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Lady Mustangs win fourth straight Valley championship
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Anonymous user Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:25:30 PST
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0 responses 0 comments The Stockdale High School Lady Mustangs tennis team accomplished the unthinkable this year: winning their fourth straight San Joaquin Valley (CIF) championships.
 Led by a powerful mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors, the Lady Mustangs defeated a determined team from Redwood High of Visalia 6-3 at the Bakersfield Racquet Club before a throng of local supporters and visitors. It was the fourth straight year that the Stockdale girls brought home the Valley title.
 “I could not be prouder of these girls,” said Stockdale coach Art Sherwyn, who is in his second year as the Lady Mustangs coach. “They fought and improved all year. They are a good group of girls — all of them dedicated — and a pleasure to coach.”
 Sherwyn, who is an accomplished artist in his spare time (his works were recently featured during a show at the Bakersfield Museum of Art) is known to wax poetic about the depth and strength of his team,  and he did so again after the victory.
 Sherwyn likened the team to bamboo, saying the team can “bend” at times but simply refuses to break. That was true in the first six singles matches that were split 3-3 with Redwood. Stockdale High School singles players Hannah Beene, Kim Keathley and Frances Ellison all won their singles matches. In doubles, the Stockdale girls showed their depth, sweeping all three doubles matches.
 Cheering the local team on was an impressive group of Stockdale parents who have followed the team since the first match of the season, along with Stockdale High Principal Ramon Hendrix, Stockdale Athletic Director Mark Hance and former principal Randy Gruber.
 The team championship came just a week after senior Denise Ellison captured the Valley singles title individual championship. She did that by defeating Redwood freshman Gabrielle Gatewood. It was Ellison’s second straight Valley singles title. Stockdale almost accomplished a sweep of the valley individual titles when Frances Ellison (Denise’s sister) and junior Hannah Beene made it to the Valley doubles championships, but they lost to a team from Buchanan High in Fresno.
 Other Stockdale girls representing the team in the individual valley competition included Kim Keathley, Ellen Bartling, Bhavana Ventakaram, Jennifer Hamilton, Stevi Lincoln and Julie Hutton.

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