Wichita Eagle honors top high school girls tennis players on 2024 All-Metro team
The Wichita area featured some of the best high school girls tennis players in Kansas this season, and that star power is highlighted on 2024 All-Metro girls tennis team selected by The Eagle.
The All-Metro squad features the top players in singles and doubles, as well as a Coach of the Year, from teams in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties. Selections are based on season-long performance with a heavy emphasis on postseason finishes.
After finishing her final year by winning the Class 5A singles championship, Andover senior Molly Gaddis was named the Girls Tennis Player of the Year on the All-Metro team.
Wichita Eagle All-Metro girls tennis team
Molly Gaddis, Andover senior
After losing the state semifinals twice previously in her career, Gaddis proved she had elevated her play to a new level for her senior season. Andover’s top singles player swept the postseason, claiming titles at the AV-CTL Division II, regional and state level, to finish off a 31-1 season. Her only loss of the season came to her teammate, Mia Jaramillo, a fellow All-Metro selection. After cruising to the 5A singles final, Gaddis showed her resiliency in the season’s biggest moment, winning a third set 6-3 to prevail and end her career with a gold medal. She is a first-time All-Metro selection and scored points at all four state tournaments during Andover’s run of four straight team championships.
Maggie Harrison, Maize South senior
A senior season that was marked by significant improvement that saw Harrison become one of the top singles players in the state. She was the AV-CTL Division I singles champion, took third at regionals and won three straight matches in the consolation bracket at the Class 5A state tournament to rally for a fifth-place finish to cap off a 28-4 season. Harrison is a first-time All-Metro selection.
Mia Jaramillo, Andover junior
She may have been the No. 2 singles player on her own team, but Jaramillo proved her quality over the course of a 27-5 season that ended with a third-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament. All five of her losses came to opposition who played for a state title, while Jaramillo was the only opponent to beat her teammate, Molly Gaddis, the eventual 5A champion. Jaramillo is a first-time All-Metro selection and helped the Trojans win their fourth straight team state title.
Elizabeth Gaddis (senior) and Nadia Kaewsai (senior), Andover doubles
A first-year tandem, Gaddis and Kaewsai were at their best in the biggest moments of the season. After being edged out by their teammates for the title at the AV-CTL Division II tournament, Gaddis and Kaewsai rallied to win regional and state titles — both against their teammates in the final. The duo finished with a 32-4 record on the season, capped by a three-set victory over their teammates in the Class 5A state final. Gaddis is a two-time All-Metro pick, while Kaewsai is a first-time selection and both helped Andover win another state team title.
Emma Jittawait (junior) and Ada Tantemsomboon (sophomore), Andover doubles
Another first-year pairing for Andover that had giant success, as Jittawait and Tantemsomboon teamed up to win the AV-CTL Division II championship, then place second at regionals and the Class 5A state tournament — both times to their teammates. The duo finished with a 33-4 record to help Andover nearly pull off a perfect score at the state tournament, as Jittawait earned her second All-Metro nod and Tantemsomboon became a first-time selection.
Laney Conrad (senior) and Julia Herrman (senior), Collegiate doubles
A three-time All-Metro pairing, few doubles partners have experienced the success of Conrad and Herrman — even in the prestigious Collegiate program. The pair of seniors won their third straight Class 3-1A doubles championship together, polishing off a 25-2 season with a dominant showing in the state final with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over an Ellsworth team. The partnership won 77 of its 87 matches during their three-year title run.
Steve Alexander, Andover coach
The dynasty continued this season with arguably the Trojans’ best season yet, as they won their fourth straight Class 5A state championship with a near-perfect team score. It wasn’t rare for the team of seniors Molly Gaddis, Elizabeth Gaddis, Nadia Kaewsai, juniors Mia Jaramillo and Emma Jittawait and sophomore Ada Tantemsomboon to threaten a perfect team score at every tournament they played together. In fact, they won the AV-CTL Division II and Class 5A regional team titles with a perfect score. While Alexander has the most talent of any coach in the area, he also deserves credit for leading the first four-peat in 5A since Kapaun Mt. Carmel won six straight from 1985-90.
All-Metro second team
Amelia Blackman, Collegiate junior
Rylee Frye, Maize senior
Clara Hocker, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior
Logan Jagolinzer, Bishop Carroll junior
Allison Munhall, Valley Center junior
Bryer Geoffroy (senior) and Ellen Schaefer (senior), Andover Central
Brooke Steven (sophomore) and Liza Dugan (junior), Bishop Carroll
Molly Martin (senior) and Elyse Griffin (junior), Hesston
Chloe Hocker (sophomore) and Caroline Hocker (sophomore), Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Bailey Todd (senior) and Sydney Schumaker (junior), Maize South
Simon Norman, Collegiate coach
All-Metro third team
Julia Judkins, Kapaun Mt. Carmel sophomore
Greer Kice, Classical senior
Elise Richardson, Augusta senior
Quinn Scheideman, Eisenhower freshman
Heidi Stephen, Bishop Carroll senior
Elia Ullmann (senior) and Reese Wilborn (sophomore), Andover Central
Londyn Soto (senior) and Whitney Wilbur (junior), Circle
Adah Branam (senior) and Leonora Neumann (junior), Classical
Tatum Downing (senior) and Langley Overman (senior), Collegiate
Natalie Hershberger (senior) and Carlie Franz (senior), Newton
Madeline Davis (senior) and Jojo Henderson (junior), Trinity Academy
Kathy Schulte, Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 5:03 AM.
.jpg)