1. West Aurora
Does it even matter that the two-time defending state champs lost Michelle Matko, last year’s state runner-up in singles, or that talented sophomore Liz Moulthrop only recently returned after fighting a back problem all summer? Not really, because as York coach Dave Williams puts it, “West Aurora is loaded.” Moulthrop returns alongside Michelle Matko’s twin sisters, juniors Stephanie and Natalie, who are heavy favorites to win their third consecutive state doubles championship. Sophomore doubles player Cara Kinnally also returns with promising freshmen Jona Schwartz and Midwest-ranked Chrissy Ormand and Chelsea Lindstrom, giving the Blackhawks depth no team can match. “We have nine ranked kids on the team,” said coach Brian Brooks. “We’re not rebuilding.”
2. Hinsdale Central
The Red Devils’ formula for success is simple, says head coach Jerilyn Scardina. “If everyone plays up to their level,” she said, “we can do anything.” With a trio of sophomores–Shawna Zuccarini, Kate Williams and Meena Anand–returning with senior Lorraine Coulter, anything may well indeed be possible. Coulter and Williams look to improve on their sixth-place doubles finish in last year’s state tournament, while Anand will team with junior Bess Szadzinski to give the Red Devils one of the toughest pairs of doubles teams in the state.
3. New Trier
Coach John Gridley has a problem that most coaches would envy. “We have a lot of players who can play a lot of positions,” he said. “I don’t know who is going to be playing where.” Two spots that aren’t in question are Nos. 1 and 2 singles, anchored by senior co-captains Leslie Fields and Jenny Buntman. Also returning are seniors Kate McCallister and Ashly Carlson, part of New Trier’s third-place doubles team at state last season. The Trevians’ depth and experience may give them the best chance of dethroning West Aurora in the state tournament.
4. York
The Dukes lose just Alana Burny from a team that finished ninth in the state tournament last season, a mark that coach Dave Williams believes will improve this season. Senior Megan Stewart leads York in singles play. “Stew, on any given day, can beat anyone,” Williams said. “She’s a powerful player.” Supporting Stewart is fellow senior Meghan Konrad and sophomores Jessica Hauser, Diane Lutzke, and Katie Burnnet. “Put us in a different year and we’d make a lot of noise at state,” Williams said. “But these kids are all tournament-knowledgeable. It paints a great picture for us.”
5. Loyola
Seniors Anna Pavlovic and Olga Gvozdenovic, who took third in the state meet in ’97, give the Ramblers a tough pair of singles players. Which slots each will fill, however, is up for grabs. “Olga and Anna are interchangeable,” coach Laura Burleigh said. “But for now Anna is No. 1.” The solid doubles teams of Melissa Kane/Gretchen Grenesko and Liz LaFranco/Margaret Gordon round out Loyola’s deep squad.
Best of the rest
Barrington, Wheaton Warrenville South, Lyons Township, Oak Park.
TOP TENNIS PLAYERS
Danielle Blancada, sr., Mother McAuley; Ashly Carlson, sr., New Trier; Lorraine Coulter, sr., Hinsdale Cenral; Amanda Downes, jr., St. Charles; Rachael Dybas, jr., Shepard; Karen Falduto, jr., Immaculate Conception; Leslie Fields, sr., New Trier; Kara Guzman, so., Benet; Olga Gvozdenovic, sr., Loyola; Erin Hois, so., Downers Grove South.
Kerrie Jorgensen, sr., Oak Park; Karlyn Martin, jr., Barrington; Natalie Matko, jr., West Aurora; Stephanie Matko, jr., West Aurora; Ellie McDonald, jr., Mother McAuley; Liz Moulthrop, so., West Aurora; Christine Nolan, jr., Glenbrook South; Anna Pavlovic, sr., Loyola; Julie Penn, jr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Margaret Purcell, sr., Lake Forest.
Mara Sonkin, jr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Megan Schultz, sr., Benet; Abbey Smith, sr., Oak Park; Megan Stewart, sr., York; Tanja Sukovic, sr., Shepard; Karrie Tyioran, jr., Oswego; Shawna Zuccarini, so., Hinsdale Central.
