Eighteen high school girls tennis were recently celebrated by the Kern Community Tennis Association and the Tracy Macnair Burrell Sportsmanship Award was given out at a dinner and ceremony Dec. 12 at Hodel’s Country Dining restaurant.
Each year, the KCTA presents this sportsmanship award to female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves. The fall 2024 senior finalists received college scholarship money for their outstanding accomplishments on and off the court.
The girls tennis student-athletes present at the event were: Yareli Ramos, Golden Valley; Liauni Ando, Cesar Chavez; Katie Avila, Shafter; Hayden Gehring, Liberty; Gia Gutierrez, East; Grace Mackall, Frontier; Katie Marchel, North; Jenna Duron, Frontier; Samantha Valdez, Cesar Chavez; Nayeli Arredondo, West; Julissa Rocha, Golden Valley; Jilianna Soriano, Liberty; Elizabeth Torres, Arvin; Emma Webdell, Liberty; Rosalicia Quiroz, Golden Valley; Alina Leyva, East; Stephanie Sanchez, Mira Monte; and Perla Camacho Villalobos, Taft.
Burrell shared her thoughts with the young women before a crowd of nearly 100 that included families, coaches and teammates. According to KCTA, each of these young women is a proven winner in tennis and academics, and is a service to others.
Taft’s Camacho Villalobos was selected as this year’s overall winner of the Tracy Macnair Burrell Sportsmanship Award.
A similar KCTA ceremony will take place in May for boys tennis players with that award named for Hank Pfister.
