On April 26, our very own TWHS tennis players Emilio Lopez and Jose Perez won State for 6A boys doubles in San Antonio. They were undefeated throughout the entire season, meaning they did not lose a single match in all of spring. Until the State finals, they had not lost a single set, either. They played Tejas Ram and Noah Hakim from Allen, winning the first set 6-1, losing the second 3-6, and winning the third set 6-2, officially becoming the Texas champions.

“When Emilio and I won that last point, we had so many overwhelming feelings that we can’t explain,” said Perez. “The strongest one was relief for sure.”

Eli Sam and Carson Moore battled their way to the third place title for 6A boys doubles.

Moore talked about his tennis experience, saying, “It’s always been special playing at State with Eli. This year when we walked on court it felt different. It was almost like a switch flipped. I knew Eli understood the gravity of the day just as much as I did. We got out there against the defending state champion and his younger brother, and we played the best tennis we have ever played. We won that match in three sets and fell to Allen in three sets just an hour later in the semifinals, but it was the best imaginable last tournament to finish off my high school tennis career. I am so proud of how far Eli and I have come as a team since sophomore year.”

Sam is the only junior out of the group, as the rest of them are seniors. Moore and Lopez will be attending the University of Texas at Austin and Perez will be going to Collin College.

The Houston Chronicle named Emilio Lopez and Jose Perez the All-Greater Houston Boys Tennis Players of the Year.