![Walking through the tunnel created by the cheerleaders and Celebrities, senior Frances Tran smiles as the soccer team is sent off during DEN for their playoff game against Rouse tonight. Tran said the wins against Smithson Valley and Alamo Heights gave the team a morale boost to take on the Raiders tonight. “I know we were not 100% confident in those games,” Tran said. “But, Rouse is a big opponent for sure. We’re definitely going into tonight with a lot of morale [because of the previous wins].”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/frances-tran.jpg)
![Holding a bucket of materials in one hand and a roll of tape in another, anatomy and biology teacher Tyler Terry prepares for a lab. Terry said his proudest moments are when his students are happy to see him. “When I take my wife to a football game or something and a bunch of students want to say hi to me or they like to smile and wave and it just makes me feel good that the students are really kind and supportive of me,” Terry said. “[I’m also] proud when I see students perform really well in their extracurriculars because I can see how hard they’re working in my classes, [so] when I see that they’re also working so hard in other things. Like they’re winning band competitions or they’re getting awards for their theater productions, or I see them put on their choir shows, that’s like, wow, you guys are incredible.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rags-6.png)
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901.jpg)
Tennis Team Serves Tough Competition Going Into Playoffs
Preparing for playoffs, the tennis team celebrates before district play. The team will face Montgomery at A&M. “I am looking forward to good competition, and team-wise I’m hoping we are able to pull through,” junior varsity member Bryce Bailey said. “I think right now we have a lot of confidence being district finalists.”
October 17, 2018
After placing second in district and making it to playoffs for the sixth year in a row, the tennis team is ready to continue the school’s legacy and dominate in playoffs. The team is currently in the first round of playoffs and is preparing to play against some of the best schools in the area this season.
“I am looking forward to good competition, and team-wise I’m hoping we are able to pull through,” junior varsity member Bryce Bailey said. “I think right now we have a lot of confidence being district finalists.”
Bailey, who has been on the varsity team since his freshman year, said he has been working harder this year and competing in more tournaments in order to do well in the upcoming playoff games.
“I think this year I have improved a lot from last year, [and as a team], I think we have improved a lot on both sides, meaning boys and girls,” Bailey said. “I feel like I have a lot of confidence that I’m doing the right things.”
Even though the players compete in doubles and singles events, players who have not played in every game this year have also helped their teammates throughout the season, such as varsity extra, junior Akash Shetty.
“Akash is a great motivation to my performance,” Bailey said. “Before every game, he gives me a nice pep talk and helps with motivation.”
This is Shetty’s second year on the team and his first year being a varsity extra. Other than practicing with the other players, Shetty has gone to every match this season and has helped with providing materials and feedback in order to strengthen the team.
“I am excited to be there to support my team, provide for them and clap for them,” Shetty said. “I have really improved my form by watching them and [now] I have better gameplay.”
Shetty will also be with the team as they face different schools during playoffs and is ready to support his teammates.
“It’s great being with the varsity team because I get to practice with new people, even if I get less playing time,” Shetty said. “I have improved my game when playing against the opponents.”
Players will be competing in both singles and doubles, and the first person that makes it to 10 sets wins. The varsity won their first match 10-3 against Bastrop and will be facing Montgomery this Friday at A&M Consolidated.
![Holding her dog, Nova, senior Ariana Balakrishnan poses for her senior pictures while Nova wears a bandana with her college decision. Balakrishnan applied to 18 colleges in total, but she decided on Columbia in the end. “Right before I clicked the button to open Columbia’s letter, I literally looked at the camera and go ‘This is just gonna really suck because I wanted it so bad,’ and I clicked it and all of a sudden you hear trumpets,” Balakrishnan said. “There’s a video that plays when you open it and I actually didn’t watch the video, I just watched the screen go black, because every day of December before ED [Early Decision] I would go on YouTube and watch the acceptance video to manifest it, so immediately when the screen went black, I started screaming and jumping up and down. And my parents in the video are like ‘What are you doing, where’s the letter,’ and I was just screaming ‘I got in, I got in.” I just started crying, and it just felt like everything in the world came together.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ariana-2-300x217.jpg)
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901-600x400.jpg)
