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Self-motivator Cepeda succeeds at Grand Slam
Published Monday, June 15, 2009 6:05 AM

By RICHARD CROOME
richard.croome@theeagle.com
Eagle photo/Stuart Villanueva
A&M Consolidated's Anik Cepeda hits a forehand volley during her singles match Sunday at the Texas Summer Grand Slam. She advanced to the round of 16.

It's not often you hear a young woman born in Indiana yell out "vamos" or "olé" on the tennis court.

Anik Cepeda's father, Antonio, was born and raised in Spain, though, so when times get tough on the court, Cepeda will bark out a few words in Spanish to try and get herself back in the match.

"'Vamos,' like, 'Let's go, come on pull yourself together. It's hot out here, lets get off the court.' It's to refocus myself," Cepeda said. "I'm fluent in Spanish and I cheer myself on a lot in Spanish."

Although Cepeda wasn't overly pleased with her performance Sunday during her second match of the Texas Summer Grand Slam, she didn't have to refocus too often in a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Emma Whitfield of Sherman in the Girls 18 division at Pebble Creek Country Club.

"I was pretty frustrated. It's my last [junior] tournament and there should be no pressure, but I put a lot of pressure on myself still," Cepeda said. "I just need to be [hitting] through my shots and really hitting up on my serve and I wasn't doing that. I missed some easy volleys and it's one of those matches that should be routine but you get a little unfocused and it's a matter of getting through it."

With two straight-set victories behind her, Cepeda, fresh off winning a silver medal at the UIL Class 5A state tournament for A&M Consolidated, will face Ariel Morton of Houston in the round of 16. Cepeda is a No. 9 seed and Morton is seeded No. 4. The two will meet at 2:40 p.m. Monday at the Mitchell Tennis Center.

"Last year was a nightmare draw and this year I'm just glad to get through two rounds and have a good shot [Monday]," Cepeda said. "I fell to her a couple years back. I didn't play very well, so tomorrow I'll be hitting out completely, no pressure. I've played her a couple of times and only beaten her once a long, long time ago."

Cepeda jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Whitfield, lost her serve at 3-1 and then broke back immediately before serving out the first set at 6-3. She shouted "Olé!" and then barked out "Vamos!" as the two walked toward the bench for the crossover.

Cepeda and Whitfield exchanged breaks to open the second set and then Cepeda broke again. Getting to 3-1 was a chore, though, and after a couple of deuces, Cepeda aced Whitfield to take control.

The competitive Cepeda looked up and said, "Finally," after gaining the game. She also heard it from her favorite fan -- her mother, Lisa -- who is from Wisconsin but studied Spanish.

"She's saying vamos Anik, a little exasperated because she knows I'm not playing my game," Cepeda said. "It's frustrating for her, too, and I want to play good for the people that come and watch me, and at the same time I've got to do what I've got to do out on the court."

The two swapped breaks again before Cepeda moved to 5-2 with a backhand winner at the net. Cepeda then served it out routinely for the match.

"I'm working on being more aggressive but that didn't come today, so again, disappointed," said Cepeda, who took control at the net more as the match progressed. "Yeah, you have to have that mentality, that I'm going to attack. Volleying is one of my strengths, so if I can get myself to the net I have a pretty good chance of winning every point."

Win or lose the rest of the way, Cepeda is looking forward to taking that aggressive mentality to William & Mary, where she will play this fall for Meredith Geiger-Walton, former director of the tennis academy at the St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin.

"I'm excited for school. I met the team and the team is so nice and we keep in touch," Cepeda said. "One of [the coach's] friends saw me play at the nationals and said, 'You might be interested in this girl.' So I got really lucky. She said I was a good fit, so I'm going there and I feel I'll do well there."

On the boys' side of the Grand Slam, former Consol No. 2 Nathan Cooner won his first consolation match, defeating Dylan Randazzo 6-2, 6-3. Carlos Aguilar, the Tigers' No. 1 player as a senior, was ousted by Jarred Pendleton of Sugar Land 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Kendra Casey of Franklin won two matches in the girls 18 consolation bracket, defeating Canyon's Lindsey Sweetgall 6-1, 6-0 and Richardson's Claire Bulkeley 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7). She will face Angela Rachel of Katy at noon Monday at the Mitchell Tennis Center.

Kayla Casey went 1-1 again on Sunday, as she did on Saturday. The Class 2A champion as a freshman defeated Sunnyvale's Emily Lobnitz 6-1, 6-3 in the Girls 16 consolation bracket before being eliminated by Trophy Club's Katya Salas 6-2, 6-1.

Franklin's Carrie Casey made it into the Girls 14 round of 16 with her third straight victory, a 7-5, 6-2 win over Cypress' Courtney Anderson. The unseeded Casey will play No. 5 Nan Porter of Amarillo at 11 a.m. Monday at Sam Rayburn Middle School.

Frankie Colunga of College Station was eliminated in the Boys 14 by Dallas' John Mee, 6-4, 6-0.

In the Girls 14, College Station's Kristina Raphael lost to Claire Williams, a No. 9 seed from San Angelo, 6-1, 6-0 in the round of 32.

*

NOTES -- Cepeda doesn't only speak Spanish, she cheers for Spanish teams. She's had a lot to cheer about lately with Spain's soccer team winning the European Championship and her favorite club team, Barcelona, claiming the Champions League title. ... Cepeda's younger brother, Marco, begins his singles play at 8 a.m. Monday at A&M Consolidated. ... Anik Cepeda moved away from Indiana at age 3 and lived one year -- fifth grade -- in Spain.



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High School Football Schedules

A&M Consolidated High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Klein Oak Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Cypress Woods Away 7 pm
Sept. 9 Austin Westlake Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Temple Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 29 Killeen Ellison Away 7 pm
Oct. 7 Bryan Kyle Field 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Killeen Shoemaker Home 730 pm
Oct. 21 Copperas Cove Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Harker Heights Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Belton Away 7:30 pm

Bryan High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Sept. 3 Clear Springs Away 7 pm
Sept. 9 Round Rock McNeil Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 15 Woodlands College Park Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Killeen Ellison Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Killeen Shoemaker Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 A&M Consolidated Kyle Field 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Copperas Cove Home 730 pm
Oct. 21 Harker Heights Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Belton Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Temple Away 7:30 pm

Rudder High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Taylor Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Leander Rouse Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Navasota Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Houston C.E. King Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 24 Hutto Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Bastrop Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Manor Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Pflugerville Hendrickson Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Pflugerville Connally Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Elgin Home 7:30 pm

Brenham High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Huntsville Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 1 Lamar Consolidated Away 7 pm
Sept. 9 Houston Lamar Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Magnolia West Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Waller Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 8 Spring Woods Away 6 pm
Oct. 14 Montgomery Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Houston Northbrook Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Magnolia Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Houston Stratford Home 7 pm

Madisonville High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Navasota Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Coldspring-Oakhurst Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Caldwell Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Crockett Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Rockdale Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Palestine Westwood Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Groesbeck Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Mexia Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Palestine Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Fairfield Home 7:30 pm

Caldwell High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Bellville Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Austin Crockett Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Madisonville Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Waco Connally Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Brookshire-Royal Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Smithville Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Giddings Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Navasota Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 La Grange Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Rockdale Home 7:30 pm

Rockdale High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 27 Abilene Wylie Home 6 pm
Sept. 2 Salado Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Cameron Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Liberty Hill Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Navasota Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Smithville Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 La Grange Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Giddings Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Caldwell Away 7:30 pm

Cameron High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Waco Connally Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 La Vega Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Rockdale Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Navasota Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Hearne Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Marlin Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 McGregor Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Academy Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Florence Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Troy Away 7:30 pm

Hearne High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Franklin Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 New Waverly Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Corrigan-Camden Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Cameron Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Troy Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Marlin Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 McGregor Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Academy Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Florence Home 7:30 pm

Centerville High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Grapeland Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Teague Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Elkhart Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Trinity Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Scurry-Rosser Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Buffalo Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Leon Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Axtell Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Blooming Grove Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Italy Home 7:30 pm

Leon High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Elkhart Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Bremond Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 New Waverly Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Hillsboro Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Lovelady Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Axtell Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Centerville Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Italy Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Buffalo Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Blooming Grove Home 7:30 pm

Franklin High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Hearne Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Tomball Memorial Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Whitney Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 New Waverly Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Rogers Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Jarrell Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Rosebud-Lott Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Lexington Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Thorndale Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Bruceville-Eddy Home 7:30 pm

Lexington High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Smithville Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Blanco Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Academy Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Geronimo Navarro Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Jarrell Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Rosebud-Lott Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Franklin Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Thorndale Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Bruceville-Eddy Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Rogers Home 7:30 pm

Iola High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 St. Joseph Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Hull-Daisetta Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Milano Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Hubbard Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Snook Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Moody Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Thrall Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Somerville Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Normangee Away 7:30 pm

Normangee High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Trinity Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Elkhart Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Bremond Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Snook Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Bartlett Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 New Waverly Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Moody Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Thrall Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Somerville Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Iola Home 7:30 pm

Somerville High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Cedar Park Summit Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Burton Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Snook Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Vanderbilt Inudstrial Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Granger Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Austin St. Dominic Savio Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Thrall Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Iola Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Normangee Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Moody Away 7:30 pm

Bremond High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Buffalo Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Leon Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Normangee Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Thorndale Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Axtell Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Frost Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Hubbard Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Chilton Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Wortham Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Dawson Home 7:30 pm

Milano High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Waco Texas Christian Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Central Texas Christian Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Iola Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 15 Giddings State School Away 7:00 pm
Sept. 23 Chilton Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Burton Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Holland Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Bartlett Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Snook Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Granger Away 7:30 pm

Snook High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 John Paul Catholic Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Brazos Christian Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Somerville Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Normangee Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Iola Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Holland Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Granger Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Burton Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Milano Away 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Bartlett Away 7:30 pm

Calvert High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 27 Strawn Away 10:00 am
Sept. 2 Aquila Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 TBA TBA 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Penelope Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Greenville Christian Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Tomball Rosehill Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 Waco Live Oak Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Star Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Oglesby Home 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 Buckholts Away 7:30 pm

St. Joseph High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Iola Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Katy Faith West Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Katy Pope John XIII Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Brazos Christian Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 24 Shiner St. Paul Away 7:00 pm
Oct. 8 Hallettsville Sacred Heart Away 2:00 pm
Oct. 14 Bay Area Christian Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 20 Giddings State School Home 7:00 pm
Oct. 28 Austin Regents Away 7:00 pm
Nov. 4 Texas School for the Deaf Home 7:00 pm

Brazos Christian High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 26 Cypress Christian Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Snook Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Texas School for the Deaf Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 St. Joseph Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 The Woodlands Christian Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 Katy Faith West Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 8 Shiner St. Paul Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Austin St. Dominic Savio Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 San Antonio St. Gerard Home 7:00 pm
Nov. 4 Hallettsville Sacred Heart Home 7:30 pm

Allen Academy

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 27 Waco Live Oak Away 7:00 pm
Sept. 2 San Marcos Home School Home 7:00 pm
Sept. 9 Harmony Science Home 7:00 pm
Sept. 16 BVCHEA Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 Marble Falls Faith Home 8:00 pm
Sept. 30 Temple Holy Trinity Away 7:00 pm
Oct. 7 Tomball Christian Home 7:00 pm
Oct. 14 Bastrop Tribe Consolidated Home 7:00 pm
Oct. 22 Waco Methodist Home Home 5:00 pm
Oct. 29 Bell County ECHO Home 7:30 pm

Brenham Christian High School

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 25 Waco Parkview Away 7:00 pm
Sept. 2 Tomball Rosehill Home 7:00 pm
Sept. 10 Dallas The Covenant Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Orange Community Home 7:00 pm
Sept. 23 Houston Texas Christian Home 7:00 pm
Oct. 1 Houston Emery-Weiner Home 6:00 pm
Oct. 14 Dickinson Pine Drive Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 Throckmorton Away 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Alvin Living Stones Home 7:00 pm
Nov. 4 Bellville Faith Home 7:30 pm

BVCHEA

Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 25 Bellville Faith Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 Austin NYOS Away 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Temple Centex Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 Allen Academy Home 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 San Antonio Sunnybrook Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 1 San Antonio FEAST Away 1:00 pm
Oct. 7 Central Texas ECHO Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 Williamson County Away 7:00 pm
Oct. 21 Waco Live Oak Home 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 Waco Methodist Home Away 7:30 pm

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