On today's date in 1848, Mexico ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, formally accepting the terms of surrender to the United States after a two-year war. In exchange for $15 million, Mexico ceded vast portions of what is now the southwestern United States. At the Central American Championships in San José, Costa Rica, however, Mexico ceded nothing. Beginning on May 14 and concluding today, the Mesoamerican championships saw Mexico win every title on offer. In the women's singles event, Arantxa Cossio Aceves (pictured) defeated compatriot Clio Barcenas, 4-0. The two Mexican finalists would also pair up to win the women's doubles, sweeping El Salvador's Keren Constanza and Cristina Machado, 3-0. The men's singles final was also an all-Mexican affair, wherein Ricardo Villa overcame Miguel Lara, 4-1. These finalists also joined forces to claim doubles gold over Allan Gutierrez and Kevin Montufar of Guatemala, 3-0. Ricardo Villa would again defeat Kevin Montufar in a doubles final, that of the mixed variety. Villa partnered with Mexican teammate Clio Barcenas to overpower the Guatemalan duo of Montufar and Lucia Cordero, 3-1. In the men's team final, Guatemala took on heavily favored Mexico. Guatemala's Heber Moscoso made things interesting, defeating Miguel Lara and taking Mexican team captain Ricardo Villa to five games. Villa won both his matches, however, leading Mexico to the men's team championship, 3-1. The women's team final also featured Mexico and Guatemala. This time, it was Guatemala's Lucia Cordero providing some drama. Like her compatriot Heber Moscoso in the men's final, Cordero provided the team's lone win, over women's singles champion Arantxa Cossio Aceves, no less. Cordero also went the distance in her other match, losing in five to Clio Barcenas, the MVP whose two wins propelled Mexico to victory. May 19, 1848 is a sad day in Mexican history. On the same date 173 years later, however, it is Mexico's turn to play the role of conquering aggressors from the north.

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