Spotlighting 34 Washington County tennis standouts as championship season arrives
Championship season is rapidly approaching for Washington County Public Schools boys and girls tennis teams and players -- starting with the WCPS Tournament at South Hagerstown from May 8-10.
Clear Spring has dominated on the boys side with an 11-1 record. All eight regulars in the Blazers' lineup are profiled below. On the girls side, South Hagerstown (10-1) and Boonsboro (9-2) have been the strongest squads.
Let's shine a spotlight on this season's top performers.
Boys Singles
Hunter Liao, Boonsboro
Record: 8-0 at No. 1.
Of note: Liao, a junior, is a two-time Maryland Class 1A state champion and is undefeated in his high school career (45-0).
Coach Titus Muniz: "If you look on the boys side, we've gotten younger and younger the past few years, so he brings a lot of stability. The guys enjoy watching him play, seeing what he does and trying to apply it to their games. He brings more of a model of what a tennis player should be and demonstrates a lot of skill."
Brady Ernst, Clear Spring
Record: 8-4 at No. 1.
Of note: Ernst, a sophomore, went 8-5 in singles matches, mostly at the No. 2 position, last year.
Coach Jason McMillan: "He really spent a lot of time in the offseason hitting balls against a wall in the basement. His mom said he'd do it for hours and hours. It's paying off because he's playing really well. He adapts well to his opponents, keeps a positive attitude and is a solid guy with a lot of integrity."
Mason Bauer, Williamsport
Record: 7-5 at No. 1.
Of note: Bauer, a senior, won the county boys singles title last year and finished the 2023 season with a 7-7 singles record.
Coach Kate Paylor: "He's a wall back there in most matches. He's the one who makes opponents most frustrated because he gets to every ball. He's added some pace this year. When he wants to hit harder, he can, and that's raised his game."
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Aiden Nigh, Williamsport
Record: 10-2 at No. 2.
Of note: Nigh, a senior, went 3-2 in singles matches and 3-7 in doubles matches last year.
Coach Kate Paylor: "I think his net play is his advantage. He's a pretty tall guy who tries to get up there as fast as he can and then puts points away. That is his game plan every point. He hits balls as deep as possible to be able to rush up, and his opponents don't realize what he's doing. It's worked in his favor. He's surprised me in that spot, for sure."
Cesar Pedraza, Clear Spring
Record: 8-4 at No. 2.
Of note: Pedraza, a senior, went 4-3 in singles matches and 7-4 in doubles matches last year.
Coach Jason McMillan: "Cesar has made huge strides. His sophomore year when he came out, it was rough and he really struggled. I never thought he'd be one of my top players, but he took lessons between his sophomore and junior years, really focused on tennis and his skill level shot up. He's always getting to practice early, like an hour early. He's a story about how, if you put your mind to it, how much better you can become."
Eli Sisler, Boonsboro
Record: 7-4, mostly at No. 2. He's 3-0 at No. 1.
Of note: Sisler, a senior, went 4-10 in singles matches last year.
Coach Titus Muniz: "It's been great to see Eli's growth. I came into the program when he was a freshman, so we came in together, and seeing him go from third doubles or exhibition matches to playing second singles and winning a lot of matches has been great to see. That's what high school sports are all about."
Boys Doubles
Dillon Albowicz and Ben Rankin, Clear Spring
Record: 11-0 at No. 1.
Of note: Albowicz and Rankin, both seniors, went 5-2 when teamed together last year, reaching the county final.
Coach Jason McMillan: "We could see when we (put them together) last year, it was a wonderful glimpse as to what this year would be like. They push each other. It's really impressive for Ben because he's going to play college soccer and he has club ball. He's quiet and reserved, Dillon is very enthusiastic and they mesh so well together. Their chemistry, they don't need to talk, they just know what the other one will do."
David Akamine and Abe Jones, North Hagerstown
Record: 5-0 at No. 1.
Of note: Akamine and Jones are both seniors. Akamine went 12-4 in doubles action last year, while Jones went 5-13 in singles. Jones also is 4-0 at No. 2 singles this year.
Coach Uriel Galvan: "They compliment each other. Abe is playing like a grown man, so he's hitting hard, nice serves, putting balls away and keeping David in a calm state of mind."
Wyatt Albowicz and Blake Crampton, Clear Spring
Record: 9-1 at No. 2.
Of note: Albowicz and Crampton are both sophomores. Albowicz went 6-4 and Crampton went 7-4 in doubles matches last year. They teamed five times, going 3-2.
Coach Jason McMillan: "They're just a fun team. They're always trying to challenge Ben and Dillon, and they challenge themselves. It's fun watching them at practice because everything is a huge competition. Every practice, you know what court they're on. Their desire to play and win is so evident. Next year, they're going to be phenomenal."
Blake Bussard and Stephanos Gladhill, Clear Spring
Record: 8-2 at No. 3.
Of note: Bussard, a senior, went 10-4 in doubles matches a year ago, including 9-2 with Ben Rankin. Gladhill is a freshman.
Coach Jason McMillan: "Stephanos is a first-year player and it's nice to get someone out as a freshman. He came out and got wrapped up with these other guys who are showing him how to work outside of practice, and he's been learning it and applying it. Blake is my only four-year player and he's a good guy who works hard. It's unfortunate he has players above him who are better, because he puts in the work and effort and I'm proud of him. He works to improve the team and he's a very strong leader."
Boys Utility
Dom Runfola, South Hagerstown
Record: 2-1 at No. 1 singles and 5-3 at No. 1 doubles with two partners.
Of note: Runfola, a senior, went 9-2 in doubles matches with multiple partners last year.
Coach Sarah Biddle: "This year, when we need somebody to step up and play against a higher-level singles player, we throw Dom in there and he will either put up a good fight or even pull it out. At the same time, he's diverse being able to play with any doubles partner. He has that leadership quality where he takes charge whenever he needs to, knowing the game as well as he does and being able to lead his partners. We can rely on him to go wherever we ask him."
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Girls Singles
Lauren Toms, Williamsport
Record: 12-0 at No. 1
Of note: Toms, a senior, was the Class 1A state runner-up in 2022 and placed third in 2023. She has a 36-1 record since the start of the 2023 season and is a two-time county and region champion. She has signed to play soccer at the Naval Academy.
Coach Kate Paylor: "She has her eye on the prize, for sure. She wants to get back to states. It's something she brings up every other day. She's very dedicated even though she's on her way out and has bigger things ahead. She has her eyes on the state title, for sure."
Atlee Hilliard, South Hagerstown
Record: 7-3 at No. 1.
Of note: Hilliard, a junior, went 15-5 in singles matches for Smithsburg last year, finishing second in the county and region tournaments.
Coach Sarah Biddle: "She wasn't quite sure if she was going to play in high school this season. She was going to focus on her training and any (USTA) tournaments, Luckily, she decided to come play with us and has brought a lot to the team. That was a blessing for everyone. She's helped our kids improve their game at practices and is really helpful with the newer players. I've seen her grow throughout the season, being able to take constructive criticism. This last week was the strongest we've seen her play this season."
Elizabeth Warren, Williamsport
Record: 10-2 at No. 2
Of note: Warren, a junior, went 7-2 at No. 2 singles last year.
Coach Kate Paylor: "Liz is a little fighter back there, she doesn't ever give up. She plays opponents who are better than her and she fights them to the death, and sometimes it comes out in her favor. She looks up to those other three seniors (Lauren Toms, Olivia Emerling and Ava Reed), so she's used to having to fight in practice every day, which makes a difference going into her matches."
Maya Vanderford, Clear Spring
Record: 8-4 at No. 2.
Of note: Vanderford, a senior, went 2-2 in singles and 9-2 in doubles last year.
Coach Jason McMillan: "Maya was a nice surprise at the end of last season when she played a singles match against an opponent better than her. She worked hard and got the win, and got the taste to be a singles player. Now she goes out and she's a consistent player, doesn't get frustrated easily, is able to get herself back mentally and get back to playing the game she knows how to play."
Girls Doubles
Riley Troxell and Lindsay Rasco, South Hagerstown
Record: 12-0 at No. 1.
Of note: Troxell, a senior, teamed with Amanda Frushour to go 20-2 in doubles last year, winning county and region titles. Rasco, a junior, went 10-1 with Lillia Mills at No. 2 doubles a year ago.
Coach Sarah Biddle: "They're thinking big, for good reason. They have not shown us anything other than pushing through against whoever they're playing. Both have been exposed to doubles for multiple years. They fortunately are two players who put a lot of time (into tennis) in their private time. When they're together, their personalities fit well together. They have a lot of fun, but they're both competitive. That willingness to keep fighting, from both of them, has been a key for them. They feed off of each other really well and their communication is pretty on point. They've seen so many different levels of opponents this season that they can make adjustments (quickly)."
Larissa Blair and Rosslyn Briggs, Boonsboro
Record: 6-2 at No. 1
Of note: Blair, a junior, teamed with Cami Row to go 16-2 in doubles last year, winning the Class 1A state title. Briggs, a junior, went 5-7 in singles matches a year ago. Blair has also gone 2-0 with Breean Reed at No. 1 this year.
Coach Titus Muniz: "Larissa is having a really good encore to the state title. Last year, we had a senior she was paired with. Now, she's the lead player and has really stepped into that role and played really well. Rosslyn has a lot of singles experience. Larissa is really strong at the net, so Rosslyn's deeper in the court."
Sofia Galvan and Emily Gasaway, North Hagerstown
Record: 6-3 at No. 1.
Of note: Galvan and Gasaway, both seniors, went 13-3 at No. 2 doubles last year.
Coach Uriel Galvan: "This is their third year together. They have been growing together. They're both kind of laid back, but when they need to step it up and be intense, they get to it as well. Emily has a big serve, Sofia has good hands at the net, and that's how they compliment each other."
Grace Vizcaya and Amber Witmer, Clear Spring
Record: 6-3 at No. 1.
Of note: Vizcaya and Witmer, both seniors, went 9-2 in doubles matches a year ago. Witmer has also gone 2-1 at No. 1 doubles with Alysa Wetzel this year.
Coach Jason McMillan: "They're a nice pairing. They're somewhat opposites, Grace is happy-go-lucky and enjoys being out there, whereas Amber is more aggressive. I've seen her multiple times diving on the court to get to the ball, which is the volleyball kicking in. They are good friends who enjoy playing with each other and work with each other to get better."
Lillia Mills and Kaylee Murphy, South Hagerstown
Record: 8-2 at No. 2.
Of note: Mills, a senior, went 10-1 at No. 2 doubles with Lindsay Rasco last year. Murphy, a junior, split her time between singles and doubles a year ago.
Coach Sarah Biddle: "Kaylee was our sacrificial lamb most of the time (last year) and that took a toll on her, so we wanted to make sure this year she had somebody she could rely on and have a solid partner at all times. Lillia has been our most consistent No. 2 doubles player for two years now. Kaylee brings the fire and Lillia feeds off her emotions well. Sometimes I wonder how they will pull a match out, and they don't give up, even to the very end. Their groundstrokes and net play are really strong when they're on, and they're smart about the way they play as a team, setting each other up. They just have to find their rhythm. When they're on, they're very hard to beat."
Brooke Iager, Breann Reed and Payton Gish, Boonsboro
Record: Iager and Reed are 5-0 at No. 2; Iager and Gish are 4-0 at No. 2.
Of note: Iager, a junior, went 10-2 in doubles a year ago. Reed, a junior, went 11-4 in doubles last year. Gish, a senior, played only one match last year. Reed also is 2-0 with Larissa Blair at No. 1 doubles this season. Gish also is 5-0 with two other partners this year.
Coach Titus Muniz: "We have good depth on our girls side, so we dominate second doubles for the most part. A couple years ago when the juniors came in for their freshmen year, that really strengthed our girls side. Payton came in as a junior (last year) and has really improved to become a consistent player. They all work well together and are good teammates. They are what a tennis program is made of. You need top players, but to win matches, often it comes down to second and third doubles, and having that depth is really good."
Madi Haupt and Lanie Weaver, Clear Spring
Record: 7-0 at No. 3.
Of note: Haupt, a junior, and Weaver, a senior, are playing tennis for the first time.
Coach Jason McMillan: "They are a very pleasant surprise. Madi is a ball of energy. She loves getting up to the net, and some of it is the volleyball instinct. She covers the net so well, and that allows Lanie to stay in the back and use her good groundstrokes. It blows me out of the water how good they are right out of the gate. They're fun to watch and they both really enjoy the sport."
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Which county tennis players are thriving as championship season comes?
