Nov 1, 2009 12:48 pm US/Pacific
H.S. Tennis Team Beats Odds, Heads To CIF Playoffs
BUENA PARK, Calif. (CBS) ―
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The Buena Park High School Varsity Girl's tennis team have made it to the CIF playoffs.
CBS
The Buena Park High School Varsity Girl's tennis players have a lot to shout about.
For the first time in the school's history, they have made it to the CIF playoffs. These teenage girls really have beaten the odds when you consider how little they have to work with.
Two of the players didn't have rackets when they joined the team. Most take the court in casual canvas shoes – not tennis shoes that provide foot and ankle support.
Private lessons and tournament play is almost unheard of with this group, yet, the Varsity girls' will compete in mid-November against the best.
"They have hand-me-down rackets. A couple of our rackets were hand-me-downs from a Troy player who is now playing at Notre Dame. The shoes… whatever shoes they wear to school, they wear on the tennis court's because that's all they can do. And they work hard while they're here and they have great attitudes and they have great team comradery," said Suzan Uba, Buena Park High School's tennis coach.
In league play, Buena Park went up against Troy High School – a tennis powerhouse. They lost, but they have won the hearts of the girls from Fullerton, who play with fancy rackets and top-of-the-line gear.
A former star player has donated her old rackets to Buena Park.
Donna Judd, Troy High School's head coach says her girls are reminded just how fortunate they are and they respect how far their opponents have come.
"The fact that they didn't have tennis lessons and Coach Uba started a summer program and got kids out… you know, at very little cost to them. And she also did fundraisers and so forth, to help the kids to make it. It wasn't a level playing field and it still isn't so they're doing extra well," Judd, said.
Shakhila James is going to CIF. She first picked up a racket only three years ago and that racket belonged to Cosmina Ciobanu, an Orange County resident now playing for Notre Dame… it brings her luck.
"I think it's lucky cause she has a full ride to Notre Dame and every since I've been playing with this racket I've improved so," Shakhila James, a varsity player for Buena Park, said. "When you look at us, like most of us, have gotten our rackets from Target and like, we still come out here and we still smash, so I mean, I think that the person makes the player… not what you're wearing," James added.
If you'd like to help support the team, you can make a donation by e-mailing
sguba@fjuhsd.net.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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