Coyotes earn runner-up plaque

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

The Madera Coyote girls tennis team show off the Div. V Runner-up plaque after Tuesday’s loss to Fresno Christian in the championship match. It was the first-ever championship match for the girls tennis team. Front row, from left, are Sharmaine Cortez, Sophia Mia Aban and Annaiya Franco. Back row, from left, are Coach Nathan Melchor, Hannah Lopez, Daisy Herrera, Liliana Gomez, Zaina Sheikh, Avah Savala and Head Coach Victor Ramirez.

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FRESNO — For the first time in the history of girls tennis at Madera, a team reached the Central Section Championship match.

Although the eighth-seeded Coyotes lost to the third-seeded Fresno Christian Eagles on Tuesday, the season was a total success for eighth-year head coach Victor Ramirez.

“This is a great way to start,” Ramirez said. “They’re going to be the spearhead to the future of tennis teams that are coming on up. It’s a blessing to have a group of girls like this when you have this much talent and the girls worked hard.”