Bedford's Bill Ryan pulls double duty in girls basketball and tennis
Bill Ryan spent a lot of time on the court this spring.
But it was two very different courts.
Ryan coaches both girls basketball team and the girls tennis team for Bedford.
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“There was a week and a half, we were practicing basketball from 3 to 5 (p.m.) and tennis from 5 to 7,” he said.
That’s because Bedford’s girls basketball team made a nice state-tournament run, bringing home district and regional titles before falling in the Division 1 state quarterfinals.
“I would do it all over again if I had the opportunity,” he said.
Ryan said that going from the pressure of preparing for basketball tournament games to tennis practice was good for him.
“Actually, it was kind of therapeutic going from basketball to tennis,” he said.
AIRPORT
Coach: Jerry Escheck 32nd season.
Top players: Juniors Hannah Roof, Ella Gekle, Skyler Hicks, Sophie Bucki, Ava Litten, Sierra Blakeman; sophomore Allison Barnes; freshmen Myra VanWashenova, Aleeya Ridner.
Season outlook: Roof and Gekle played No. 3 and 4 singles last season. They move up to the top two spots this spring.
Coach’s comments: “We are very young. We have a lot of new doubles teams that are learning to play with each other.”
BEDFORD
Coach: Bill Ryan, fourth year.
Top players: Seniors Kate Eaton, Lauren Werbiansky, Lucy Conlan, Audrey Dillon, Maddie Armstrong, Grace Deiners, Paige Anderson; juniors Sophia LaPointe, Katie Eaton, Alvia Brown; sophomore Dorothy Dillon.
Season outlook: The Mules have a veteran squad. LaPointe and Eaton filled the top two singles spots last season and the members of all four doubles reams return including Werbiansky and Conlan at No. 1.
Coach’s comments: “We graduated two seniors from last year's successful team. We will be challenged during our tough league schedule in the SEC and in our Division 1 Regional tournament.”
GIBRALTAR CARLSON
Coach: Brian Herman, 11th year.
Top players: Adyson Brake, Erin Riley, Lila Angelos, Rylie Zalewski, Brooklyn Roldan, Delaney Boller, Madison Jacobs, Nicole Sendry, Julie Mitchell, Anna Van Holten, Brianna Helka, Sarah Pente.
Season outlook: The Marauders lost just one senior to graduation. Brake qualified for state at No. 1 singles and Zalewski was undefeated at No. 4 singles. Riley and Angelos also were in the singles lineup and Roldan and Boller played No. 1 doubles.
Coach’s comments: “The singles unit will be very competitive and if this team improves it doubles play, anything is possible.”
MILAN
Coach: Nathan Rodriguez, 15th year.
Top players: Seniors Gabby Dryden, Maya Grimley, Ally Jones, Gwen Jones, Rylee Kennedy, Jessica Lubke, and Ella Warren; juniors Ava DeMonde, Sarah Monroe, and Ava Swaney; sophomores: Alaina Brubaker and Tiana Newman.
Season outlook: Milan has plenty of experience with 10 of its 12 starters from last year returning.
Coach’s comments: “We are still figuring out our starting lineup. Kennedy, Monroe, and Swaney all return from the singles lineup last year. At doubles, we return Lubke, Warren, Ally and Gwen Jones, DeMonde, Grimley, and Dryden.”
MONROE
Coach: Stephen Reau, fourth year.
Top players: Senior Marisa Rostash, Abella Hellenberg.
Season outlook: Rostash is bidding to become Monroe County Region Player of the Year for the fourth time. The first two years were at SMCC and last year at Monroe.
Coach’s comments: “This is probably my deepest group of girls we have had in years. All players have had a taste of playing in the SEC and are up to the challenge to be very competitive against any opponent.”
NEW BOSTON HURON
Coach: Corey Chandler, 12th year.
Top players: Seniors Adriana Skene, Macenzie McCluskey, Maria Bradley; Chloe Mackowski, Riley Lambert, Juliana Dimilia, Racheal Kieleszewski, Gabriella Consiglio, Lilian McGunagle, Whitney Hertza.
Season outlook: Skene, McCluskey and Mackowski are competing for the No. 1 singles job. Lambert and Dimilia also could play singles. Kieleszewski and Consiglio lead the doubles candidates.
Coach’s comments: “We have another young tennis team with only three seniors. I’m looking forward to seeing my returning girls and new girls compete this season.”
SMCC
Coach: Kaitlin Miller, third year.
Top players: Seniors Molly Blanchett, Analiese Flint, Claire Leach, Hannah Borer; junior Elizabeth Zwack.
Season outlook: The Kestrels will have senior leadership at the top positions. Blanchett and Flint played No. 1 and 2 singles last season Borer and Leach formed the No. 1 doubles team.
Coach’s comments: “These seniors are the girls we started with four years ago. It’s been a joy to watch them mature the last four years as individuals and players. I’m excited to see how they all continue their growth in their senior season.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Girls Tennis Previews: Bedford's success kept Ryan busy this spring
