Girls tennis: Scouting Cook and Lake County

ANTIOCH

Coach Jamie D'Andrea must replace graduated seniors Mia Kaiser and Elle Ipsen who were Class 1A state qualifiers in doubles play in 2022.

Also graduated are Paige Wilson (College of Lake County), Arlene Pierce (College of Lake County), Abby Bergl, Mackenzie Carley and Hannah Gaydovik.

Senior returners are Hailey Caya and Tess Cook. Newcomers include seniors Angelina Borowiak, Lara Sheedy and Layla Kane along with sophomore Aubrey Dickey.

The Sequoits would like to improve on last season's fourth-place finish in the Northern Lake County Conference and fourth-place effort in Class 1A sectional play.

"We will have some growing pains," said D' Andrea. "We want to be in the top half of the conference. We want to hit our stride at the right time and pick up some hardware. We think we have the right combination to reach our ultimate goal of qualifying players for the state meet."

BARRINGTON

The Fillies return sophomore Shiriya Ramesh, who qualified for the Class 2A state meet a year.

Heather Graham's troops were Mid Suburban League and Jacobs Class 2A sectional champs and placed 13th in the state.

Freshmen Courtney Croll and Stephanie Yoon will try to make the lineup.

Graham must replace state qualifier Olivia Paik.

"We want to have flexibility and positivity," said Graham. "Above anything we want to be a team of character."

CARAMEL

The Corsairs under coach Gina Borkowski must replace Mary Titterton from last season.

"We would like to get one singles and one doubles flight to the state meet (Class 1A)," said Borkowski.

CONANT

The Cougars under the guidance of Matt Marks, were 15-7 in dual meets, sixth in the Mid Suburban, fourth in a 2A sectional and 19th in the state.

The top player back is junior Katie Strillich, who was ninth in the state in singles action. Junior Susan Liu joins Strillich as a returning player.

Newcomers include freshmen Krystyna Pivtorak, Nidhi Konekar, Noelle Koh and Advita Deepak.

"The MSL is a strong conference," said Marks. "Barrington, Conant, Prospect and Hersey are top teams in the conference. We are young but we hope to compete at the top of the conference. We want to step up within the conference. We want a deeper run in the state tournament, win a sectional and compete in the MSL. We need to tighten up our game."

Marks looks at Hinsdale Central, New Trier, York, Stevenson and Deerfield as top teams in the state.

GRANT

Coach Max Boton must replace state qualifier Eliska Rasborschek. Other graduated seniors are Lucy Lee, Ellen Bienarz, Natalie Yoho, Skylar Ferrigan, and Monika Fafrowicz. Angie Vavalle is the lone state qualifier back for the Bulldogs.

Returners for the Bulldogs are Chloe Labuca, Diana Ngo, Milla Laskosky, Jessi Von Helms and Julie Posgorski.

"We won the JV conference (Northern Lake) last season," said Boton. "We hope that carries over to this season. We hope to have fun this season and handle adversity."

GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL

The Rams, under the tutelage of 17th-year coach Charles Lawson, were 13-4 in dual meets a year and Northern Lake County champs with a perfect 7-0 slate.

Grayslake Central, who should make some noise at the Class 1A state meet, boast nine players with varsity experience.

They include senior Sophie Schleg and juniors Bella Fedor, Kate Wondrasek, Madison Hoffmann, Natalie Malaczek, Josie Bruce, Abbey Twaddle, Addi Govindaraju and Sue Peramanu.

Seeking playing time is freshman newcomer Peyton Hoffman.

"We want to win conference and qualify individuals for state," said Lawson.

GRAYSLAKE NORTH

The Knights, with 7 returners, hope to repeat as Northern Lake Conference champs.

Seniors Elyse Gawerecki, Jayashari Madan, Hannah Han and Hannah Immon, and juniors Briana Pagec, Robyn George and MacKenna Campbell bolster North's lineup.

Newcomers include senior Dani Weekly and juniors Maddy Porter, Anna Dinkla and Lauren Gaeding.

"Playing the game we can know every match has an emphasis," said coach Allison Szramek. "We want the girls to have fun and enjoy their time playing tennis and repeat as conference champs."

HOFFMAN ESTATES

The Hawks, under 21st coach Ken Harris, must replace Ivana Stefanova, who is playing at Monmouth College.

Back for Hoffman Estates are seniors Holika Nanna and Michelle Lin. Sophomore Hannah Lee is a newcomer to watch.

"We want to win the team and individual matches we should win," said Harris. "We need to learn to compete against the top teams in the state in our conference (MSL). We want to get better each match and each week."

LAKES

Bryan Plinske, in his 20th season as the Eagles coach, is hoping to improve on last season's sixth-place finish in the Northern Lake County Conference and sixth in a Class 1A sectional.

Plinske must replace graduated players Katie Sarver, Lindsay Mueller, Delaney Letizia, Sienna Steinke, Sophia Stolarick, Allie Stoinski and Nayomi Lotko.

Back for the Eagles are seniors Bella Leone, Patricia Moryl and Kendall Rung along with juniors Kaylee Anderson, Ava Bell and Haley Easterberg.

Newcomers include juniors Amelia Wimmer, Sophie Bucko, Jade Catania and Sarah Herbst.

"We want to finish in the top three in the conference and qualify as many for the state tournament (Class 1A) as we can," said Plinske.

LAKE ZURICH

The Bears are led by junior Katrine Boianov, who was in the top eight at the state meet in singles play as a sophomore. The first doubles team of Summer and Tessa Fabsik are back along with seniors Anna Kramska, Jane Langfeld, Sophie Pullen, Amanda Eng and Lia Carrol.

Newcomers include sophomores Alecandra Fridyland, Meera Ohl and Addison Cundiff.

"We want Katrine to progress and get a doubles team to qualify," said coach Andrew McCurley.

LEYDEN

Competing in the rugged West Suburban Conference, the Eagles return seniors Evain Dubon, Samantha Almazan, junior Chantal Fyda and sophomore Vanessa Nwauwa.

Newcomers include seniors Sarah Monarrez, Martyna Lipski, Gabby Lenczewski, Juiia Yatskovska and Monica Krol along with juniors Olesia Kuinich, Claudia Kuta, Valerya Aragon and Elyanna Monnarez,

"We want to be in the top half of the conference," said Hamilton. "We would like to place some players in the conference tournament. We hope to compete."

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach Dan Kiernan must replace Margaret Forkner, who placed sixth in the state in singles.

Back are state qualifiers seniors Hadley Warren and Taya Breslow and junior Lena Dogadalski. Also returning are Kendall Brooks, Emma Zaengle and Dakota Olson. Looking for court time is freshman Yuki Dogadalski.

"We want to finish in the top two in the conference (North Suburban)," said Kiernan. "We are feeling good about the upcoming season."

MAINE SOUTH

Coach Gerald Snith realizes the strength of the Central Suburban League will get his team ready for the postseason.

"This conference is tougher than any sectional," said Smith. "New Trier, Glenbrook South, Glenbrook North, Deerfield and Evanston are among the top teams in the state."

The Hawks, 2-3 in the Central Suburban, were fifth in a Class 1A sectional.

Smith will rely on returners senior Amelia Stanek, juniors Charlotte Hartung and Kaitlyn Brown, and sophomore Ella Rasetta.

Freshman Emma Milataru and Fernanda Anaya Olvera will try break into the lineup.

"We want to improve every day and send as many to the state finals as possible," said Smith.

MAINE WEST

The top playersback for the Warriors is senior Lilliam Dockal, who finished 34th in Class 2A in singles play in 2022.

Maine West, fourth in the Central Suburban and fourth in the sectionals, must replace graduated senior Domenica Bondi, who is playing at Oakton Community College.

Senior Emily Halat is back for the Warriors and newcomer freshman Evelyn Mau seeks playing time.

The Warriors hope to improve on last season's fourth-place effort in the Central Suburban League and fourth in Class 2A sectional action.

PROSPECT

The Knights, under the guidance of Mike McColaugh, were Mid-Suburban East champs and second overall in the MSL.

Returning for Prospect are state qualifiers senior Lucy Nunez and juniors Kara Pescaru and Anna Lizama.

Newcomers looking for playing time are juniors Colleen Shute and Kendall Kocanda along with sophomore Claire Zimmermam and freshman Casey Brosnan.

"We have three our top players (Pescaru, Nunez, Lizama) back," said McColaugh. "We have a talented group of newcomers. We want to compete for the East (MSL) championship. We want to be playing our best tennis entering the postseason."

SAINT VIATOR

The Lions, under coach Mary Louise Blaney, return Ainslie McKenna and Brianna Santucci.

Newcomers seeking court time are sophomores Katie Somodi and Carmela Martinez and freshman Liz Schermerhorn.

'We want to do well in the conference (East Suburban) and qualify players for state (Class 1A}," said Blaney. "We have a lot of talent. We are counting on returners to help newbies excel."

STEVENSON

First-year coach Isriz Balase has the luxury of coaching a two-time defending state champion. Senior Sarah Wang defeated Jessica Kovalcik of Plainfield North 7-5, 6-2 to claim the Class 2A singles state championship as a junior after also winning the 2021 title.

Balase praises Wang, who will play tennis at Division I University of Pennsylvania.

"Her repeating as state champ speaks volume of her work ethic and determination," said Balase. "Winning one state championship is quite an accomplishment but winning two is incredible. Her attitude is always to improve. I look for Sarah to cap off her incredible career with a great season."

Also back for the Patriots are state qualifiers junior Abby Ma and sophomore Ana Sukovic, who finished in the Top 10 in doubles at last season's state 2A meet.

Others back are senior Molly Hayden, juniors Sophia Shlyakhta and Maggie Kuang and sophomores Sona Surya, Kriti Mohan and Emma Blass.

Newcomers seeking playing time are juniors Mariia Bezezovchuk and Sasha Baer, sophomore Carolyn Ryan and freshman Emma Iwanowski and Medha Veerathu.

The Patriots, champions of the North Suburban Conference and 2A sectional, hope to improve on a third-place finish at last year's state meet with 28 points.

"We want to qualify all four positions to the state meet and earn a team trophy," said Balase.

The Stevenson first-year coach looks at his Patriots, New Trier, Hinsdale Central and Deerfield as the state's best teams.

VERNON HILLS

The Cougars, under the guidance of 23rd-year coach Doug Gerber, return seniors Dhriti Hiremath, Ruhi Subramanian and Apsara Vimalarajah, juniors Anya Sabharwal and Julia Kabalkan, and sophomores Paulina Mashereva, Emma Jazbutis and Maya Greenfield.

Freshmen include Kamila Tymarski Anatasia Boots and Isabella Ugolkov.

"Highland Park is the team to beat in the CSL North," said Gerber. "We want to qualify someone for state."

WARREN

Vince DeSecki, in his 22nd year as the Blue Devils coach, brings back a wealth of experience with 10 players returning. They include seniors Falish Anwar, Ellie Kreamer, Peyton Mueller, Kim Strathman and Olivia Zamora along with juniors Anastasia Radovic and Sadie Sutz and sophomores Lucylar Chen, Elizabeth Dabney and Kamila Dobija.

Newcomers to watch are juniors Diaz Jerez and Maria Daniela and Ruby Lester along with freshman Macee Morawiecki.

Desecki must replace Kaija Johnson and Sharon Mahoney.

"We have a young team which has inexperience and experience," said DeSeski. "Most girls played in the summer. We want to finish in the top three in the conference and qualify players for the state meet. The sectionals are more difficult with the makeup changing."