When the Riverbank High tennis team showed up at the SOS Club in Modesto for the Trans-Valley League Tournament, the team knew that they would be fighting an uphill battle.
Yet, that fact did not detour the Bruins' No. 1 doubles team as they outlasted all opponents for the TVL boys doubles crown.
Jose Macedo and Irvin Carrillo put together an impressive tournament run as they rolled over the competition on their way to the ultimate thrill.
"We were really confident going in," Riverbank senior Macedo said. "The competition was really good, but we had our most trouble with the Ripon team.
"We pushed through and really worked hard for it."
The victory was bittersweet for the Bruin duo as the squad was forced to make the decision of a lifetime when academic requirements happened to coincide with a trip to sections.
"It was pretty tough to handle to be honest," Macedo said. "You work so hard to get to where we are, but you also work really hard on your academics.
"Priority is priority. I'm not planning on turning pro anytime soon, but I am planning on continuing my education."
Macedo will have to forfeit his berth into the section tournament to complete an AP Economics final that will combine two tests in one day. The decision was no easy one, but the Riverbank coaching staff was extremely supportive.
"I actually advised him that it would make more sense to take the AP exam," Riverbank head coach Bruce Edwards said. "He can get six college credits and when you figure in how much tuition is if he gets that college credit it will be worth about $4000."
The doubles tandem was the only Riverbank entry in the TVL tournament to land a league title, making the challenges that await the program over the summer that much greater.
"We went basically where I thought that we would go," Edwards said of the team's overall third place finish. "Escalon dominated, they were one of the best teams in our section, probably the top team.
"We were weak in our girls and that's where we'll have to improve."
Yet, that fact did not detour the Bruins' No. 1 doubles team as they outlasted all opponents for the TVL boys doubles crown.
Jose Macedo and Irvin Carrillo put together an impressive tournament run as they rolled over the competition on their way to the ultimate thrill.
"We were really confident going in," Riverbank senior Macedo said. "The competition was really good, but we had our most trouble with the Ripon team.
"We pushed through and really worked hard for it."
The victory was bittersweet for the Bruin duo as the squad was forced to make the decision of a lifetime when academic requirements happened to coincide with a trip to sections.
"It was pretty tough to handle to be honest," Macedo said. "You work so hard to get to where we are, but you also work really hard on your academics.
"Priority is priority. I'm not planning on turning pro anytime soon, but I am planning on continuing my education."
Macedo will have to forfeit his berth into the section tournament to complete an AP Economics final that will combine two tests in one day. The decision was no easy one, but the Riverbank coaching staff was extremely supportive.
"I actually advised him that it would make more sense to take the AP exam," Riverbank head coach Bruce Edwards said. "He can get six college credits and when you figure in how much tuition is if he gets that college credit it will be worth about $4000."
The doubles tandem was the only Riverbank entry in the TVL tournament to land a league title, making the challenges that await the program over the summer that much greater.
"We went basically where I thought that we would go," Edwards said of the team's overall third place finish. "Escalon dominated, they were one of the best teams in our section, probably the top team.
"We were weak in our girls and that's where we'll have to improve."
