For the first time in Temescal Canyon High School’s history, the girls varsity tennis team secured the CIF championship title. Battling the other teams of Division 5 in the Southern Section, they had to go through five rounds to win.
The Titans beat Rubidoux 14-4 in the first round. After defeating Katella 11-7 in the second round, they moved on to the quarter-finals where they beat Westminster 11-7.
They then continued on to semi-finals where they beat Montclair 11 to 7. Their hard work paid off when they defeated Orange, who had a season record of 23 wins and 0 losses, at the Claremont Club with a score of 13-5.
Coach Laurel Hebein and assistant coach Tony Arendt, both Canyon Lake residents, led fellow Canyon Lake players Keely Arendt, Kirsten Ha, Amanda Martilla, Brianna Martilla, Adelina Whaley, along with the rest of their team, Kaitlyn Driggers, Angelina Ha, Valarie Hallin, Yasmin Johnson, Madison Ngo, Bethany Strong, and Semaj Walter, to victory.
Coach Arendt said, “I didn’t grasp how gratifying it would be to be able to help coach Laurel. She had a great game plan for the girls in practice. The girls came out every day, even in the crazy heat of August, and gave it 100 percent. My work had me miss the quarter and semi finals. I told the girls they must win so I could meet back up with them in the finals. They did it. Just making it to the CIF finals is such an amazing privilege. But to win it is just off the charts.”
This is the first CIF win for coach Hebein, who’s been coaching the team for 14 years. “It is the most unbelievable feeling of all good things coming together. I am so happy for this kids. They worked so hard and I truly feel they deserve it,” she said.
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