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Men’s tennis opens season March 2

By Daniel Gaona
Photo by Daniel Gaona

Sharif Moustafa’s key to success in the upcoming season for the Pima Community College men’s tennis team is simple: stay focused.

“I just want these kids to be focused for one match at a time,” the first-year coach said. “Each match is a conference match, so it will be tough.”

The Aztecs officially kick off the season March 2 at Mesa Community College.

“This team is looking really good right now,” Moustafa said.

“We’re looking forward to getting the win and starting out the season strong with a good conference win,” he said, “but at the same time the guys need to know to take it one step at a time and not start looking to the future.”

The Aztecs were supposed to have one more practice round in a “Living the Dream” tournament Feb. 19-20, but it was cancelled due to the rain.

“We were planning on playing in it but unfortunately with the rain and everything they had to cancel it,” Moustafa said.

However, Moustafa saw a solid showing the previous weekend at the Border States Open, another adult tournament. Pima’s No. 1 player, Andrew Barnett, and No. 2 player, Alan Barrios, played each other in the final of the open singles. Barnett won 6-2, 6-2.

They also teamed up to win 7-6, 6-2, in the open doubles final.

“They have been competing really well and taking on good leadership roles,” Moustafa said about his top duo. “There is nothing bad I can say about them.”

Alan Barrios

Two days after the Aztecs open their season, they will return home to face Glendale Community College on March 4 at 1:30 p.m.

All of Pima’s home meets will be at the Tucson Racquet Club, located at 4001 N. Country Club Road. Admission is free.

After a short break, Pima will retake the court at TRC on March 9 against Paradise Valley Community College. That meet also starts at 1:30 p.m.

With everyone eligible, women’s tennis ready to start season

By Daniel Gaona

Eligibility issues will not be a problem this year for the Pima Community College women’s tennis team.

Last year, the Aztecs had to wait nearly half the season for their No. 1 player to be eligible while dual-enrollment was being processed. This year, all eight women are set before the team’s first meet.

“We’re all officially eligible,” head coach Gretchen Schantz said. “We have eight players and they are all eligible to play.”

Pima will travel to Eastern Arizona College on Feb 25. The Gila Monsters are once again the conference favorite but the Aztecs hope to change that. Schantz said she just wants to compete well against them.

“We are looking forward to getting on the road and starting out the season,” she said in an interview earlier this year. “We’ve had a lot of practice so I think we are finally ready to play.”

Last year, Eastern won the first meet 6-3 in Thatcher but Pima split the season series with a 6-3 win at home.

The Aztecs will host Mesa Community College on March 2 for their home opener. They will then have consecutive road games against Glendale Community College on March 4 and Paradise Valley Community College on March 9.

All home meets are at 1:30 p.m. at the Tucson Racquet Club, located at 4001 N. Country Club Road.

The team’s final rehearsal before opening the season was cancelled because of rain. The “Living the Dream” tournament will most likely be rescheduled for a later date.

“It rained pretty hard, so unfortunately we didn’t get to play any matches,” Schantz said about the tournament. “We started warming up and then it started raining.”

Pima did compete in the Border States Open on Feb. 12-14 at the TRC.

The likely No. 1 doubles team of Gabriela Rodriguez and Mary Croswell won the 4.0 heat, 7-6, 6-3.

Rodriguez and Croswell also faced off in the finals of the 4.0 singles heat. Rodriguez won 6-2, 6-1.

Lucy Gaynor made it to the finals of the 3.5 heat, but lost 3-6, 6-7.

Schantz said she was satisfied with the double teams and saw things that she liked.

Online Extra: Women’s Tennis 2010 Results

Photo by Daniel Gaona

4-6

February 25 @ *Eastern Arizona College L 8-1
March 2 vs. *MESA CC L 9-0
March 4 @ *Glendale CC L 6-3
March 9 @ *Paradise Valley CC postponed to April 9
March 23 vs. *SCOTTSDALE CC W 9-0
March 30 @ *Mesa CC L 9-0
April 1 vs. *GLENDALE CC L 6-3
April 8 @ *Scottsdale CC W 9-0
April 9 @ *Paradise Valley CC W 9-0
April 13 vs. *EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE L 7-2
April 15 vs. *PARADISE VALLEY CC W 8-1
April 19-20 Region 1 Tournament (Paseo Racquet Club, Glendale) 4th
May 1-6 NJCAA Championships Randolph Tennis Center – Tucson 19th

*ACCAC Conference Match

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Women’s tennis seeks return to nationals

By Daniel Gaona
Through the ups and downs of last season, the Pima Community College women’s tennis team ultimately finished strong, placing second at the region tournament and earning at trip to nationals.
“Last year was a really good year and I had a nice strong team,” head coach Gretchen Schantz said. “This year, my goal will be to at least do as well as last year. That was the best I’ve done since I was coach, and to do that again would be great.”
The Aztecs’ three sophomores are eager to make a return trip to nationals, while the five newcomers are looking to make their first trip in the coming season.
“I have three returning, so I’ve lost a good amount,” Schantz said. “I was able to recruit five more girls. Every year you pretty much start with a new team, which is normal. This year it looks pretty good.”
Pima’s first meaningful meet will be a tough one on the road. On Feb. 25 the Aztecs face Eastern Arizona College, the conference favorite.
“I believe they will be the strongest in our conference,” Schantz said. “They have been for a good four years and I believe they will be the team to beat again. I talked to the coach and his team seems to be very strong and my goal is to just compete well against them.”
“We gave them a run for their money last year and we’ll hope to do that again this year.”

Schantz also said this was a later start than usual but it is nice because it gives the team more time to practice.
The squad has been playing in various adult tournaments and has played the University of Arizona club team twice. The Aztecs will have another chance to prepare for the Gila Monsters in a “Living the Dream” leukemia fundraising event at the Tucson Racquet Club from Feb. 19-20.
“It’s a team tournament so players from all over Tucson will be playing in it, they just grab their own team,” Schantz said. “That will be really good practice for the girls.”
Tucson Racquet Club is located at 4001 N. Country Club Road.
Pima’s five home meets will be held at the Tucson Racquet Club because of the poor conditions of the West Campus courts.
“The courts over there were just a little dangerous for the players,” Schantz said. “Pima has it in their plans to resurface the courts; I have no idea of the time frame.”
Schantz said she is looking forward to the team’s diversity.
“I expect some good things, I have some nice players that came in,” she added. “I have a couple of girls from Mexico that have been here for a while. I also have a dual-enrollment player from UA. It’s nice that we have a good group of girls and a little bit different this year.”
The roster has eight players on it but as of Feb. 10 there were only six eligible. The other two athletes are waiting for official paperwork to be processed but Schantz believes everything will be finalized in time for Feb. 25.

Men’s Tennis, new coach set for season

By Jacquelyn Montaño

This year the Pima Community College men’s tennis is sporting a different look with its new coach Sharif Moustafa.

Moustafa has been a coach for 10 years and has held positions at a few places, including the Randolph Tennis Center. He also worked as the director at the Yuma Racquet and Fitness Club. He joined the Tucson Racquet Club about two years ago.

Now Moustafa is taking on a new position at Pima and immediately saw potential in the team.

“This is a good team,” Moustafa said proudly.

He replaces Mike Curry, who retired at the end of last season after being the only coach of the tennis team for more than 30 years.

Moustafa thinks he brings knowledge of how to get his players further in tennis, but said his main goals are to get his players to compete well and focus on school as he helps get them achieve their personal and scholastic goals.

The first thing Moustafa would like to work on is doubles matches, but when it comes to fitness he believes they are good to go.

“I think we’re very competitive and a strong team,” Moustafa said. “I’d like to see our double a little bit stronger. I think we are pretty good fitness-wise.”

Moustafa is satisfied with the team chemistry, saying that it has been pretty easy and that having two returning players adds to that.

“As long as we keep it competitive and smart the chemistry should be right there,” he said. “It’s nice to see people coming back.”

As far as the schedule goes, he is not excited about one particular game but rather sees each game as exciting.

“I think, being a coach, you are excited for all of it,” he added. “We started in September just working slowly and we’ve built ourselves to a pretty decent, competitive team. I’m looking forward to the whole schedule.”

The team recently had a scrimmage against the University of Arizona club team. Moustafa said each player came out with a “heart of gold” and won the match 8-1.

“It was a pretty big win for us and a good way to get the season started,” he said.

The Aztecs will hold their home games at Tucson Racquet Club, with their first match March 2 against Mesa Community College. Moustafa said he would like to see as much of the community as possible.

“I believe that we can be a competitive, nationally ranked team,” Moustafa said. “We just have to take this right now one game at a time, one step at a time and hopefully we can get there.”

Tucson Racquet Club is located at 4001 N. Country Club Road.