The Merced High boys tennis team showed why they made an undefeated run to the Central California Conference championship with a strong showing in the conference championships. It was an all Bears singles final with James Tetangco defeating teammate Ian Hansford for his second consecutive CCC title. The Bears doubles team of Alejandro Martinez and Parth Mishra also won the doubles championship.

It was the second year in a row Tetangco played Hansford in the finals. “We’re as competitive as it gets,” Hansford said. “I know we both have been thinking about that match all year long. I’ve been training since last year to try to come back and beat him. He's been training to make sure that doesn't happen. We’re definitely super competitive, and we push each other a lot.”

Tetengco breezed through his first matches 6-0, 6-0 and then defeated teammate Martinez in the semifinals 6-1, 6-1. Hansford also cruised through his side of the bracket, defeating Los Banos’ Chase Fifield 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinals. 

The finals was very competitive with Tetangco outlasting Hansford 6-3, 6-2. “I was really happy to win last year and then a couple months after that I was already thinking about trying to come back and win again this year,” Tetangco said. “So I was definitely glad I was able to get it done.  iI's always fun to have good competition. Ian has definitely pushed me a lot to be better. I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am if I didn't have him coming after me the whole time.”

Both Tetangco and Hansford will advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section singles tournament in Roseville in May. They will be joined by Martinez and Mishra, who defeated El Capitan’s team of David Salazar and Noah Duong 6-1, 6-4 in the doubles championship on Thursday. Both doubles teams will also advance to the section tournament in Roseville.

The Merced boys will also begin the team section playoffs in May. “Coming into this year, I wasn't sure how our team would look, but honestly, the way our team has been playing, and how everybody has been locked in, our team has been awesome and this season has been super special,” Hansford said. “I really think we have a lot of hope for the playoffs, and I think we could do something that hasn’t been done by a Merced team in a long time.” 

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.