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All We Do Is Win!: Big Mac Team Tennis setting standard for excellence, making history

Joshua Koch
Oct 29, 2020

When the MacArthur tennis coaching position came open in 2014, it was one that Brandon Blake jumped at.

Serving as the golf coach three years prior, Blake – who played tennis collegiately at Sterling College, an NAIA program in Kansas – decided to take over the program.

"I wanted to jump on the opportunity," Blake, who is in his seventh season leading the program, said. "To me the kids were really close, and they were starting to compete."

Since taking over in the Fall of 2014, Blake has guided the program to win now five-straight District Championships, 50 team tennis matches since 2015 and has posted a 35-0 mark in district the last five years.

Winning is engrained at MacArthur on the tennis courts.

"Our success at the top with varsity took the upperclassmen learning what it took to win," Blake said. "And then getting our younger classmen seeing the amount of work it would take to get to that point."

In the 2020 UIL Team Tennis playoffs, MacArthur made history defeating Oak Ridge, 10-9, in the bi-district round, securing the school's first-ever playoff victory in the 55-year history of the school.

"We are laying the foundation for future tennis players, we are raising the bar for the goals and dreams our kids have," MacArthur assistant tennis coach Alan Davila said. "Playing college tennis is now something our kids not only want to do, it's something they can do, having a state run in the playoffs is now something we CAN do. With hard work and determination anything is possible!"

MacArthur faces Cy Woods on Friday at 2 p.m. at Klein Cain High School in the Area Round of the 2020 UIL Team Tennis Playoffs.

Bi-District Champions! Generals win and advance to the Area round of playoffs for the first time ever in our schools 55yr history!

It's also the first time a team from Aldine ISD advances to the 2nd round of the UIL Team Tennis playoffs in the 21st century! #EarnHistory #MPND pic.twitter.com/CQf4SyCgWt
— MacArthur Tennis (@MacArthurTennis) October 28, 2020

When Blake came in, doubles play was something they really focused on. In team tennis, Blake said he saw how much of an impact jumping out to a lead with doubles could do. So, for two to three years they emphasized doubles play.

That emphasis has paid off, notching team tennis wins over programs like Kingwood Park and Atascocita over the past few years.

Unlike in programs like that, Blake does not get polished tennis stars when they arrive on campus come the ninth grade. Instead, Blake said many start playing in the eighth grade or some don't start playing until their freshman year.

Despite that, five-straight years, MacArthur has won the district crown.

"It's what keeps me coming back to MacArthur," Blake said. "It's fun to work with kids who haven't played and are basically brand new to the sport. The kids who have gotten it, who are swinging and hitting the ball as they should as upperclassmen realize they can invest in those kids too.

"It's been really good and has been very rewarding."

When Blake finished his college career, jumping into teaching was not his first path. After a few different careers, Blake got into education, which he had been around growing up with his parents. His father, Dennis, was in education for 40 years, more than half coaching basketball, tennis, and track.

Tennis and basketball were two of the sports Blake saw his father coach the most.

"I'd be in the locker room, I was the coach's kid and just hung on every word he said and watched everything he did," Blake said. "He was an example for me and gave me a passion for sports and coaching. He was the one that planted the seed before the opportunity came up."

As Blake continues to build his program, he said they will continue to try and grow the numbers as they move forward. Going down to the middle school and ninth-grade campus will be key and Blake said they need to keep developing the younger tennis players.

Going into 2021, MacArthur will be seeking its sixth-straight district crown and continue building their program.

You can see this article and photos in the upcoming VYPE Aldine ISD Fall 2020 Magazine! Be on the lookout for that in the next couple of weeks!
aldine isd athletics big mac big mac tennis houston high school sports macarthur generals macarthur tennis team tennis vype campus vype houston high school sports aldine isd

Future Backfield Duo of UT Football?

VYPE
26 Feb, 2021

Houston - Major recruiting news dropped in #txhsfb when nationally ranked recruit Rueben Owns out of El Campo High School committed to the Texas Longhorns.

The Black Unicorn To Austin TX 🤘🏾#HookEm @RuebenOwens2 @MikeWestHTX @TXStarsFootball pic.twitter.com/KXHsPcTsZO
— Rueben Owens ll #BlackUnicorn (@ii_rueben) February 26, 2021

Owens is the first commit for new head coach Steve Sarkisian in the 2023 Class, but when he arrives in Austin he will join Jaydon Blue, the No. 1 RB in the country in the Class of 2022, out of Klein Cain. Blue committed to the Longhorns earlier this month and welcomed Owens to the family on social media.

Join the family🤟🏾 https://t.co/nETsyrrv8P
— 23🏈 (@JaydonBlue) February 26, 2021

The #txhsfb recruiting landscape in Houston is hot. Texas A&M seems to be winning the recruiting battle in Houston, but the Longhorns made a huge splash in the commitment of Owens. If Longhorn fans want a glimpse of the future, be sure to check out Jaydon Blue and Rueben Owens this fall.

houston high school sports vype houston high school sports high school football football recruiting rueben owens jaydon blue texas high school football

VYPE 2021 Softball Preview: Private School No. 1 St. Agnes Academy

Joshua Koch
26 Feb, 2021
Billy Hicks enters year two leading the Tigers and should be excited about his team. With nine starters back from a year ago, including senior 3B/OF Ashley Burns (Trinidad State JC), the Tigers should be definite contenders again.
Read More... Read Less
houston high school sports softball softball rankings spc sports st agnes st agnes academy st agnes softrball st. agnes softball tapps sports texas high school softball texas private schools vype houston high school sports st. agnes academy

VYPE 2021 Softball Preview: Private School No. 2 Episcopal

Joshua Koch
26 Feb, 2021

The Knights enter 2021 seeking the program's 11th crown and sixth in the last eight seasons. Caitlyn Cain is back for her third year as head coach and returns seven starters.

Shortstop Courtney Davis was on pace for a monster 2020 season ending with a .364 batting average and brings speed to the base paths. LeAnn Dromgoole is the ultimate utility player who pitches and can play any position on the field. She swings for the fences at the dish.

Read More... Read Less
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