In 2022, the Regent tennis team enjoyed success on the court, fueling both teams this season. Last year the boys finished runner-up in the Class 4A state tennis tournament, which is the highest finish they have achieved in school history. The girl’s team, after a move to Class 5A, finished 12th overall after finishing 3rd in Class 4A the year before.
Head coach Ron Acebo was clear on the expectations for both teams.
“I always expect my teams to qualify for state and perform to the best of their abilities. Because of the graduation of four of my varsity boy state tennis players, the challenge may be a bit daunting to a lesser entity. However, the girls are pretty solid at singles and doubles and, barring injuries, have a great chance to qualify, with two returning varsity state players on the team, even though they lost three state tennis players,” said coach Acebo.
Key players for the boys’ team include two-time state qualifier Enre Boshoff (Sr.) and sophomore Bo Bayless.
“Boshoff is a steady, strong competitor to the team. Following Enre is sophomore Bo Bayless who was a first-time state qualifier at No. 1 singles last year who should show marked improvement and performance at No. 2 singles this year,” said Acebo.
The girls’ team will field some of the top tennis players in the state.
“New freshman Francesca Sollberger will add a spark to the team with her strong play at No. 1 singles. Senior Gracie Lim will play No. 2 singles for Regent Prep after playing doubles for the last two years. Her steady play and focus will help us get the necessary team wins to serve us well as we march towards state. And, of course, with seniors Ella Drake and Caroline Wright, leading the way in their aggressive style of playing No. 1 doubles, with dominant wins against Rejoice and Pryor has inspired strong play from sophomores Lydia Helton and Campbell Mooberry to a winning record at No. 2 doubles,” said Acebo.
Despite the boy’s team having somewhat of an uphill climb to state, coach Acebo said the goal is always the same.
“The boys have a tough task ahead of them to try and qualify the team for state. Our doubles need more time and experience to jell and play consistent and error-free tennis while the girls just need seasoning to hone their skills and peak by the time regionals arrive,” said Acebo.
Anyone familiar with high school tennis in Oklahoma should know coach Acebo will have this program churning out wins on a regular basis. For Acebo, coaching at Regent offers a new perspective on the total high school experience. “What is unique about serving as tennis director at Regent Preparatory School is that we have a philosophy that all students have an opportunity to play multiple sports and that all coaches accommodate one another to allow athletes to shine and contribute to the success of the school in an environment that follows a good, Christian foundation and a belief that both spirit and body contribute to the growth of the individual. Fidelis Veratati, “Faithful to the Truth.”
