Isabella Chacon plays tennis for the love of the game

Isabella Chacon plays tennis for the love of the game
Posted: Apr 10, 2020

Isabella Chacon plays tennis for the love of the game

For Isabella Chacon, tennis is love.  Being on a tennis court gives her the freedom she craves, the freedom she needs to express herself.  For the 19-year old from Arcadia High School, the past several months have been full of challenges that have nothing to do with hitting a great shot or winning a long rally.

In December 2019, Isabella and her teammates on the GCC Women's Tennis team suffered a devastating loss when teammate Jennifer Goldsbury was killed in a car accident.  Truth be told, the tragic loss was felt not only through the GCC community but it affected anyone who knew the young woman who passed away far too soon.

In the days and weeks that passed soon after the accident, it was left to the players to mourn and the Athletic Department and the College as a whole to wrap their arms around these young women in a sign of unity with their tennis season quickly approaching.  The players congregated in the hall of the Verdugo Gym building and took shots for fun before a women's basketball game and later watched the game in the stands.

"Jennifer was a friend to all of us, and it was like something was missing around us all season.  Her spirit was contagious, and we tried to make up for that but it just wasn't the same," said Isabella who was a sophomore this year for the Lady Vaqueros.  "Her loss brought us closer together, but it was a tough season for everyone."

The 2020 GCC Women's Tennis season as well as all Spring sports were cancelled in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and it put an end to a challenging time for the players and Isabella in particular.  She battled injuries all season but represented her team well playing No. 1 singles and doubles for Glendale, but she always felt like she was battling herself as well as her opponents every time she stepped on the court.

But those battles are what make tennis such a dream sport for Isabella Chacon, a place where she can put her troubles behind her and focus on what is in front of her, on and off the court.