The Aliso Niguel High School Girls Tennis Team has done the impossible, advancing all the way to the finals in the CIF-SS division 1 tournament, and then going on to win it all.
Before the finals, the girls played their semifinal match at home against Fountain Valley, who had recently swept the reigning CIF Champions, Tesoro High School, 18-0 in the opening round.
The Wolverines took care of business, beating the Fountain Valley Barons 11-7.
For the final round, Aliso had a mighty task in front of them, playing against Los Osos, a team who had been to the finals the previous year. Coming into the finals the Grizzlies were unbeaten the entire season, with an undefeated record of 14-0.
Los Osos were by far the team to beat in this CIF finals and the favorites. In the semifinals of the tournament last year, Aliso ended up losing to Los Osos at their home court, 11-7.
Although the Grizzlies were the best-ranked team in doubles, Aliso Niguel’s single play seemed to be the key winner for the Wolverines.
The match between Aliso’s Ann Kato (12) and Los Osos’s Shukan Parikh was the most pivotal singles round, and surely the round with the most drama.
Aliso was down six to nine in matches, and the first team to 10 would win the entire competition. The doubles set finished earlier than Ann and Parikh’s single game, so everyone was there to watch this decisive set. Aliso doubles had only won one doubles game out of five while the Aliso singles dominated winning four out of the five. Aliso needed a win to stay in the contest, and Ann Kato was there to save the day.
Parikh of Los Osos was actually up three to zero in games, and Parikh had two match points to win it all for the Grizzlies, however, Kato bounced back and ended up sending the set into a tiebreaker. Kato was able to then furthermore win eight to six in the tiebreaker to make the score six to nine.
The only thing left for the Wolverines to get their rings was for the individuals to take care of their own battles, which Aliso specialized in. The Wolverines won the first two of three individual games.
Both players and coaches were there to witness the last set.
Olivia Allegre (11) was up 5-0 in games and when she put the nail to the coffin, absolute scenes were bursting from the Pomona Pitzer College tennis courts.
Hero Ann Kato described this moment as, “So surreal; I’ve never felt that way before after a win. There were so many people supporting me, and at that moment I realized how much I love the competition and the game of tennis. It was so insane, I wish everyone was there to watch it.”
Katelyn Bethard (12) also commented on the finale of the finals, “When Olivia won, we all ran onto the court and hugged each other and there were lots of happy tears. This is my last ever high school match, however, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the season.”
After the match, the Wolverines celebrated their victory by heading to Stadium Brewery to spend time together.
The Wolverines ended up wrapping their CIF journey with what they had wanted all along, not only a plaque and rings but a place in the history books and a legacy that won’t be forgotten.
