Pictured in the front row from left are Marilyn Creamer, June Nagata and Isabella Smalz; second row, Anna Moreno-Avelar, Cameryn Sanchez, Lily Whitesides and Jaira Avila Munoz; third row Kensley Salazar, Cailey Orcutt, Gabby Mossman, Erin Norris, Katelyn Nguyen, Lilly Vasquez and Michelle Tran; fourth row Coach Mark Frasher, Casson Gillaspy, Tianna Starner, Kate Vanlandingman, Sierra Brooks, Mackenzie Gauthier-Kelly, Lorelai Simonini, Gabriela Martinez-Solis and Coach Rick Lemberg. Photo by Rafael Sanchez
In tennis, as with all sports, hard work and practice pays off. For the Yosemite Badgers girls tennis team, the 2025 season was a testament to dedication, teamwork and resilience.
Comprised of five seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores and four freshman, this team achieved remarkable success under the guidance of coaches Rick Lemberg and Mark Frasher.
The Badgers ended the season with an impressive 17-1 record, capturing first place in the Northwest Sequoia League and winning the second annual Northwest Girls Tennis tournament.
The team is made up of Jaira Avila Munoz, Sierra Brooks, Marilyn Creamer, Mackenzie Gauthier-Kelly, Casson Gillaspy, Gabriela Martinez-Solis, Anna Moreno-Avelar, June Nagata, Katelyn Nguyen, Erin Norris, Cailey Orcutt, Kensley Salazar, Cameryn Sanchez, Lorelai Simonini, Isabella Smalz, Tianna Starner, Michelle Tran, Lilly Vasquez, Lily Whitsides and Kate Vanlandingham.
Although their journey concluded with a loss in the quarterfinals of the CIF Division III playoffs, the team’s achievements were notable. Coach Lemberg highlighted the team’s strength not in standout stars but in the collective hard work of all 19 players.
“The top of our ladder is pretty strong but so is the bottom,” Lemberg said, emphasizing the depth and dedication of the roster.
Team captain Cameryn Sanchez described her teammates as humble and hardworking, characters she credited to the coaches’ influence.
“We had a great season,” Sanchez reflected. “The coaches made us put in the work and it paid off. They are both so humble and they’ve made us better.”
One of the season’s highlights was clinching the league title, breaking years of placing second or third, and defeating the formidable Fresno Christian High School team 5-4 — a squad that had been undefeated in league play for five consecutive years before 2025.
Special recognition was given to seniors Cameryn Sanchez and Tianna Starner, both inspirational leaders. Sanchez, a dedicated three-year player and captain, and Starner, a four-year player admired for her love and commitment to the team, set examples that resonated with all teammates.
Looking ahead the team understands the need to schedule tougher opponents to better prepare for playoffs, having faced only a handful of challenging matches this season. With many juniors returning, the 2026 season holds great promise.
Ultimately, the true success of this season lies not just in the impressive wins or titles but in the humility and grace with which the team carried themselves. Their achievements were celebrated quietly with deep respect for both their opponents and each other.
This Badgers team exemplifies how humility enhances not only athletic performance but also personal growth, reminding us that the greatest lessons in sports come from character, teamwork and the steadfast commitment to improvement beyond the scoreboard.
The author of this story, Andrew Prestage, is a Yosemite Unified School District trustee.
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