NMMI Sports Press

Junior Colt tennis player Weston Zhang fell in the first round of the Class A/4A Individual State Championships Wednesday afternoon at Albuquerque Academy, losing in straight sets to the sixth seed from St. Michael’s.

The match was more competitive than the 6-0 and 6-1 set scores hint, lasting a solid hour as Zhang hustled to defend against the more experience Aidan Gonzales, a senior.

Colt Tennis head coach Steve Huebner said Zhang is the kind of well-rounded student-athlete coaches love to have on their team.

“I am so proud of him because he came to compete and this morning he was working on an online class. We finished spring classes last week and he’s already back at it. Our kids are out for the summer and he stayed to finish out his tennis season. I really respect that,” he said. “Weston is driven, you never have a problem with him, he’s respectful and just a great all-around kid.”

Huebner said there were several factors that contributed to Zhang’s loss, but having faced those challenges will benefit him going into his senior season.

“When you come to state, you’re always facing tough competition, but I also think the gusting winds got in his head a bit and he made some unforced errors he usually doesn’t make,” he said. “And some of that might be nerves, because it’s state. But Weston played him fairly well and had some good defense, some nice moments.”

Zhang was obviously disappointed after the loss, but smiled as his coach praised his effort and told him how much he enjoyed coaching him this season.

“It was a great season, but a little lonesome up here on my own,” Zhang said. “Enjoyed a lot of fun moments with my team and they are getting better, so hopefully we all make it to state next year.”

When asked if he had any big plans for the summer, Zhang was all business.

“Summer school.”