ALBUQUERQUE HIGH BOYS TENNIS SENDS A YOUNG & TALENTED SQUAD TO STATE

Albuquerque High is hoping this is the year they can climb to the top of the tennis mountain. “We have a lot of young, great, deep talent, and I’m super excited about it,” said head coach Michael Rocca.

With only one senior on the roster, sophomore Mitchell Rocca is leading the way for the Bulldogs. “My son Mitchell Rocca, he plays #1,” said the head coach.  “My assistant coaches two sons, we’re lucky to have them.  They play #2 and #3 on the team and it’s a great threesome to have. They’re all incredible doubles players, they’re incredible singles players.  They’re strong from the ground and strong at the net.”

“We’re deep this year, deeper than last year,” said Mitchell.  “We’re scrappy.  Every player can hit the ball.  We’re deeper than we’ve ever been in school history.”

“I think we have a really good team, we’re really deep,” said freshman Cristian Olson.  “I think we have a really good shot at winning state.”

La Cueva has won 9 of the last 10 team titles.  In fact, they have won 19 of the last 23. Albuquerque High hasn’t won a boys team tennis title since the year 2000.  “I hope it’s the year we break through,” said the head coach.  “La Cueva, once again, has another great team.  They’re deep and really strong at number one, one of the best in the state, if not the entire region. For as long as I’ve been watching tennis, this is one of the deepest fields I’ve ever seen when it comes to strength of players and strength of teams.”

“I’m hoping we can try to get the win this year, but I’m not putting too much expectations on ourselves, we have a couple years,” said Mitchell.  “We’re just going to go out and do our best and whatever happens happens.”

“5A state is very competeitive, there’s a lot of other schools that have a lot of good players, but I do think we have a good chance at taking it home this year,” said Cristian Olson.

Singles action starts on Wednesday and the team bracket begins on Friday.