By Natalie Tran
The Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) girls’ varsity tennis team secured the 2021 Wave League title last Thursday after their final match of the season against Laguna Beach High School, in which they won 14-4. This is, by all means, a historic victory for the team as FVHS had not won a league title since 1991. Indeed, the journey was long with both wins and losses but in the end, the Lady Barons had just enough to make it out on top.
Winning the league title was made even more memorable for the senior tennis players as they were able to end the season on a high note.
Cheers erupted on the courts Thursday evening as freshman Sophie Vu secured the final winning match 7-6. The camaraderie and close-knit bond within the team was apparent as they gathered around Coach Harshul Patel to perform their team cheer. The courts were decorated with team photos, balloons were lined up along the fences and the senior players were each given a bouquet.
The team shared their insights on winning the Wave League as the senior players recounted their highlights from their past four years. Read through to see their firsthand reactions to becoming league champions as well as some words of wisdom from the departing seniors.
Kaylee Tran, Senior
“I’m beyond ecstatic about winning league… it’s something that I never thought I would have the chance to experience, and I definitely couldn’t replace this emotion with anything,” Tran said. “[The] journey [was] happily exhausting…I know this team and I pushed our limits really hard to keep bringing the same energy and same effort every week, but there wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t happy with how tired I was.”
As captain of the girls’ tennis team, Tran cultivated strong relationships with the team. With a thriving support system and a great sense of collaborative culture, the team’s chemistry remains unmatched.
“I think one of the biggest highlights is having a team that is connected and supportive of each other,” Tran said. “I think the bond we have is the type that people see in the movies, and if any team was going to win together, I’m beyond glad it was this one. I couldn’t even pick a favorite moment if I had one…the team shares so many inside jokes and laughs that it seems unlimited.”
In a farewell note, Tran advised the underclassmen team to view this year’s win as a source of inspiration and motivation for future ones.
“I hope that the underclassmen see that dedication and the will to fight is key in accomplishing something like this. Only a few players on the team even have a ranking and the rest of us are practically unknown…I hope that [this] gives the underclassmen inspiration to continue pushing towards their athletic goals and the motivation they can be the underdog and still succeed,” Tran said. “Personally, I hope that my leadership as captain teaches them to lead not only by example and discipline, but with compassion and charisma as well.”
Emily Tran, Junior
“The journey that got me here wasn’t easy…our team really had to stay dedicated and resilient these past few months. We [had] practice almost every day of the week and I [made] sure to put my best foot forward each time,” Tran said. “That said, winning league was a super rewarding and happy experience for me. All of the work that the team and I put into practice these past months were worth it because we won the amazing title after 30 years.”
Paige Ngo, Senior
“At the beginning of the season, I was very optimistic but definitely did not expect to win league. Winning was 100% due to the efforts from all members of our team. Practicing every weekday after coming back from our strict quarantine, and even coming to the courts on Saturdays, helped us prepare for the long season we had ahead of us,” Ngo said. “I feel absolutely ecstatic and proud knowing that all of our team’s hard work and dedication finally paid off.”
According to Ngo, the best part of her four year FVHS tennis career were the memories that she made with her team. As her bit of parting advice, she encourages the underclassmen to do the same.
“Being able to win with an amazing, loving team was everything I could’ve asked for in a sport,” Ngo said. “I wish the underclassmen team the best of luck going into next year…I want them to know [how] to play with a positive mindset and [to] not not look back at mistakes. The most important tip I can offer is to play your best while creating memories with your team.”
Nghi Trinh, Junior
“I felt very shocked about winning and I did not expect this at the beginning of the season because I was informed by multiple friends that the Laguna Beach High School team was very strong,” Trinh said. “I am very proud of the team for putting all of their effort in to defeat all the other teams in our league.”
The journey was both unique and tough for Trinh as she suffered an injury in early April. Nevertheless, she persisted through and was able to recover in time for their final match, which according to Trinh, was her main highlight of the season.
“All things were going well for me until I fell on April 1 during the last match before season and sprained my ankle. My journey turned into more of a mental fight rather than a fight on the court,” Trinh said. “I focused all of my energy into recovering and was able to come back for the last match of the season, which I got to play with one of my closest friends on the team as my doubles partner.”
Jasmine Nguyen, Senior
“I definitely did not expect to win league because I had no idea where other teams, and ours, stood in terms of skill,” Nguyen said. “[But] honestly, the feeling of winning has been unbelievable…to me, I still can’t grasp that the team managed to pull together and win the league title. I’m extremely grateful that we could have this success in my senior year.”
Attaining such victory was no easy feat for the team as it required hours of training as well as some losses along the way. Thus, Nguyen hopes that the next class will be able to finish what they started.
“Saying that this journey has been rough is no understatement…the team worked incredibly hard these last two years to train for this moment. The losses only paved the way for this win,” Nguyen said. “I hope that this year can show the next underclassmen team that FVHS girls’ tennis is more than capable enough to finish the journey that we, the current team, started.”
Iris Chau, Sophomore
“I did not expect a win this season because we knew we would have to go against hard schools that we previously lost to last year,” Chau said. “But I’m really happy that I got to celebrate a win with them…they deserve this win after being on the team for four years.”
Chau helped decorate the courts on Thursday afternoon in preparation for the team’s last match of the season. With cut-out signs of the seniors’ faces and a fence filled with team photos, it is clear that Chau cherishes the bond that she shares with her teammates.
“[The team] is like family to me; they’ve always been here for me, on and off the courts,” Chau said. “Winning league wasn’t the highlight of the tennis season, but rather getting closer with all of them. I can’t imagine season without them next year, so I might as well make every moment with them a memorable one.”
Skylar Ngo, Senior
“At the beginning of season, I was not expecting this at all because of last season’s record,” Ngo said. “I think it’s incredible that our team was able to win the league title for the first time in thirty years. Throughout every match, we put in so much energy and effort and I’m so glad we were able to achieve this together.”
Like her other teammates, Ngo cherishes her time at FVHS tennis due to the strong companionship within the team. She was also fortunate to work with a doubles partner who she made many memories with.
“One important highlight of playing for the FVHS tennis team was the friendships I got to make…the team is more like a family to me and I’m grateful that I got to meet these amazing people during my high school years,” Ngo said. “Another highlight was being lucky enough to play two years in a row with my doubles partner, Iris Chau. She made my last two years incredible and unforgettable…I’ve made so many wonderful memories with her and the team.”
Sophie Vu, Freshman
“To be honest, I wasn’t too sure what to expect… but this was even better than we had imagined,” Vu said. “I’m happy and shocked at the same time because the seniors have won league and get to leave here feeling proud.”
As the only freshman on the girls’ varsity team, Vu is surprised that she was able to achieve such an accomplishment.
“I still can’t believe we won league my first year here,” Vu said. “The journey here was really tough…if we hadn’t practiced and trained every day putting 100 percent effort and pure determination, we wouldn’t have gotten here. I’m so proud of our team and hope next year will be just as good.”
Christy Chau, Senior
“I am extremely overjoyed! I thought we would be co-champs, but when I found out that we were champs, the whole team and I screamed,” Chau said. “The journey that got us here required a lot of hard work…but all of [it] paid off though when we snatched the title.”
The best part about tennis at FVHS for Chau is celebrating with her friends after the match. She hopes that the underclassmen team can continue that spirit, win or lose.
“Some of my highlights that I’ve had in my last four years is eating out with my team even if we lose a match, car karaoke on the way to matches and being able to celebrate all of our wins together by cheering up and down at every match,” Chau said. “I hope to leave back my spirit and optimism for [the underclassmen]. All it needs is a little optimism and a little bit of that Baron pride.”
Tiffany Hoang, Senior
“Winning league was one of the best moments for our varsity girls’ tennis team,” Hoang said. “We set this goal as a team two years ago and have all worked so hard every day to achieve it and it feels incredible to be league champs together.”
Of course, winning league is not an easy task as Hoang had no expectations of winning this year.
“Last year was a really rough year for us and having almost the same team, I was not expecting us to win at all,” Hoang said. “The journey that led us to this title match was definitely challenging. However, we put in our full effort [when] we stepped onto the court and that really paid off.”
