Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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Senior Michele South works on her forehand for the upcoming Bollaire Tournament. Photo by R. Law- Statewide and nationally ranked top seed Chuck Bratka practices to improve his backhand. He beat Chris Stanich from Stratford to advance to State and Klein's Mark Mance to win the state title. Photo by R. Law Most valuable girls player, Anne McHugh increases her stamina in tennis drills designed by Coach Gwynn which involve tedious exercise. Photo by A. Miles Girls' Tennis Spring Woods 2-7 Spring Branch 0-9 Westchester 0-9 Hastings 0-9 Northbrook 5-4 Memorial 1-8 Stratford 3-6 Dulles 4-0 Robert E. Lee 1-3 Taylor 1-1 Jersey Village 1-3 Sharpstown 3-1 Memorial 0-4 Spring Woods 3-1 Northbrook 1-3 Kincaid 1-3 Spring Branch 1-3 Freshman team player Robert Talastas works out at the Alief courts to progress in his tennis skills. Photo by R. Law Tennis Compctition 235

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Boys Land 2nd in District, Bratka Tops in Texas The Boys Tennis team had another successful season as predicted holding 2nd in Dis- trict after a win in the District Tournament. Top seed. Chuck Bratka, along with Pat Brogan, Phillip Mann, and R.J. Harr played outstandingly. Coach Gwynn had much confidence in her boys. She stated, I think they are very talented and they work hara too, which I appreciate! Chuck Bratka continued on to win the state championship. Chuck Bratka was chosen as the outstanding player of the season for many reasons. He is ranked both statewide and nationally, he works harder than anyone on the team, he is very Freshman Thien Trinh practices for the Clear Lake Freshman Tournament, in which he was a finalist. Photo by R. Law dedicated and single minded, and he is extremely mature and very cooperative. He has been offered full tuition at Texas Christian University, partial tuition at Rice University, and full tuition at the Air Force Academy. He has decided on accepting the Rice scholarship and continue his tennis career. All the boys have dedicated a part of themselves. R.J. Harr won freshman singles at the Rosenburg J.V. Tournament, freshman singlesat the Baytown Freshman Tournament, and won the Pasadena Varsity Tournament with his doubles partner, Phillip Mann. Sandeep Narang and Chris Meinecke won J.V. doubles at the Rosenburg J.v. Tournament and at the Baytown J.V. Tournament. Thien Trinh was a finalist at the Clear Lake Tournament. August Carrell won the J.V. singles at the Baytown J.V. Tournament. Pat Brogan was a finalist at the Clear Lake Varsity Tournament and at the Pasadena Varsity Tournament, and along with Phillip Mann they came in second in doubles at the District Tournament. And top seed. Chuck Bratka won the Cy-Fair Varsity Tournament, the Clear Lake Varsity Tournament, the Pasadena Varsity Tournament, he was a finalist at the Deer Park Varsity Tournament and the Alief Varsity Tournament, and won singles at the District Tournament and the Region final. There will be a great loss the team that will affect th numerous victories. Chuck Bi ka will be graduating and Co; Gwynn feels it will hurt team's standing. She explain The team will be a lot thin, at the top because of Chi leaving. The team will depending on R.J. Harr, Phil Mann, and Pat Brogan to step and follow his footsteps. Chi replied, Our team has a lof depth and one player leav the team will not hurt performance that much. By Noelle Mil Boys Tennis Spring Woods 9-0 Spring Branch 9-0 Westchester 9-0 Hastings 9-0 Northbrook 9-0 Memorial 1-8 Stratford 6-3 Dulles 3-1 Robert E. Lee 4-0 Katy Taylor 3-1 Jersey Village 3-1 Sharpstown 4-0 Memorial 1-3 Spring Woods 3-1 Northbrook 3-1 Kincaid 0-4 Spring Branch 4-0 At the courts, varsity player Blair Allen puts in strenuous hours of practice to improve her durability. Photo by R. Law 234 Competition Tcnnis

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Coach Gwynn Continues a Lifetime of Tennis Charmange Gwynn, the boys and girls tennis team coach, has had a very positive season to be proud of. Her coaching skills have brought many of the players up the ladder to achieve victor)'. She was born in Landstuhl, Germany. Tennis never became apart of her life until her college years since the local high school did not have a team. She played in college for several years and went on to coach tennis. She has ? Front: Coach Gwynn, S. Kni, S. Jung, S. Knight, M. Bohot, S. Narang, M. South, T. Pham, A. Kavianiesbily; 2nd: R.J. Harr, A. McHugh, C. Meinecke, A. Carrel!, P. Mann; Back: B. Allen, C. Bratka, P. Brogan, T. Kagan. Photo by A. Miles taught tennis for four years and this is the first school that she has ever coached. She really doesn't know what got her interested in coaching in high school. Her involvement in tennis has made a great contribution to the team. Besides coaching, she competes in some tournaments as well. She has no family and coaching tennis, as well as science in the South House, is her only career, both which help her to be a dedicated coach. When asked to predict her star player's future in tennis, she stated, Chuck Bratka will bean excellent college player, because he has continued to improve. She thinks he is the nicest person you would ever want to know and that this will also help him to succeed in college. Coach Gwynn views coaching such an excellent team as an honor. She said, It sure is n to have people who work hard for you and themselve She feels that Chuck is I sweetest guy you will ever m- and wishes she had disposition. Pat Brogan is vt dependable and she can coi on him, and R.J. Harr has bee tremendous addition to ( team. She agrees that they ar fun group and has learned a from them. By Noelle Mil Freshman Shannan Knight reaches out at a ground ball with a forehand. Photo by A. Miles 236 Competition Tennis