Good Sports: Torres High tennis turns tragedy into push for section championship
The Torres High tennis team is chasing history on the court, doing it all without one of their most impactful teammates.
Matila Torres High School tennis is one match away from winning its first section championship. The Toros have put together a historic season, cruising through their playoff bracket as the top seed. They've been doing it all without one of their most impactful teammates.
Rafael Barragan Donan died in a motorcycle accident last September. "When he came by, everybody connected," says coach Mark Melchor. "He was like the rock for our team.
" This is the first season the Toros are without "Rafa," who they describe as the glue that brought this team together. "He was definitely like a little brother," says Ivan Lara. "He would always come in smiling.
You'd never see him upset. You'd never see him on a bad day. He'd make your day great - that's just how he was.