Melchor brothers make Central Section history

Wendy Alexander/the Madera Tribune

The Melchor brothers proudly display their Central Section Boys Tennis Championship plaques. Mark, left, led the Toros to the Div. IV title while Nathan led the Stallions to the Div. V title. 

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In a match that was moved to the morning because of the impending heat wave, the Madera South Stallions boys tennis team cruised to a 6-1 victory over Granite Hills. 

The top-seeded Stallions finished their win at about 1 p.m. last Tuesday afternoon when their No. 5 and No. 6 singles players won at the same time to clinch the school’s first-ever Central Section boys tennis title with a Div. V win over No. 2 Granite Hills.

The victory gave the Stallions an undefeated season and head coach Nathan Melchor a Central Section title in his first year.

After the Stallions finished celebrating, across town, the top-seeded Matilda Torres Toros were battling No. 3 Foothill for the Div. IV Central Section Championship.

The Toros took a 3-0 lead after the doubles, and quickly picked up two wins for their first Central Section title. 

The win also gave head coach Mark Melchor his first Central Section title. 

On hand to watch the Torres proceedings was Melchor’s brother, Nathan, who was carrying his Div. V Central Section championship plaque. 

“I said we would be in the same boat,” Mark said. “It’s beautiful to see. It’s crazy to be in separate brackets, and win it all.”

With the two victories that gave two schools its first Central Section boys tennis titles, Nathan and Mark also became the first brothers to win a Central Section title in the same year for different teams, according to historian Bob Barnett.

On hand to celebrate the win was the Melchor’s mother, who was at Nathan’s match in the morning, and Mark’s match in the afternoon.

“My mom was in the background, so she let’s us do our thing. She supports us all the way,” Mark said. 

Also celebrating the win was Madera Coyotes boys tennis coach Victor Ramirez, who had both Melchors as his assistant coaches. 

“It was amazing to see Victor there. We are competitors, but we all represent Madera,” Mark said.