Hilltoppers Kick Off Tennis Season In El Paso

The team stops for dinner on the way to El Paso. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

The team stops for dinner on the way to El Paso. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

By Gowri Srinivasan
Los Alamos

With spring around the corner, the tennis courts at Urban park are abuzz with activity as the Los Alamos Hilltoppers prepare for the upcoming tennis season. The Hilltoppers have a brand new coaching team of Travis Gibson (boys head coach), Timor Khazratkulov (girls head coach), Hari Viswanathan, Nicholas Serafin (boys asst. coaches) and Lindsay Gibson (girls asst. coach). With a full coaching roster, most players returning from last year and several new recruits to both teams, it has never been more exciting to root for a return to the State championships coming up in May.

Both the girls and boys varsity teams traveled to the annual Austin Jefferson Invitational, held Feb 16-17, 2024 at El Paso, Texas for the first tournament of the season where they had a strong showing. This tournament is unique in that the girls and boys compete jointly as a team, with a mixed doubles category in addition to the typical singles and doubles competitions. The long drive was an excellent opportunity for building team camaraderie as some teammates reunited and some met each other for the first time.

The format of the tournament was two singles competitions and two doubles competitions each on the girls and boys sides and two mixed doubles flights. The Hilltoppers were very ably represented by Ryan Sood and Aditya Viswanathan (boys singles), Nailah Quartey (girls singles), Nicholas and Michael Witkowski, Andres Iturregui and Axel Niklasson (boys doubles), Olivia Hamilton and Caris Hatler, Alea Kretz and Carlissa Epperson (girls doubles), Sofia Parra and Cam McDonald, Sabrina Kelley and Hayden Kim (mixed doubles). The Toppers faced off with players from 15 other schools from around New Mexico and Texas, and reignited old rivalries.

Several of the Toppers took home medals in an encouraging start to the season. Sood won the bronze medal in Flight A of the boys singles as did Viswanathan in Flight B of the boys singles. The Witkowski brothers won the consolation doubles in Flight A. Iturregui and Niklasson placed 4th in Flight B of the boys doubles, as did Parra and McDonald in Flight A of mixed doubles.

Finally, tennis at Los Alamos has always been a community sport. We are very thankful to the many adults in town who have willingly practiced with the teams over the years.

Ryan Sood hits a serve. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

Nailah Quartey readies for a forehand. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

Olivia Hamilton serves as her doubles partner Caris Hatler waits to poach at the net. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

Aditya Viswanathan gets ready to return his opponent’s serve. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

The team and coach Lindsay Gibson cheer on the mixed doubles pairing of Sabrina Kelly and Hayden Kim. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

Ryan Sood (L) and Aditya Viswanathan (R) pictured with coach Travis Gibson (center) proudly display their hard earned hardware. Courtesy/Gowri Srinivasan

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