The 2024 season has come to an end for the Pioneer High School boys varsity tennis team but the campaign continues on for one senior doubles duo.

The No. 4 Patriots lost 8-1 against No. 5 Antelope in the quarterfinals of the Division IV CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs on May 1 in Woodland. However, a day prior, Trevor Harryman and Brady Stephens qualified for the CIF SJS Tournament as a pair.

Mira Loma claimed the Golden Empire League’s two singles spots on April 29. The next day, the Matadors, Patriots and Woodland battled in doubles action. With an eight-team bracket, two Wolves duos competed while three from each Mira Loma and Pioneer played.

In the first round, senior Ben Quiogue and freshman Marlon Estrella lost to senior Vikram Kavalivati and sophomore Yang Teh from the Matadors. Seniors, Luke Pool and Navreet Shergill, defeated Woodland juniors Isaias Vega and Brodie Weichel. Harryman and Stephens beat Mira Loma’s No. 3 doubles team.

In the second round, Harryman and Stephens defeated Pool and Shergill 8-5 in an inter-squad matchup.

“That’s the downside of having three teams per school,” proclaimed Patriots coach Marcail McWilliams. “Nav and Luke did well, it was a little hard to keep all the PHS players from being silly with each other, but they finished.”

Harryman and Stephens played Wolves juniors, Alexander Gonzalez and Cody Raubach, in the final. Both teams qualified for the section tournament at the end of May and the matchup was to determine the No. 1 and 2 seeds. Harryman and Stephens won the Battle of Woo 8-5.

“Congratulations to Trevor and Brady for continuing into the postseason,” McWilliams stated. “Unfortunately the CIF moved our playoffs match one day earlier from Thursday to Wednesday, so our top two players did not get a day to rest. Our other team members, who had not practiced all week, were thrown into an important match. Oh well, I guess.”

Pioneer’s only victory in the team playoffs versus the Titans came in No. 2 singles action. Stephens beat senior Trenton Olson 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.

“It was a very long match! Playoff rules are a full third set, not a 10-point tiebreaker, if the match is not decided yet,” McWilliams explained. “On top of two hard days of tennis in the sun, this is a great win! Brady played very well, the winds were strong on Wednesday and required a lot of skill and concentration. This was Brady’s best match of the season, his parents and grandparents got to see it too, so that’s a great feeling. He should feel really proud of his work.”

After the match, McWilliams reflected on the year.

“It was a great day for the team,” McWilliams said. “Sad to end with a loss but it was a good team to play as we wrapped up our season.