How Montgomery Academy’s Gabby Barrera became one of the best tennis players in the state

'Tennis for children is an induvial sport until you play a team event.'

As a former college tennis player at Huntingdon College and tennis instructor, Jeff Barrera knew the passion for tennis would be passed down to his daughter Gabby. It took one event when she was 11 years old that let him know that he had a future prodigy on his hands.

The 2019 National Level 3 Pre-Collegiate Team Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is an event where boys and girls are placed in teams and are given a college team name and compete for a weekend. Gabby went undefeated in singles, and lost one doubles match the entire weekend as her team finished second place.

"Watching her concentration, effort and enjoyment level during that weekend, she developed that passion to play tennis at the next level," Jeff Barrera said. "It was such a big event at the time with high level competition."

Now five years later, Gabby wrapped a 21-0 regular season with Montgomery Academy and capped off the season winning the Class 7A No. 1 singles championship and doubles championship with teammate Mae Mae Voltz for the second straight year.

Winning the Class 7A doubles state championship with her teammate Voltz is a moment she will never forget.

“I was absolutely excited to win doubles with Mae Mae because it was her senior year and she just lost in the No. 2 singles state championship,” Gabby Barrera said. “I told her on the court that I need you to win a state title before you leave and go to college. Even though we want it together last year, I was really dialed in to that match for her.”

Gabby started playing Tennis at Montgomery Academy in middle school when they were a Class 4A-5A program. With the program's success over the years, the Eagles moved all the way up the Class 7A where they have been the last two years.

Due to Covid, Gabby played two years in Class 6A where she was a semifinalist and state runner up. In Class 7A, she has played in the toughest line in the state winning back-to-back No. 1 singles championships. She was also named the Montgomery Advertiser All Area tennis player of the year for the last three years.

Gabby began playing Tennis in the fourth grade, she reflected on her time playing travel tennis growing up when discussing all her high school success.

"I played travel tennis with the USTA (United State Tennis Association) and that is year-round," Gabby Barrera said. "Playing continuously against different competition prepares you physically and mentally."

Anita Barrera, Gabby's Mother, did not come from a tennis background like her husband Jeff. But from what she has learned from watching Gabby she observed how her will to make one more play is what sets her apart from others across the state.

"She has always been one to run down that extra ball," Anita Barrera said. "She will get into a position where her opponent thinks they have the point won and here comes Gabby. She has always played the game in a positive attitude.”

Attitude and sportsmanship are two principles Montgomery Academy tennis lives by. For Gabby that comes in always supporting her teammates during matches and cheering on her USTA friends.

Being undefeated throughout the season can bring on its own challenges. Gabby’s approach to every matchup was the same and that’s continuing to have fun.

“For the matches I had against my friends or players I knew I just had to play my game,” Gabby Barrera said. “It’s fun winning but I make sure I love them on the court. When it came to being undefeated I just kept a steady mindset and did not think much of it.”

Gabby will play her final season with Montgomery Academy in the 2024 season.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Gabby Barrera reflects undefeated tennis season at Montgomery Academy