This past Tuesday and Thursday, West High’s girls tennis team competed in the Pioneer League Finals, and faced tough opponents including their rivals from South High. On both days, the team went to the semifinals in singles and doubles, making their mark on competition.

Seniors Jeena Shetti and Emily Lennon broke to the singles semi-final round, and also as doubles partners on Thursday. It was a challenge for both, especially because they wanted to finish their last season on a strong note. Lennon recalls how challenging it is to perform and play her best game, saying, “It was difficult because last year I lost second round and even though we all try to, it’s hard to forget how well you’ve done in the past and to do better.” Shetti agrees, saying, “It was a challenge especially my second and third round, because there were matches against strong players.” Even so, making it to the semi final round was still a major accomplishment for West as a whole.

Freshman Mia Kobayashi (9) and Ruchi Shetti (9) also played in the semi-final round, losing after a tiebreak of 8-10. Jennifer Whitman (11) admires how her teammates are so dedicated despite the loss, describing how, “They all did really well, and there was never a moment where they stopped fighting.” The team has fought hard throughout their season, with another win this past Monday against Torrance, with a victory of 17-1.

Overall, West Tennis has performed well this past season and they anticipate doing even better next year! Their first CIF match is next Wednesday, be sure to attend and show your support!