Young KV tennis team looks to leadership from returning members

The tennis season begins Sept. 1 for the Lady Broncs, co-HDL champ last season. | Unsplash/John Fornander

The Kern Valley Lady Broncs tennis team is coming off a season in which it went 7-5 and tied for the High Desert League title with a 5-1 record. A high point came with a 9-0 sweep of Rosamond in their last season match.

KV tennis coach Brent Mixon said his team had a “fantastic season” last year and praised his team and their previous coach. 

“We had a nice balance of play in our preseason, playing teams that taught us how to become better players and a better team. We also had great leadership from our returning seniors last year. That leadership involved River Sartor, Nikki Brooks, Angela Lezama and Gracie Surico. Those young ladies were previously coached by Brian Christianson before he retired. He did a fantastic job coaching not only these young ladies, but all of his previous teams,” Mixon said.

Turning to this season, Mixon said the Lady Broncs are a young team, with only one senior, Kristen Surico, returning and he is counting on her leadership.

“Kristen is stepping up this season as a team leader, and the girls are responding nicely to her leadership. We have four returning players, so we are going to build on their experience and successes from last year,” Mixon said.

Returning this season are Surico, playing in her fourth and final season, juniors Mitra Kiosef and Mikaela Richey, who are returning for their second season and sophomore Marissa Tate, who is returning for her second season.

Coach Mixon sees confidence and coachability as lynchpins in the team’s credo, and sees attitude as the Lady Broncs’ strength. 

“One of the biggest things we teach the girls is to be confident and to have a growth mindset,” Mixon said. “Success comes from the willingness to learn. Through our failures we will find success if we have the mindset that we can get better and not settle that we are at our best right now.”

With a willingness to learn, Mixon points to the team’s attitude as crucial to the season’s success. 

“The ladies have been coming out to practice with an attitude and willingness to learn. When an athlete comes to practice and wants to learn, success for the team and player becomes an attainable goal. We are a young team. We need to build on the experience that is returning and develop the new players that are a part of the Lady Broncs team,” he said.

Mixon takes his coaching philosophy from former NFL coach Tony Dungy (Bucs and Colts). 

“I have always appreciated Tony Dungy and his approach to the game. Dungy’s calming influence and steady leadership earned him praise from his players. Dungy expected excellence from his players and if you did not do that, he would let you know. He was fair and treated his athletes with respect. If I could model myself after a coach, it would be him. It would be a huge complement if the athletes that I have coached had the same feeling for me as Tony Dungy’s athletes had about him,” he said.

Mixon said his expectations always include a league title. 

“I want my girls to shoot for being the best, and in addition to our experienced leaders we have several new athletes this year and they all will play a part in the team’s success. Olga Antonini (senior), foreign exchange student from Italy, Kayla Bates (senior), Kyra Flint (freshman), Christine LaVeck (sophomore), Abigail Phillips (freshman), Karyssa Walker (senior) and Julia Torrejon (junior), foreign exchange student from Spain. Additionally, Sabine Mixon has joined the coaching staff this season. Everyone is working hard to reach our goals,” Mixon said.

It’s not all hard work, though. Recently, nine team members received specialized coaching at the Bakersfield Tennis Club from several tennis pros there. After receiving a few hours of personalized coaching, they received an opportunity to go on a free shopping spree. The lessons and the shopping spree the team received were all donated through the efforts of several individuals and organizations in the Bakersfield area.

The Kern Valley Lady Broncs tennis team plays its first home match Sept. 1 against Corcoran.