Memorial High School’s tennis team just capped off a dominant season by absolutely seizing the UIL Class 6A team tennis state championship, taking down Southlake Carroll 10-7 in Thursday’s final at the Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio. This isn’t just another win, people. This is their third program state title, adding to 2017 and 2019, and it marks their first trip back to the final four since 2023. What a statement.
From Rocky Start to Unstoppable Force: The Championship Gauntlet
Talk about turning it around! The Mustangs finished the season with an insane 18-1 record. Get this: their ONLY loss? To Round Rock Westwood, in their very first match of the season. After that, they didn’t drop another contest, ripping off 18 consecutive victories. You can’t make this stuff up! They kicked off the postseason like absolute bosses, demolishing Pasadena Dobie 19-0, then crushing Barbers Hill 11-0, and sweeping Pearland Dawson 10-0. Those were just warm-ups. The real tests came next: a hard-fought 10-7 win against Austin Vandegrift, followed by a 10-5 regional final victory over Clements. But the real drama? It was in the semifinals on Wednesday when Memorial faced five-time state champion Round Rock Westwood. The team avenged their season-opening loss with a clutch 10-9 win. That’s how you come back from a setback, folks.
Championship Clinch: Doubles Dominance and Unbelievable Singles Grits
The championship match against Southlake Carroll was everything you’d want in a final. Southlake Carroll, who just knocked out the previously undefeated 2025 state champ The Woodlands in their own semifinal thriller, brought the fight. But Memorial, led by Coach Brian Mandell and Assistant J.P. Bonilla, was simply built different. They swept the girls doubles matches, setting the tone early. Lucy Chung and Katherine Varady took down Dua Akbar and Elizabeth Butterbach 6-3, 6-4. Zoe Smith and Addison Womac absolutely rolled over Caroline Heath and Jasleen Rangee 6-1, 6-0. And Grace Martin and Celeste Hoang put on a clinic, beating Sophia Lourido and Isabella de Fazio 6-0, 6-1. On the boys’ side, Yosef Elyashkevich and Nicholas Du added a crucial 6-4, 6-2 victory over Rushil Rajpal and Francesco Poggi, giving Memorial a 4-3 lead going into singles. That was huge.
In singles, Chung, Martin, Smith, and Womac all delivered straight-set victories, showing incredible focus. Chung beat Siena Castro 6-3, 6-3, Martin beat Akbar 6-3, 6-2, Smith topped Macey Ord 6-0, 6-3, and Womac defeated Lourido 6-4, 6-2. But the real heart-stoppers? The boys’ singles. Joowon Kim fought back from a set down to defeat Francesco Poggi 4-6, 6-2, 10-3. Then Aiden Yan rallied in his own match, overcoming Carlos Poggi 3-6, 6-3, 10-6. Those two comeback wins, those moments of pure grit, sealed the 10 wins Memorial needed for the championship. That’s what true champions are made of.
This team just wrote an incredible chapter in their program’s history. Three state titles now, and they truly earned this one with an unforgettable season defined by perseverance, dominance, and some absolutely clutch performances when it mattered most. The question for next year? Can they defend the throne and keep this dynasty rolling? You know they’ll be ready for it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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