The strong finish

Edward Valencia, Writer/Parents and Teachers Editor

November 1, 2013

On Oct. 22, Lauren Martinez, 11, plays against Paramount during their last tennis game of the season at the Downey courts. Martinez ranked second in singles tournament.

The girls varsity tennis team played their final match at home on Tuesday, Oct. 22 against Paramount, where they finished the season with a record of 10-2

In the singles matches, senior Erin Freeman and sophomores Lauren Martinez and Tara Kazimi won 7 out of 9 games in total. The Pirates rallied late, with the Lady Vikes winning 4 out of 9 doubles games, but held on to win 11-7.

The girls wrapped up a successful season, finishing 9-3 in the league. The season fused new teammates with last year’s league title champions. Coach Diego felt proud of the players.

“We won last year,” Diego said. “And we have a lot of the returning players from last year’s team, so it’s a great team.”

Senior Dimitra Loumiotis is a returning player who has played on the team for four years, she feels somber about finishing her final season playing tennis.

“It was fun, but it’s kind of sad,” Loumiotis said. “It’s bittersweet, I’m gonna miss it.”

One of the highlights, or heartbreaks, of the season was when the girls played against Warren. The game was evenly matched and went back and forth. The game ended in a tie, and a tiebreaker had to be played where Warren won by one match and defeated the Lady Vikes.

“They were so evenly matched,” Diego said. “Our first game we lost, the second game we won, the third game was a tie, and then we lost by one game. It was awful.”

Senior Dimitra Loumiotis is a returning player who has played on the team for four years, she feels somber about finishing her final season playing tennis.

This season, the league champions were joined by players from another sport: soccer. A few members from the girls soccer team joined the tennis team.

Lucy Martinez, a soccer player who decided to try out for the team, was welcomed by the other tennis players, even though she felt out of place trying out for a sport she had no experience in.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Martinez said. “I felt awkward and weird because I’ve never played that sport; it was a different experience for me but the girls welcomed us nicely and we made new friends. And Coach Diego is the best.”

The girls finished the season with a record of 10-2. After the regular season, a few players went on to the League Finals. Senior Erin Freeman, who went undefeated in singles, placed first in the San Gabriel Valley League. The doubles team of sophomores Tara Kazimi and Lauren Martinez placed second overall, while the doubles team of juniors Elizabeth Aceves and Jessica Angell placed 1^st overall.

In the League Finals, only the top two teams received medals, so the Lady Vikes capped off a successful season with both doubles teams placing in the top two spots and the only singles player from Downey High placing first overall.

About the Contributors

Edward Valencia, Writer/Parents and Teachers Editor

Senior Edward Valencia seems to have it all figured out, with his positive attitude and dreams towards becoming a journalist. Valencia knows what he wants and where he wishes to go. He is constantly striving to get his voice heard which is one of the reasons why he decided to become a writer for the The Downey Legend. Valencia’s determination and optimism is what is going to be his rock in his journey to be successful. His interests in being a writer are to express himself in the most non-biased way possible. When Valencia isn’t busy preparing for his future wishes in journalism, he is off playing Call of Duty and listening to The Beatles. Since Valencia often keeps an open mind when it comes to the future he knows he can come to be successful and wishes to major in Political Science and wants to work for Time magazine. Valencia seems to be pretty content on how he is doing. “I’m just looking for the best path that fits me,” Valencia said.

Alexandra Menendez, Photographer

Returner Alexandra Menendez took up photography for The Downey Legend her junior year. Since the purchase of her first camera as a mere 6^th grader, photography has been a point of interest for the 17 year old; the school newspaper is just one on a long list of creative outlets she uses to express her photography skills. “I like having the ability to capture a memory before it’s gone forever.” Menendez says. Outside of campus, she refines her skills through photo-shoots with her friends and sister along the railroad tracks and otherwise simple backdrops. She plans on enrolling at San Francisco State and studying to be a professional photographer, but if all else fails, she aspires to at least be a qualified teacher. Currently, she is attending the ROP class Principles in Education to guide her into being the ideal photography instructor she aims to be. The soft-spoken Menendez lives her life to the fullest of its potential each and every day. She is a proud film enthusiast, lover of Asian cuisine, and self-proclaimed introvert – though she claims to enjoy wasting away the weekends with her friends. Nonetheless, rather than having a traditional quinceñera with the spotlight on her, Menendez chose to travel Europe alone. “I’ve always wanted to go, just to see new places I’d never seen before.” Menendez says. “I wanted something new. She still longs to travel the rest of the world – all the while, documenting her trips through a camera lens. A small girl, Menendez has big dreams ahead of herself.