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Girls Tennis Preview

Varsity Lineup: Izzy Cancila, Avery Surber, Hailey Colley, Journee Henry, Josie Christen, Hattie Means, Emily Fentress, Kiley McKee, Caroline Kopsky, and Jessie Kunkel.

One of the most popular fall sports for the girls at Westminster is the tennis team. Known for its tightly knit community, the team remains competitive every year. Last year, the team’s stars included Freshman, Izzy Cancila and Junior, Hattie Means, both of whom return this year with increased expectations.

“Last year we had the best season we’ve had during my years here,” said varsity player and current Senior Hattie Means. However, she is not satisfied with last year’s result. “We should be a strong team this year and the talent in our lineup is deep. We have high hopes for post season and hope that this is our best year yet.”

Besides strengthening their roster this year, they’ve also moved down a class, from Class 2 to Class 1, in order to be more competitive.

“Last year we lost in the second round of team districts, but this year should be better because we moved classes. We moved from class 2 to class 1 which should give us an easier road to state,” said Cancila.

This year, the varsity team is made up of ten players from all four grades: Senior Hattie Means, Senior Kiley McKee, Senior Jessie Kunkel, Senior Emily Fentress, Junior Journee Henry, Junior Josie Christen, Junior Caroline Kopsky, Sophomore Izzy Cancila, Sophomore Hailey Colley, and Freshman Avery Surber.

The rest of the varsity team will be a mix of new and old players. Journee Henry, who played on varsity in 2017, is excited for this season and believes the team is much better this year than they were last year.

“The team is looking extremely promising as we hope to move past districts and eventually to state,” she said.

Last year, the varsity team made it to Districts, but lost to Lafayette by a score of 5-1, an early ending to a season they thought would go longer, but this year they’ll return as a better, more experienced team poised to contend long into the fall.

Aside from their aspirations as a team, some individual players have personal goals they’re hoping to fulfill this year.

“My personal goal is to go to state and do well,” said Cancila.

Overall, the girls tennis team is set up for success this year, and it should be a great season for them.

“I love getting out on the court with a hunger to win and to advance further and further. It’s therapeutic,” said Henry.

Come watch the girls’ tennis team start off the season against Parkway West at Parkway West High School on Friday at 4:15 pm.