Girls Tennis Team. Pictured from top left are Shawnacy McGilvery, Isabella Guitierrez and Brooke Jones. Bottom from left, are Ali Khan and Aubrey Mangan

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – The Gridley Varsity Tennis team finished the 2025 season at the bottom of the Western Section League (WSL) standings, with an 0-11 record. Despite the team's challenging season, five Gridley athletes represented the school in the WSL Playoffs this past weekend, competing for a chance to advance to the North Section Finals in two weeks. The top eight singles players and the top four doubles teams from the playoffs will qualify for the next round.

Gridley’s playoff roster, limited to four singles players and two doubles teams due to their last-place finish, included No. 1 Isabella Gutierrez (junior), No. 2 Shawnacy McGilvery (junior), No. 3 Aubrey Mangan (junior), and No. 4 Brooke Jones (sophomore). The team also missed the presence of No. 5 player Ali Khan, a sophomore who was unable to participate. Her teammates noted the absence of Khan’s energy and attitude throughout the weekend.

The WSL tournament is structured with seeded players in brackets, based on their performance during the regular season. Orland, which finished the season in first place, held the top three seeds for singles, while Las Plumas, Corning, and Live Oak rounded out the remaining seedings. Despite finishing in last place, Gridley’s players were given a fair shot, with Gutierrez seeded ninth, while the rest of the athletes were placed by a random draw.

Brooke Jones drew Orland's No. 5 player, who represented one of the strongest teams in the league, with 25 players on their roster. Jones fought hard but ultimately lost 0-8. Coach Robert McDowell noted that Jones had made significant improvements over the season and demonstrated impressive resilience in her loss.

Aubrey Mangan’s match against Las Plumas’ No. 6 player was one of the longest of the opening round. The game was a nail-biter, with Mangan losing 7-9 in an 8-game ProSet, falling just short in a hard-fought battle. Mangan’s dynamic two-handed backhand was a highlight of the match.

Shawnacy McGilvery, who faced Oroville's No. 1 player, began to shine for Gridley. Despite the team’s earlier losses to Oroville, McGilvery defeated their top player 8-3. In their earlier meetings, Gridley had started with only two players, which left them at a disadvantage. But McGilvery’s victory marked a turning point for the team. She went on to face Orland’s No. 3 player, widely regarded as a strong contender for the tournament title. McGilvery lost 0-8, but her dedication to improving was evident, as she had been practicing more power in her serve leading up to the match.

Isabella Gutierrez faced Oroville’s No. 2 player and won decisively, 8-4, largely thanks to her powerful serve and forehand. She then met Corning’s No. 1 player, whom she had lost to twice earlier in the season in tie-breaker sets. This time, Gutierrez lost again, 7-9, in another close match. Her coach noted that Gutierrez had the tools to win but struggled with consistency when pressured by her opponent.

In doubles, Gridley’s No. 2 team of Mangan and Jones played Las Plumas’ No. 2 team and lost 0-8. Several points went to deuce, but the outcome was not in their favor. Meanwhile, the No. 1 doubles team of Gutierrez and McGilvery defeated Oroville’s No. 2 team 8-4. However, their momentum was short-lived, as they fell 1-8 to Orland’s No. 2 team in the next round.

Despite the losses, Coach McDowell expressed immense pride in her players' growth over the course of the season.

“I am very proud of the courage and tenacity of the 5 girls on the Gridley Varsity Tennis team.  Through this season they have grown in strength, technique and understanding in their tennis. I’m looking forward to coaching them next year and to coaching the boys this spring,” said McDowell.