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Cougar Squads Complete Season One Sports Schedule
megenney
Battling in singles play against Manteca, Michael Megenney fell in a 4-6, 4-6 decision. Marg Jackson/The Times

With final matches over the past week, the ‘Season One’ sports for Escalon High School have officially come to an end. Cross country wrapped up earlier in March, with both boys tennis and girls golf playing their last matches of the shortened season this past week.

 

BOYS TENNIS

Wrapping up their season, the Escalon boys tennis team took a couple of losses this past week.

They were defeated by both Manteca and East Union.

Scores were not available for the game against the Lancers but in action against Manteca on April 1 in Escalon, the Cougars were shut out.

Losses came for singles players Evan Shafter, 3-6, 1-6; Dylan Criteser, 4-6, 2-6; Michael Megenney, 4-6, 4-6; and Josh Schut, 0-6, 0-6.

Doubles play saw Escalon’s tandem of Michael Baptista and Nikolai Lorenzo fall 0-6, 1-6.

“With the changes that took place this year and within our tennis season I’m proud of our tennis boys giving it their all and having the most positivity,” said coach Jackey Blakeley. “We had seven players total this season. I am proud to say all seven players are scholar athletes; five seniors, three or so with jobs outside of school, three playing multiple sports and so much more. Wishing them all the luck in their future endeavors as our tennis season has come to an end.”

Blakely now moves on to coach the girls tennis team, which was slated to play at Escalon, hosting Ripon in a match on Tuesday, April 6. On Thursday, April 8 the girls are scheduled to travel to Ripon Christian and will be at Kimball on Tuesday, April 13.

 

GIRLS GOLF

Escalon’s golf girls defeated three opponents this week to close out a successful season.

“We were missing two of our golfers due to school policy classroom COVID contact tracing. We almost made it through the entire season without losing anyone to quarantine,” said coach Kristie Cathcart.

They started the week at Tracy Country Club taking on Kimball.

“The course was long and (it was) the first day of a warmer week than we have had,” Cathcart said of the Monday, March 29 match. Escalon took the win, 241-290 at the par 37 course.

Lucy Allbaugh came in three over par at 40, Ella Adams was right behind her at 41. Nathalia Guevara carded a 48, Sarah Bava 52, Bella Ambro and Gracie Bracco each shot 60.

“On Tuesday we played the boys team. Although it was a good experience for the girls, it was the worst we have played all season as a team,” Cathcart said of taking on their fellow Cougar golfers. “We had 14 kids play with the low score 33 for the boys and 35 for us.”

Then it was the last match of the season, on Wednesday, March 31 which also marked the final match for Ella Adams as an Escalon golfer. Senior Ella MacKinnon was not able to play that day.

“This match we were scheduled to play Manteca, but needed to make up a match against Sierra. They had a match also so we used both scores,” said Cathcart.

The end result was a 243-339 win for Escalon over Manteca, 243-272 win over Sierra at the Manteca Golf Course.

Taking the course for Escalon were Allbaugh, 40; Adams, 46; Emma Guevara, 50; Nathalia Guevara, 52; Ambro, 55; Bava, 64.

“We finished the season 13-1, three-way tie for first with Ripon and Oakdale,” Cathcart said of Escalon’s first season playing in the Valley Oak League. “Although it was definitely a weird season with wearing masks, playing in our ‘pods’, and competing in a different league, I am very proud of the girls and all they went through.”