Tennis season has returned! We asked our coaches to tell them more about their teams. Here’s what they had to say.
*Coaches were contacted multiple times for this exercise. Those responses are below. Don’t see your team? Email Michael Wojtychiw at mmwojtychiw@cps.edu.
School name: Amundsen High School
Last season’s record: 5-2
Social media handle: instagram: amundsen.tennis
Returning starters (name, class):
Mila Plavsic, Senior
Celeste Alexander, Junior
Kora Hitchcock, Senior (Captain)
Lucy Tschaen, Senior
Sophia Roof, Junior
Olivia Higgins, Senior
Top newcomers (name, class):
Briley Miller, Junior, transfer from Mahomet
Gianna Volpe, Freshman
Coach’s season outlook: This is only our second year as a team, and we’re excited to share that we’re going to have the largest team we’ve ever had, with 20 girls total on the team. We’re returning our entire starting lineup and adding in some key newcomers to the Varsity team. We hope to continue our success among the Blue North conference teams, and we’re excited to add some non-conference matches to our schedule for the first time ever.
School name: Brooks College Prep
Last season’s record: 11-7
Social media handle: @gbcp.girlstennis
Returning starters (name, class):
Imani Ballard (jr.)
Top newcomers (name, class):
Jaylese Cain (sr.)
Amariana Grant (sr.)
Jasmine Luten (sr.)
Andrea Pena (sr.)
Barakat Solademi (sr.)
Llewellyn Quinn (sr.)
Vanessa Walston (sr.)
Caitlyn Thigpen (jr.)
Lilia Price (so.)
Laila Hill (so.)
Coach’s season outlook:
Last season’s senior-heavy team was our most successful ever. We returned to city for the fifth straight year, won a match there, and advanced a doubles team to within one win of the 1A state tournament. Almost all the varsity players from that team have graduated. This season will be our biggest rebuild ever, but we still have talent, including a third-year varsity junior (Imani Ballard) and a lot of players who won consistently on the JV level last year. We’ll rely on culture and development to help this team reach its potential by the end of the season.
School name: Lane Tech
Last Year’s Record: 8-10
Social media handle: @lanegirlstennis
Returning Starters:
Gia Shah (S)
Brooke Bornstein (Jr)
Celia Kelly (Jr)
Priya Reddy (Jr)
Sophia Stephanou (So)
Top Newcomers:
Kira Draney is a seasoned tournament player that made a big impression during tryouts as a freshman to earn a spot on the varsity squad.
Storyline and Outlook:
Lane Girls Tennis has a packed schedule and a lineup full of talent. It will be another great season of tennis as a powerhouse in CPL.