Castro earns Sun/Rotary tennis honor

Cibola coach Duncan Phillips calls his No. 1, Albert Castro, the best freshman tennis player in school history.

As his second season came to a close, Phillips said Castro was the best sophomore tennis player in school history.

Phillips said he can't wait for Castro's junior season.

Castro posted a 17-5 record, went perfect through the 5A Gila Valley Region and reached the third round of the Class 5A Division II State Tennis Championship. For his stellar sophomore campaign, Castro was named The Sun/Yuma Rotary Club 2009 All-Region Boys Tennis Player of the Year.

 "I told Albert on more than one occasion 'You're the best freshman that's ever played at Cibola; you're the best sophomore that's ever played at Cibola, but you have a ways to go to be the best senior that's played at Cibola," Phillips said. "He's got a shot to do it.

"When Albert becomes more consistent, he'll be top 10 (in state)," he said. "I believe that. When he wants to be top 10, it will happen."

Castro said he was hoping to reach the quarterfinals at state, instead falling one round short.

"In the third round, I didn't do to great because of all the mistakes I made," Castro said. "I started thinking negative. I learned to never be mad on the court. That's your weakness. I could have done better."

Phillips said he too was happy to see Castro make it that far, but was also hoping for a quarterfinal berth.

"I think Albert had a good year, but it could have been a better year, though," Phillips said. "Albert and I talked more than once that a goal of his was to make the quarterfinals, and he came one stupid tiebreak away from doing that. So in one sense he was 17-5 and had a good season, and on the other hand he, you know, coaches are never satisfied. ... Albert believes he could have gone one further."

Castro said he's already focused on next season.

"As a freshman I learned to be consistent in the game," Castro said. "Next year I just want to train for state and hopefully make the quarterfinals."

But with two years under his belt of playing at No. 1 singles, Phillips said he believes Castro can make the leap.

"He's played No. 1 for two years, he's played only the best players. There's always an advantage to that," Phillips said. "You're going to get better playing those people, or get your (butt) kicked. One of those two."