Buzz-worthy Kids: Two-time TCC Champ Eirene Granville

BY VALENTINA CARRILLO, IHS INTERN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Inderkum High School athlete Eirene Granville has accomplished much at the age of 16.

Granville, a junior, is two-time Tri-County Conference tennis champion for the Tigers.

This fall, Granville won the 2013 TCC Division II Individual Singles Tennis Championships and she won the 2012 Championships as a sophomore. The Tri-County Conference is includes of Inderkum, Natomas River Valley, Yuba City, Woodland, and Pioneer high schools.

“This conference win opened the door for Eirene to win the overall tournament, placing first out of all seven conferences and 47 high schools,” Inderkum tennis coach Martinez said. “Eirene never lost a set. She won all the matches in only two sets.”

Martinez describes Granville as a “gifted student” who has natural athletic and academic talent, making her successful on the tennis court and in the classroom.

Granville started playing tennis at age four at the encouragement of her grandfather. By the time she started attending Inderkum as a freshman, she was playing tennis on the weekends and decided to join the school team.

Martinez credits Granville’s family for her success as a student athlete.

“Eirene has the will to practice and play, but also the support of family,” said Martinez. “Kids feel the input of parents spending time with them, going to weekend tournaments, and cheering for them.”

Granville is a mentor younger tennis players on the Inderkum team.
“The players really appreciate her,” Martinez said. “She has the social ability to be a teacher to younger players – she talks to freshmen, teaches them the basics, and takes them under her wing.”

Granville follows a remarkably strict schedule, faithfully training every day for three hours after school. Martinez is not Granville’s only coach – she also trains with JMG Academy at Arden Hills Country Club where she works on her backhand and forehand technique.

In addition to playing tennis for the Inderkum team, Granville also competes in USTA tournaments on weekends. The United States Tennis Association pits her against the best girl tennis players under 16 in the state.

Both Granville and her coach have their sights set on the TCC conference championship. If she wins, Granville would be the first student in the Natomas Unified School District to win the Division II Individuals conference three years in a row.

Granville is already look toward the future and has hopes of being offered a tennis scholarship to attend college. She’s interested in playing for UC Davis, Stanford University, Arizona State University, and West Point Academy.

Coach Martinez believes good academics and athletic talent can earn Granville opportunities to attend college wherever she wants to go.

Said Granville, “I like the way it feels, being competitive and working on my dedication.”