MERCURY GIRLS TENNIS PREVIEW
Spring-Ford freshman Mia Matriccino hits a forehand during the District 1-3A team tournament final last season. Matriccino, the reigning Mercury All-Area Girls Tennis Player of the Year, is one of the top returning girls tennis players in the area. Read about the local girls’ team in the Mercury’s team-by-team preview on
BOYERTOWN
Coach: Donna Laskosky, 21st year.
Last year’s record: 4-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Players to watch: Kara Bussinger, Sr., singles; Abby Cadwallader, Sr., singles or doubles; Brenna Henry, Sr. doubles; Allie Schell, Sr., doubles; Olivia Vangeli, Jr., singles; Brenna Bussinger, Fr., singles. Outlook: Kara Bussinger was a MERCURY All-Area honorable mention selection in 2020 . ... “We have a very young team with lots of freshmen,” Laskosky said. “We’re looking forward to seeing two sets of sisters play this season. This group seems like quick learners and really seem to enjoy the game. I think that they will do a great job and be competitive with some of the schools in our league.”
DANIEL BOONE
Coach: Ryan Burke, third year.
Last year’s record: 3-4 Berks Conference, 6-7 overall.
Players to watch: Jordyn Houck, Sr.; Katie Shank, Sr.; Kate Tokach, Sr.; Sarah Young, Jr.
Mallory Brandt, Sr., singles; Megan Burns, Sr., doubles; Danling Wu, Sr., doubles; Jordyn Houck, Jr., singles; Katie Shank, Jr., singles; Katie Tokach, Jr., doubles; Sarah Young, So., doubles.
Outlook: “We are looking forward to another competitive season,” Burke said. “Jordyn Houck holds the record for wins in a career. Both Houck and Katie Shank hold a program record for wins in a season. The doubles team of Tokach and Young hold program records for wins in a season and a career.”
HILL SCHOOL
Coach: Avinash Vermuri, third year.
Last year’s record: 1-1 in exhibitions. Players to watch: Ava Carosella, Sr.; Anna Carroll, Jr.; Carrington Bernabei, So. Outlook: While their positions in the ladder are currently not established, Vermuri figures Carosella, Carroll and Bernabel will all play near the top of the lineup . ... “We are very excited to have a competitive season ahead of us such a tough year last year,” Vermuri said. “We have a young, but hungry, team. Our goal is to finish near the top of the MAPL league and grow into a team defined by grit and tough competitive spirit.”
METHACTON
Coach: Jill Walker, fourth year.
Last Year’s Record: 10-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Players to Watch: Alice Liang, Jr., singles; Hana Nouaime, So., singles; Lauren Montgomery, doubles; Irene Biju, doubles; Dru O’Brien, doubles; Angela Lian, doubles; Morgan Coupe, doubles; Carlee Dellose, doubles; Anika Suresh, Fr., singles. Outlook: Liang and Nouaime distinguished themselves in 2020by claiming silver medals at the PIAA Class 3A Doubles Championship Nov. 8. They reached the state level by winning the PAC and District 1-3A Doubles . ... “We’re looking forward to a competitive season,” Walker said, “especially at the top of the singles lineup as Alice and Hana return for another big season after finishing second in the doubles state tournament together last season. New freshman Anika Suresh also has entered and will become a solid third singles player for the team.”
OWEN J. ROBERTS
Coach: Jerry Styer, 23rd year.
Last year’s record: 6-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Players to watch: Sonya Soeder, Sr., singles; Allison Root, So., singles; Isabelle Withers, So., singles.
Outlook: During challenge matches, key returning players like Alina Orzechowski, Carlee Bonanno, Lauren Koster, Anna Subick, Ava Cellars, Caroline Aldred, Faith Turnbull, Simone Bollinger, Trinity Benfield, Katy Balzano, Anna Faith and Helen Farnham were vying for position . ... Root was second in PAC singles and qualified for districts in 2020 . ... “We would expect to exceed last year’s record. Five of our top girls are playing tennis over the winter and they have shown improvement. Because of Allison’s outstand season last year, we have taken on some very competitive matches for her to gain results to assist the district seeding committee,” Styer said. “The rest of the team may bear the brunt of this effort, but they will gain valuable experience through the process. All the girls are excited for the season and will try to get back to some normalcy after last year’s abbreviated pandemic season.”
PERKIOMEN SCHOOL
Coach: David Pandl, third year.
Last year’s record: Not available. Players to watch: Abirami Chinnakarruppan, Sr., singles; Emma Hogan, Jr., singles. Outlook: Chinnakarruppan and Hogan are expected to maintain their status as starters for the Panthers in 2021, Abirami at first singles and Emma also in singles.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY
Coach: Jennifer Dixon, 19th year.
Last year’s record: 6-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference, 11-2 overall.
Players to watch: Sydney Boardman, singles; Kelsey Leonard, Sr., doubles; Kayla Morris, Sr., doubles; Kaitlyn Murphy, Sr., singles; Gracie Strohecker, singles; Ananya Sudarshan, Jr.
Outlook: The Vikings have 32 players on their roster, 11of which are seniors and 14 newcomers . ... Hannah Cox, Sam Swarr and Sudarshan as strong returning varsity players, and Sarah Verguldi (Sr.), Emmy Flynn (So.) and Cindy Li (Fr.) are up from lst year’s junior-varsity ranks . ... “I have a young JV team and seasoned varsity squad,” Dixon said. “We hope to stay in the top 3in our league and flex our Viking muscle.”
PHOENIXVILLE
Coach: Summer Lindeman, eighth year. Last year’s record: 2-6 Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Players to watch: Elizabeth Snavely, Sr., singles; Rachel Wascoe, Jr., singles. Outlook: Snavely and Wascoe are the Phantoms’ returning varsity players . ... ”We are ready for another great season.” Lindeman said . ... Phoenixville’s first event this year is its annual Play for the Cure Tennis Tournament Friday, Aug. 27, The Phantoms will be joined this year by teams from Linden Hall, Gwynedd Mercy and Episcopal Academy. This all-day event is run by the program’s seniors and includes food sales, raffles and lots of matches, with all proceeds benefitting the Phoenixville Cancer Center.
POPE JOHN PAUL II
Coach: Sue McDonough, fourth year.
Last year’s record: Team did not compete due to COVID-19 concerns.
Players to watch: Tessa Crosson. Outlook: Crossan is pencilled in to be the Golden Panthers’ representative at first singles . ... “PJP has a group of hard-working student/athletes and hope to have a strong, competitive season,” McDonough said. “We are grateful to be back competing with the rest the PAC this year. Since graduating many varsity players, we will get to have a look at some new upcoming doubles teams and singles opportunities.”
POTTSGROVE
Coach: Gus Tellis, 11th year,
Last year’s record: 1-7 Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Players to watch: Rachel Lilliendahl, singles; Samantha Mohollen, singles; Abby McDonald, singles; Caitlyn Carney, doubles. Outlook: Lilliendahl, Mohollen and McDonald look to be the Falcons’ singles lineup in that order, first to third. .., 3rd singles, “This year’s Pottsgrove girls tennis is very young, returning only one senior,” Tellis said. “The girls have been working very hard to improve their skill sets. It’s going to be a constant learning experience, as our girls navigate this year’s Pioneer Athletic Conference.”
POTTSTOWN
Coach: Sean McNamara, first year.
Last year’s record: Not available. Players to watch: Layla Bearden, doubles; Lili Freese, singles; Taylor Maguire, singles; Jessery Redrovan, doubles;
Outlook: McNamara takes over the Trojans’ head coaching post from Lauren PerezBralski, who’s stepping away after three years. He’s also coached the Pottstown boys’ tennis team the past four seasons. ... The Trojans opened their PAC schedule Tuesday by visiting Perkiomen Valley. Freese had the best individual showing, winning four games at first singles.
SPRING-FORD
Coach: Todd Reagan, 18th year.
Last year’s record: 8-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference, 15-0 overall.
Returning varsity players: Lana Hang, Sr.; Isabel Mejia, Sr., singles; Cady Krause, Jr.; Alexis Luo, So.; Mia Matriccino, So., singles; Evelyn Mejia, So.; Chloe Moore, So. Outlook: Matriccino had an outstanding freshman season, becoming The MERCURY Player of the Year after winning the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s singles championship and finishing as District 1-3A runner-up. She played first singles in a Ram lineup that was team champion at the league, district and state levels . ... “Although they will need to replace several graduates from last year’s squad, they have some determined members of last year’s team ready to step up,” Reagan said. “The girls are again determined to work hard and work together to try and solidify themselves as a top team in the league and beyond.”
UPPER PERKIOMEN
Coach: John Williamson, 13th year.
Last year’s record: 3-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Players to watch: Sara Andrasek, Sr., singles; Cassidy Bush, Sr., doubles; Liz Greczek, Sr., doubles; M’Lynn Poulson, Sr., doubles; Elyssa Sledgen, Sr., doubles; Madalyn Dyer, Jr., singles.; Hope Thompson, So., singles; Emily Vogel, So., doubles. Outlook: Thompson, Dyer and Andrasek will make up the Indians’ singles ladder in the first through third spots, respectively . ... Thompson was All-PAC Honorable Menion as a freshman . ... “I expect our team to be competitive and continue to improve as the season progresses, as we have a good mix of senior leadership and young talent,” Williamson said. “The team has been working hard during early season practices.”