Dobie Tennis coach set to receive prestigious Lloyd Sessions Educational Merit Service Award
By Maria Mata
Pasadena ISD Communications
This year, Manuel Moreno Jr, Dobie’s tennis coach of over 20 years is set to receive the 2020 Lloyd Sessions Educational Merit Award at the Annual United States Tennis Association (USTA) Texas Awards Banquet.
The annual award is presented to a Texas tennis coach every year for their extensive involvement with junior tennis players and their outstanding professional abilities to build stronger tennis players at all skill levels. To be nominated for this award, an individual must be a resident of Texas and be actively involved in working with junior players, but not exclusively.
Moreno said he is looking forward to receiving the award. “It is a great honor to receive this award”, said Moreno, “knowing how many remarkable coaches have received this award before me is truly humbling.”
Coach Moreno is enjoying his 36th year as a tennis coach, a career that began at O’Connell High School in Galveston, TX, Moreno’s hometown. Moreno is no stranger to receiving awards. He has received the 2019 Texas Tennis Coaches Association’s Loretta Hrncir dedication award, the 2014 United States Tennis Association-Texas section No-Cut Starfish Award, and the 2010 Carey Caldwell Character Award, just to name a few.
For the past six years, Moreno has hosted a friendly tennis match at Dobie that he likes to call “The Battle of the Cattle.” For Moreno, the name idea came from the fact that both high schools share the longhorn mascot. The matches held between the Maroon George Ranch Longhorns and the Burnt Orange Dobie Longhorns is a competitive match that Moreno enjoys putting together every year.
“It is for the players,” Moreno stated. “They truly enjoy this match every year and it’s always a good challenge.”
In addition to the “Battle of the Cattle,” Moreno hosts two annual events that he holds dear: the “Exes Matches” and the faculty-student tournament. The “Exes Matches” allow former Dobie graduates who participated in the school’s tennis program to play against the current Dobie tennis team. Current and former players reflect on old times, exchange tips, and share their tennis knowledge. In addition to tennis, players both old and new get to tell stories about coach Moreno and most of all, celebrate Dobie Spirit. The faculty and student tournament is one where 35-40 Dobie teachers pair up with Dobie Tennis team members and play an entire tournament. This year due to COVID, both events had to be cancelled for the first time.
When the time comes for Coach Moreno to retire, he will be leaving Dobie with some lasting traditions and some big shoes to fill.
