Greater Lansing high school girls tennis overview
Here is an overview of the high school girls tennis teams in Greater Lansing. This reflects information provided by area coaches.
CAAC BLUE
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Okemos, 2. East Lansing, 3. DeWitt. 4. Holt, 5. Grand Ledge, 6. Waverly, 7. Lansing
▶ Top players: Izzie Hult, Okemos; Bella Portnoy, Okemos
DEWITT
▶ Last season: 3-3 (4th)
▶ Coach: Mike Hitchcock (8th season)
▶ Top returners: Courtney Novak (jr.) S, Ella Reid (sr.) D, Maddie Baldwin (sr.) D, Sydney Peterson (jr.) D, Spencer Wood (jr.) D, Jordyn Crawley (sr.) D, Sydney Thorne (sr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Amanda Mickelson (fr.) S, Maddie Utrup (fr.) S, Cassity Kirkham (fr.) S, Omi Alicia (jr.) d
▶ Outlook: Reid, Crawley and Thorne were part of regional champion flights last spring, while Novak, Peterson and Wood were regional runners-up. With a strong returning core and newcomers slated to contribute, DeWitt expects to be competitive and has a goal of qualifying for the state finals.
EAST LANSING
▶ Last season: 6-1
▶ Coach: Cosette Buckberry (11th season)
▶ Top returners: Elena Cull (sr.), Erika Stokstad (sr.), EmmaMae Baker (sr.), Sabrina Gresens (jr.), Ellery Scales (jr.), Maia Meghea (so.), Elsa Elhenicky (jr.), Elizabeth Gisholt (jr.)
▶ Other contributors: Grace Knake (so.), Sima Bezuglova (so.), Sonja Stokstad (fr.), Evie Laxton (fr.)
▶ Outlook: The Trojans captured a regional title last season and will try to build on that success. Baker and Erika Stokstad are fourth-year varsity players and part of a large group of returners for East Lansing. With a pair of freshmen joining the mix, the Trojans expect to have good depth.
HOLT
▶ Last season: 3rd
▶ Coach: Russ Olcheske (10th season)
▶ Top returners: Morgan Bliesener (sr.) S/D, Joy Schmitt (sr.) D, Brianna Eaves (sr.) S/D, Claudia Hernandez (sr.) D, Jessica Hua (jr.) S/D, Kelsey Crandall (so.) D, Maddie Gleason (so.) D, Amelia Ernst (so.) D, Gabrielle Jones (so.) D
▶ Other contributors: Riley Lewis (jr.) D, Maddie Brady (so.) D, Jay Sandu (fr.) S
▶ Outlook: The Rams lost their top eight players from last season to graduation. Despite the losses, Olcheske said he has a core of returning seniors and a strong sophomore class that will help Holt play solid tennis this season.
LANSING
▶ Last season: 1-7 (5th)
▶ Coach: Julie Linderleaf
▶ Top returners: Morgan Odenwald (jr.) 1S, Kloey Weeks (jr.) 1D, Cherish Her (jr.) 1D, Oo Meh (jr.) 2D, Sarah Lettau (sr.) 2D, Da'Vayeh Jordan (sr.) 2S, Channing Lewis (sr.)
▶ Other contributors: Lorenya Estrada-Robles 3D, Talia Silva Ratto Ferreira (sr.) 3D
▶ Outlook: The combined Everett and Sexton squad went from 12 members to 27 this spring. Odenwald leads the way as a third-year varsity player and will play at the top singles flight.
OKEMOS
▶ Last season: 17-0, 6-0 (1st)
▶ Coach: Olivia Becker (4th season)
▶ Top returners: Izzie Hult (so.) 2S, Olive Dalinowski (sr.) 1D, Grace Wang (jr.) 1D, Yasmin Booncharoen-Jelassi (sr.) 2D, Leila Boonchareon-Jelassi (sr.) 3S
▶ Other contributor: Bella Portnoy (fr.) 1S
▶ Outlook: Hult earned all-state honors last season, while Dalinowski, Wang and Yasmin and Leila Boochareon-Jelassi are varsity veterans who were all-league selections last spring for the Wolves. Okemos expects to contend for another CAAC Blue title.
CAAC RED
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Mason, 2. St. Johns, 3. Williamston, 4. Haslett, 5. Fowlerville, 6. Eastern
▶ Top players: Gabby Hanover, Mason; Isabel Thelen, St. Johns; Jazymyn Pon, Williamston
EASTERN
▶ Coach: Lindsey Robinson (6th season)
▶ Top returners: Riley Leinbach (sr.) 3S, Amani Wheeler (jr.) 2S
▶ Other contributor: Mackenzie Fox (jr.) 1S
▶ Outlook: With several returners and 32 players overall, the Quakers hope to grow their program.
FOWLERVILLE
▶ Last season: 4-7-2, 1-4 (5th)
▶ Coach: Steven Quigley (1st season)
▶ Top returners: Payton McConnaghey (jr.) 1S, Morgan Thomas (jr.) 2S, Anna Arnot (jr.) 3S, Taylor Drenchen (so.) 1D, Mya Murawski (so.) 1D, Sophia Lutz (jr.) 2D
▶ Other contributors: Riley Thomas (jr.), Gia Beach (sr.), Salena Collins (jr.), Bailey Villerot (fr.)
HASLETT
▶ Last season: 3rd
▶ Coaches: Henry Brunnschwiler, Samantha Brunnschweiler (23rd season)
▶ Top returners: Lexi Pridgeon (so.) S, Lauren Richey (so.) S, Ela Emden (jr.) D, Ganga Murali (jr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Ella Boccarrosa (jr.) D, Kendall Armstrong (jr.) D, Gabrielle Asher (fr.) S, Kaia Anastor (fr.) S
▶ Outlook: New faces will make up a large part of the roster for the Vikings, who have just four starters back from last season. Improving as the season progresses is a goal for Haslett as its aims to be competitive in the CAAC Red.
MASON
▶ Last season: 3rd
▶ Coach: Jimmy Joyce (1st season)
▶ Top returners: Gabby Hanover (jr.), Claire Heathman (sr.), Ashlynn Putnam (sr.), Ava Hauser (jr.), Jennah Lattig (jr.), Keira Redman (jr.)
▶ Other contributors: Lindsey Brown (sr.), Catherine Ehrsman (sr.), Isabel Hauer (jr.), Abby Martel (sr.)
▶ Outlook: The Bulldogs have a large group of returners and will try to be successful in the CAAC Red and in the regional.
ST. JOHNS
▶ Last season: 15-1-1 (T-1st)
▶ Coach: Josh Gove (6th season)
▶ Top returners: Isabel Thelen (sr.) 1S, Kaylee Woodbury (sr.) 1D, Ellie Vance (sr.), Olivia Peterson (sr.), Lily Howell (sr.), Brenda McCann (jr.)
▶ Other contributors: Josie Heystek (sr.), Jordan Hicks (sr.), Ramiah Caroland (jr.), Callie Morrison (so.)
▶ Outlook: Thelen and Woodbury are varsity veterans who earned all-state accolades last spring. Vance is a third-year varsity player for the Redwings, who have a goal at making runs at league and regional titles and getting back to the state finals again.
CAAC WHITE
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Portland, 2. Lansing Catholic, 3. Eaton Rapids, 4. Ionia, 5. Lakewood, 6. Charlotte
▶ Top player: Bela Virk, Portland
CHARLOTTE
▶ Last season: 0-8
▶ Coach: Dan Ellis (2nd season)
▶ Top returners: Dakota Smith (jr.) 3S, Makayla Ramey (sr.) D, Lydia Grey (sr.) D, Genevieve Rudy (sr.) D, Ryleigh Witt (so.) D
▶ Other contributors: Cameron Tuller (fr.) S, Hailey Alward (sr.) S, Keilana Briney (fr.) S/D, Ella Rademacher (fr.) S/D, Hannah Bodell (so.) D
▶ Outlook: Charlotte's roster has grown from seven to 23 players and the Orioles looking to make growth this season. Ellis sad the added depth will help.
EATON RAPIDS
▶ Last season: 3rd
▶ Coaches: Ryan Anderson / Jake Crandell (17th season)
▶ Top returners: Ava Kunkle (sr.) 1D, Macey Hathaway (sr.) 2D, Kylyn NaDell (sr.) 2S, Allie White (jr.) 1S, Lydia Mazurek (jr.) 1D, Emily McNamara (jr.) 2D, Karina Dormire (jr.) 3S, Leah Steffen (jr.) 3D, Chole Hoffman (jr.) 4S, Grace Shaw (jr.) 3D
▶ Outlook: The Greyhounds have a solid core of veteran players and will have their varsity lineup rounded out by an athletic group.
LANSING CATHOLIC
▶ Last season: 1st
▶ Coaches: Mark West (1st season)
▶ Top returners: Anna Riehl (sr.) 1S, Mariana Prieto (sr.) 2S, Abby Frank (jr.) 3S
▶ Other contributors: Aubrey Brunch (sr.), Kaitlyn Kennedy (sr.), Grace Curry (jr.) 1D, Annie Tiietsort (sr.) 1D
▶ Outlook: The Cougars hope to continue their success after reaching the state finals last season. Lansing Catholic’s singles lineup is led by varsity veterans with Riehl and Prieto in their fourth seasons and Frank in her third.
OTHERS
OWOSSO
▶ Last season: 5-3
▶ Coach: Carrie Rugenstein (15th season)
▶ Top returners: Rebecca Starr (sr.) 2/3S, Addyson Collard (jr.) 1/2D, Lauren Collard (jr.) 3/4S
▶ Other contributors: Ginger Golombisky (so.) 1S, Jodie LeDrossay (sr.) 2/3S
▶ Outlook: Starr leads the experience for the Trojans and is in her fourth season on varsity and second playing singles. Addyson and Lauren Collard are both returners who will also be among the leaders for an Owosso squad that lost 12 seniors to graduation and have a young team and small roster.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Greater Lansing high school girls tennis overview
