said all the extra work was worth it.

"I feel good. I am happy with the results, and it was an exciting week. By the end of the tournament I was exhausted." Molina said.

While the women's team got their chance to compete at the National Finals, this week it's the men's turn.

Although the team practiced for the last three weeks, they were allowed to train only six hours per week. But some players said they do additional exercise to get ready for finals.

"Since April I have been running more, and doing more exercise," tennis player Adriel Gonzalez said. "I preferred to start in April because in May the weather is really hot." "The tennis court is hotter than other places, and there is no wind because it is blocked by the walls and brushes."

Assistant coach O'Shun Jackson said the team has been getting ready for the championship and working hard to get good places.

"When the nationals get here we take it seriously," Jackson said.

Sophomore player Caleb Prewitt said he and the entire team are excited about the National Finals.

"We are going to win," said Prewitt, who in is his last season with the Eastfield tennis team.

Prewitt had been with the tennis team for two years and last year he won first place in singles Div. III.