Two Tomales High doubles teams duked it out last Wednesday in a remarkable end to the Coastal Mountain Conference girls tennis championships. Though the players started on opposite sides of a 16-team bracket from Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties, they all made it to the final, showcasing Tomales High’s fierce tennis program—Marin’s only program in the conference—helmed by agriculture shop teacher and head coach Nick Dudley and math teacher and assistant coach Dominic Sacheli. “In all my 15 years of coaching, I can only remember one Tomales player making a tournament final,” Mr. Sachelli said. “This year we have four. I also don’t believe two Tomales teams have ever faced off in a final.” Seniors Karen Gonzalez and Anastasia Bonini took home the trophy in their final match against senior Kenia Padilla and sophomore Paulette Reynoso. The pair won eight games to six in a pro set. Rather than drive to Santa Rosa’s Galvin Park for the final match, the coaches organized one at the home court during school hours. Class was halted for over 100 students, who cheered on their classmates between serves on a court flanked by rolling green hills. The players traded jokes, handshakes and hugs throughout the game, something that could only be found at a home game played by athletes who are also classmates and friends. “That really made the whole experience so special,” said Ms. Bonini, who has played tennis since elementary school. “Having them in all my classes and then seeing them on the court—it’s just so funny, really.” Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Bonini had been ranked as the second-best team in the tournament, behind only Kelseyville High. The duo fought tooth and nail through the semifinals, where they lost the first set 6-4 and fell behind 5-4 in the second set to the number-three ranked Sonoma Academy team. Then they won three straight games to take the second set and rolled in the third set. Ms. Padilla had been a singles player for her whole career, partnering with Ms. Reynoso for the first time during the tournament. Normally, champions of the Coastal Mountain Conference go on to play in the highly competitive North Coast Section Tennis Championship next fall, but the players are attending college next year. Ms. Bonini is headed to Chico State University, where she is majoring in animal science, and Ms. Gonzalez is attending Dominican University’s nursing program. Ms. Padilla is studying political science at the University of California, Davis, next year and Ms. Reynoso will start her junior year at Tomales. “It’s been so fun coaching these girls,” Mr. Dudley said. “To see how far they’ve come since the beginning of the season—I’m very proud.”