Junior Adolfo Gonzalez will try to help lead the Lehman tennis team to the state tournament this season. (Photo by Gilbert Castillo)

by MARK CAUL

The 2010 spring individual tennis season ended exactly the way Orlando DeLaFuente envisioned it – with two of his players representing Lehman at the Class-4A state meet.

But even though they were the Lobos’ top ranked players all season – Adolfo Gonzalez and Desiree Kittel weren’t among the state participants.

Instead, it was the mixed doubles duo of Penelope Kittel and John Martin representing the blue-and-silver at the state tournament last spring.

Even though the pair fell in three sets (6-1, 5-7, 6-2) to a Tom Holka-Leigh Martin of Wichita Falls in the quarterfinals, it helped solidify Lehman’s place as a budding dynasty.

DeLaFuente has guided a fledgling program that struggled just to put a full team on the court five years ago to a squad that has very high expectations entering his sixth season at Lehman.

The team tennis season is now set to begin for the Lobos at the end of the month.

“With what we have accomplished in the past few years, the bar has been set higher than ever before,” DeLaFuente said. “My players are already talking about getting back to state and that’s definitely a good thing.”

The Lobos return five key players from last season, including Martin, a senior, and juniors Desiree Kittel and Gonzalez, who advanced to the individual singles Class 4A finals as a freshman.

Seniors Abigail Martin and Royce McCabe are also expected the make key contributions this season.

“I’m expecting us to be really competitive this season,” said DeLaFuente. “Adolfo has gotten a lot bigger and stronger over the summer and is such a great competitor. Desiree has all the physical tools to be better than she’s ever been. John’s confidence level has risen a great deal since state last fall and I think Abigail will be our voice of reason this fall.”

Gonzalez, a first team All-Region singles selection last year, and Kittel, a first team All-District pick for the past two seasons, will again anchor the lineup.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get back to where I was as a freshman (in the state final),” Gonzalez said. “I was very disappointed that I lost before I had a chance to get to state last year so I think I’m going to be more focused and hungrier this season to get back there.”

The younger Kittel has fallen a game short of the state tournament in consecutive seasons, but is now poised to make a big splash in her third season at Lehman.

“The first year was a learning experience for me so it was something that definitely wasn’t expected,” Kittel said. “The second year was a little bit different because I knew what I needed to do to compete at the high school level so I was a little bit more comfortable so I think it showed on the court.”

Martin, who got his first taste of state tournament tennis in mixed doubles last spring, is eager to get the season started.

“There were times over the summer where I thought about some things we could have done differently at state,” said Martin. “But I know that we tried our best and it wasn’t meant to be. It made me want to work harder on my game during the off-season. I’m ready to go.”

As talented as the Lehman’s returning veterans are, there will also be an influx of new faces who will begin their legacy as Lobos this fall.

Freshmen Zane Zezuka and Derrick Robinson were both standouts in junior high and could help the varsity, along with fellow freshman Olivia Marzullo.

“The upperclassmen have already taken the younger kids under their wing,” DeLaFuente said. “They already know what to expect. But their talent level is amazing.”

Although the Lobos won’t have to contend with San Marcos, which has been a thorn in their side for the past two seasons, the new district will be loaded with very strong programs including the likes of perennial state powers Alamo Heights and Canyon.

Alamo Heights had three state tournament representatives last spring.

DeLaFuente also expects both Smithson Valley and Hays to be formidable challenges in District 27-4A.

“I’m hoping we will be playing our best tennis in late September or early October,” said DeLaFuente. “In the grand scheme of things, I’m hoping our players will use the last two years of falling just short of their goals as motivation for this season. The bar has been set really high and it would be very rewarding for our kids to accomplish their dreams.”

Lehman opens district play against Hays on August 31.