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Turlock tennis loses in first round of team playoffs
Turlock tennis
The Turlock High tennis team finished their season with a 13-1 overall record, including a 12-0 regular season record — the program’s first since 2014 (CHRISTOPHER CORREA/The Journal).

The dream season for the Turlock High School varsity tennis team has come to an end after falling to River City High of West Sacramento by a 6-3 score on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite a drive that lasted nearly two hours, the River City squad was full of energy, winning each match outside of the top three singles duals. In those three singles matches, Peter Wilson, Erik Peterson and Matteo Hernandez each won in two sets.

“It is over quicker than we wanted it to be, but we did have a really good preseason and a good regular season, as well. This was a good group,” said Turlock head coach Garry Harris.

Turlock’s top ranked singles player Peter Wilson, just four days removed from winning the Central California Athletic League title, outlasted River City’s Manav Patel. After winning the first set 6-4, he pulled out a 7-6 victory in the second set after winning a tiebreaking set 7-4. He improved to 16-0 on the season.

Also improving his record in singles play was second-ranked player Erik Peterson, who earned third place at last week’s CCAL tournament. He cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ethan Victor. He is now 15-1 on the season.

“I was just staying consistent with my shots,” Peterson said. “It was definitely a good player I played against.”

Though the team season has ended, Wilson and Peterson have their sights set on competing at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I singles tournament May 13-14 at the Johnson Racquetball Club in Roseville.

“Team season ended, but I’m really proud of our guys,” Peterson added. 

Harris shared similar sentiments, praising players, some of whom had never played the sport entering the season, for always striving to get better.

“I am most proud of the bond the boys have and the work that they've been putting in,” he said. “We have so many boys staying after practice, taking lessons, just soaking in tennis. It’s always good to see.”

While the two Turlockers await the prestigious D-1 boys singles tournament in two weeks’ time, other schools preparing for playoff action include the Hughson co-ed squad that will be hosting Florin High (Sacramento) in the D-1 bracket on Thursday and Turlock Christian’s co-ed team that will travel to take on Sacramento Country Day School in the D-2 bracket on Thursday.