Columbus North No. 1 singles player Kathryn Wilson returns the ball to Brown County during the sectional final May 19, 2023 at Columbus North.
The Republic file photo
The girls tennis season will kick off a little earlier this year. Instead of playing their annual dual match the second Monday in April because of the total solar eclipse, Columbus North and Columbus East will square off Thursday at East to open the season.
Here is a look at those two teams, as well as the other area schools:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs welcome back senior Kathryn Wilson, last year’s state singles champion and a Purdue recruit.
“I am very excited for Kathryn this year,” North coach Kendal Hammel said. “What she did last year, winning the state championship and going 30-0, she is ready to make another run. She doesn’t have that senioritis. She’s been working really hard, hitting a lot of balls and traveling to tournaments. I know she’s ready to get in there and see if she can compete for the title again.”
Junior Aya Saad also returns after going 24-3 at No. 2 singles.
“She is one of the top players probably in the state at the No. 2 spot,” Hammel said. “Her and Kathryn have been hitting a lot of balls together in the offseason. That’s a strong 1-2 combo right there. We expect getting a 2-0 lead in a lot of matches right off the bat. It’s just getting that third spot.”
Junior Annabelle Sun, who was at No. 3 singles last year, and sophomore Lucy Bergman, who was at No. 1 doubles, could play either of those spots. Junior Grace Conner returns as a doubles player.
The Bull Dogs will miss sophomore Nino Akhalaya, who played No. 2 doubles last season, after she tore her ACL and meniscus. Senior Lison Cloteaux and junior Lizzie Bodart, both of which saw a little varsity action last season, likely will start the year at No. 2 doubles.
Junior Ayane Umemura also could push for a spot in the lineup.
“I fully expect there’s going to be some lineup changes as we work through some things,” Hammel said. “They’ve really been working a lot since last year to get ready for this season.”
North went 19-5 last season and won its seventh consecutive regional championship.
Columbus East
Adam Ulrich, who has been the Central Middle School coach the past five years, takes over for Matt Malinsky.
The Olympians will begin the season with only one returning starter from last season’s team that went 9-12.
“We’re going to be a young team this year,” Ulrich said. “We have a lot of underclassmen that are bringing a lot of enthusiasm and excitement to the team. We’re rebuilding.”
Sophomore Lauren Degner, who played No. 1 singles last year, is recovering from an ACL injury and may or may not be able to play later in the season.
“Right now, we don’t know what her timetable to return is, so we’re just letting her come to practice and doing what the doctors allow,” Ulrich said.
Senior Sara Moran moves from No. 2 doubles to start the season at No. 1 singles. Senior Emily Zhu and sophomore Zoe White could play No. 2 or 3 singles or No. 1 doubles.
Sophomores Lillian Smith, Bruna Carreira and Lucy Morales will play doubles.
“The kids have made huge progress so far,” Ulrich said. “These girls have bought into everything we’ve asked them to do so far. They’ve worked really hard the past several weeks in practice and are looking to make East tennis a contender for years to come.”
Hauser
With five seniors in the lineup, the Jets are hoping to again battle for the Mid-Hoosier Conference title.
Senior Bella Kilps returns at No. 1 singles. Senior Lydia Jordan will move from No. 3 singles to No. 2 singles, and senior Kayden Miller likely will move from No. 2 doubles to No. 3 singles.
Seniors Addison Barriger and Mattie Foster are back at No. 1 doubles. Battling for the No. 2 doubles spots are freshmen Abby Manley and Kaydenze Brock and sophomore Kaysie Kistler.
Hauser went 10-6 last season.
“We have a lot of senior leadership on the team this year along with some talented newcomers,” Hauser coach Molly Crabtree said. “We are excited to get the season started.”
Jennings County
The Panthers return with six of their seven varsity players from last season’s 3-15 squad.
Senior Tatum Brown and sophomore Kaydence Lowman are back at Nos. 1 and 2 singles.
“I think Tatum and Kaydence will be a good 1-2 punch,” Jennings coach Deron Brown said.
Junior Mia Silvey moves from No. 1 doubles to No. 3 singles, and sophomore Gabi Morin returns at No. 1 doubles. Junior Jocelyn Valdovinos moves from No. 3 singles to No. 1 doubles.
Senior Trina Collins returns at No. 2 doubles, where she will be joined by junior Sophia Lewis. Junior Maddie McIntosh, a soccer and basketball standout, is playing high school tennis for the first time and could contribute.
“We’ve had a pretty good turnout for workouts,” Deron Brown said. “We have good experience, and we have some new athletes that came out for the team this year.”
Brown County
The Eagles will be experienced with seven seniors in its varsity lineup.
Anna Stogsdill, Anna Tipton and Julia Burt return at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles. Ava Kelly and Kady Kemp will move up from No. 2 doubles to No. 1 doubles.
Stepping in at No. 2 doubles will be Ashlynn Mercer and Atheena Doughty.
Brown County went 13-7 last season.
“The Eagles had a great season in 2023 and are looking forward to this ‘24 season,” Brown County coach Thom Miller said.
Edinburgh
The Lancers return five starters, including all three singles players, from a team that went 5-11.
Seniors Jessica Walsh, Zoey Sida and Izzy Richardson played Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles last season. Junior Mia Dodson and senior Lily Turner played No. 2 doubles.
Battling for the other two lineup spots are sophomores Gracie Lawson and Bella Turner, junior newcomer Meagan Clapper and freshmen Evelyn Martinez-Luis, Sophia Pace and Kinzie Purvis.
“This upcoming season has a roster full of seniors and returning players,” Edinburgh coach Rachel O’Brien said. “The seniors will be bringing their experience over the last three years and use it to their advantage. We hope to be very competitive in the Mid-Hoosier Conference and throughout the season. With returning players and new members to the team, we hope to excel both individually and as a team.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars will have one of their largest teams ever with 18 girls.
“We have a big team this year,” Trinity coach Jayme Lowe said. “A lot of it is just seeing where everybody falls and building up our new players and challenging our returning players.”
Senior Drew Hubbard returns at No. 1 singles. Senior Kiley Zabel and junior Carson Bowling return at No. 1 doubles, and Natalie Martinez and Emily Keller return at No. 2 doubles
Looking to fill the Nos. 2 and 3 singles spots are freshman Katie Malone, seniors Allison Ward and Bridget Bingham, freshman Presley Meyer and junior Adicyn Otte.
“Especially with our returning strength, I feel pretty confident in those positions, and I definitely feel we can fill 2 and 3 singles with good players,” Lowe said. “With the depth of our team, we have that flexibility.”
The 2024 girls tennis schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Thursday vs. Columbus North, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday vs. New Albany, 10 a.m.
Tuesday at Edinburgh, 5 p.m.
Wednesday at Bloomington North, 6 p.m.
April 5 at Brown County, 4:30 p.m.
April 9 vs. Shelbyville, 5:30 p.m.
April 11 at Seymour, 4:45 p.m.
April 15 vs. Greensburg, 5 p.m.
April 16 at Whiteland, 5 p.m.
April 18 at Madison, 5 p.m.
April 20 vs. Jeffersonville, 5 p.m.
April 22 at Jennings County, 5 p.m.
April 23 vs. Franklin, 5 p.m.
April 25 vs. Greenwood, 5 p.m.
April 29 at Bedford North Lawrence, 5:30 p.m.
May 1 at East Central, 5 p.m.
May 2 vs. Batesville, 5:15 p.m.
May 6 at Seymour in HHC Tournament, 5:30 p.m.
May 8 vs. TBA in HHC Tournament, TBA
May 9 vs. TBA in HHC Tournament, TBA
Columbus North
Thursday at Columbus East, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday at Center Grove, 5:30 p.m.
April 4 vs. Seymour, 4:45 p.m.
April 6 vs. Jeffersonville, 9 a.m.
April 9 at Floyd Central, 5 p.m.
April 11 vs. Carmel at Southport, 5:30 p.m.
April 12 vs. Lawrenceburg, 6 p.m.
April 15 vs. Bloomington North, 6 p.m.
April 16 at Southport, 5:30 p.m.
April 20 at Park Tudor Invitational, 9 a.m.
April 27 at Avon Invitational, 9 a.m.
April 29 vs. Terre Haute South at Bloomington North, 6 p.m.
April 30 vs. Bloomington South, 6 p.m.
May 3 vs. Terre Haute North, 6 p.m.
May 11 at North Central Invitational, 9 a.m.
Hauser
Monday vs. Oldenburg Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday at Jennings County, 5 p.m.
April 4 vs. Greenwood Christian Academy, 5:30 p.m.
April 6 at Brown County Invitational, 9 a.m.
April 10 vs. Greensburg, 5 p.m.
April 11 vs. Edinburgh, 4:30 p.m.
April 13 vs. Batesville, 9 a.m.
April 16 vs. Rushville, 5 p.m.
April 18 vs. Waldron, 4:30 p.m.
April 22 vs. Madison, 5:30 p.m.
April 23 at Beech Grove, 5:30 p.m.
April 25 vs. Trinity Lutheran, 5:30 p.m.
April 29 vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 4:30 p.m.
May 2 at Morristown, 5 p.m.
May 6 at Shelbyville, 4:30 p.m.
May 7 at Indian Creek, 4:30 p.m.
May 9 at Southwestern (Shelby), 4:30 p.m.
May 11 in MHC Individual Tournament, 9 a.m.
May 14 at Triton Central, 4:30 p.m.
