2018 WOMEN'S TENNIS NATIONALS
Coach Brian Waddell in his 10th season as the head women's tennis coach here at NCTC took his team to the 2018 Women's Tennis Nationals in Waco, Texas. The lady lions have had an excellent season going 11-4 overall but had 15 rain/iced/weather related cancellations this spring. The national competition has gotten stronger and stronger every year with the new rule of unlimited international players two years ago "said coach Waddell".
The lady lions had a pretty good first day at nationals winning three of the five singles matches played and two of the three doubles matches also played for a total of 10 points. Coach Waddell went on explain that the NJCAA Juco tournament is an individual players draw but with all points going to each team for a final standing.
The second day the lady lions won four singles matches and two doubles matches to raise their point total to 15 and a 14th place standing. Third day the lady lions won four singles matches and one doubles matches to total 18 points and a 11th place standing. On the fourth day the lady lions won 2 singles and 1 doubles match for a final total of 19 ½ and a 9th place finish.
Brenda Aguilar won the back draw championships in singles at flight #2 and she and Melissa Ariza won the back draw doubles championships as well at the #1 flight. Yana Goranova lost in the back draw championships on the same day at flight #1 singles.
The lady lion's line-up was as followed with their points won toward the team total;
Singles
#1- Yana Goranova 1 ½ points
#2- Brenda Aguilar 2 points
#3- Melissa Ariza 3 points
#4- Carolina Fabbri 3 points
#5- Yashleen Kheterpal 2 points
#6- Nathalie Wetherington 2 points
DOUBLES
#1- Aguilar / Ariza 2 points
#2- Goranova / Fabbri 2 points
#3- Kheterpal / Wetherington 2 points
This was a very strange and challenging season "said coach Waddell" losing three young ladies at graduation in December, plus one young freshman lady was home sick and moved back to her country. Bringing in two new recruits in January and having them learn my system of coaching and leadership was also difficult but everyone bought into my system and picked up the slack of the loss of four players. Also, losing out on 15 dual matches due to the weather this spring was very hard to deal with as well as all the young ladies missed out on so much court time and experience that can't be taught during practice time.
The 9th place finish nationally was very well earned and with all the hard work my players put into this season both on and off the court was very much appreciated " said coach Waddell". his was also the fifth season in ten years that coach Waddell's teams have finished in the top ten nationally.