Wichita girls tennis preview: Introducing the area’s top 10 high school teams, players
Wichita hosted the first official high school sports event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday.
Wichita Collegiate and Kapaun Mt. Carmel hosted a girls tennis tournament, with Collegiate just edging Kapaun in the team score.
Here is a look at the top 10 returning players and teams in the Wichita area going into the 2020 season:
Top 10 players
1. Clara Whitaker, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Sr.
There is no question: Whitaker is the best in the Wichita area. Going for her fourth state championship in four years, she is at the top of her game.
2. Reagan Boleski, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Jr.
Boleski finished runner-up to her teammate in the singles competition last year. She is already one of the brightest stars in Kansas.
3. Emma Mantovani, Collegiate, So.
Mantovani was the breakout player in Kansas last year, winning the Class 4A state singles title with a 25-8 record.
4. Brynn Steven, Bishop Carroll, Fr.
Steven is considered to be one of the brightest incoming freshmen in Kansas, coming from the vaunted Steven tennis family.
5. Paige Stranghoner, Bishop Carroll, Sr.
Stranghoner has been a staple for Carroll tennis for years. She finished third in singles last year in Class 5A and has played doubles, too.
6. Annabelle Adams, Circle, Sr.
Adams stunned a lot of Kansas last year coming runner-up in Class 4A singles and even winning a set in the title match. She is also a returning regional champ.
7. Sonya Murphy, Collegiate, Sr.
Murphy is coming off an outstanding Class 4A singles state tournamet in which she finished in third place, beating Trinity freshman Isabella Sebits.
8. Isabella Sebits, Trinity Academy, So.
Sebits was a star as a freshman for the Knights. She reached the consolation final and took fourth place in Class 4A.
9. Heidi Lubbers, Bishop Carroll, Sr.
Interchangeable at Nos. 9 and 10, Heidi and Hope Lubbers are outstanding together. Last year, they took fourth place in Class 5A doubles.
10. Hope Lubbers, Bishop Carroll, Sr.
The Lubbers come from an outstanding tennis family. Heidi and Hope are seeking to win a regional championship this season after coming runners-up.
Top 10 teams
1. Collegiate Spartans
This could be Collegiate’s best girls tennis team in quite some time. If the Spartans’ young players continue to progress as they showed in 2019, anything short of a title would be surprising.
2. Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders
Kapaun brings back the top two players in the Wichita area in Whitaker and Boleski. The question will be whether the Crusaders’ supporting cast can do enough to repeat as 5A team champs.
3. Bishop Carroll Golden Eagles
Carroll won the Class 5A team title two years ago. After a bit of a rebuilding year, the Eagles are definitely contenders to return to the top in 2020.
4. Buhler Crusaders
Buhler came runner-up in the Class 4A team standings last year. Depending on whether Collegiate falls into the Crusaders’ classification, they could win it.
5. Andover Trojans
Andover seemed to come out of nowhere to bring home the third-place trophy in Class 5A last year. The Trojans won’t sneak up on anyone in 2020 though.
6. McPherson Bullpups
CeAnna Allen is one of the top returning seniors in Kansas. If the Bullpups build on her state championship experience, they will remain in the top five of the 5A team standings.
7. Circle Thunderbirds
Circle earned three of four state qualification spots last year. Getting the T-Birds to field a full team at state means they could crack the top five.
8. Trinity Academy Knights
Trinity finished in a tie for ninth place in Class 4A last year while only qualifying one player for state. If the Knights can build around Sebits, watch out.
9. Conway Springs Cardinals
The Cardinals brought home a trophy in Class 3-2-1A last year, taking third place. They lose their state champion doubles team, so rebuilding will be key.
10. Hesston Swathers
Hesston is one of the most consistent programs year-over-year. The Swathers may have seen a fifth-place finish in Class 4A as a disappointment last year.
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 5:00 AM.