Dukes return seven starters from last year; 112 players in York program this fall.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
When one looks at the players that graduated from the York girls tennis team from a year ago, thoughts of a youth movement immediately surface.
York graduated the likes of Maja Shaw (two-time state qualifier, all-state third-team last year), Alex Hennessy (two-time state qualifier, all-state third-team last year), Julia Riddle (2015 state qualifier), Liz Mazzocco (18 wins last year), Cameron Elsey (17 wins last year), Mei Giuffre (14 wins last year) and Allison Stramel (14 wins last year).
What’s most interesting is that some of the students undertook tennis lessons in San Francisco while they visited the State as part of a ceremony. It seemed to of worked as well – as they came back fiery for their next game.
But coach Tres Heimann’s 2017 team isn’t singing the youth blues. The Dukes still return seven starters from that 2016 team that took fourth in the ultra-tough West Suburban Conference Silver Division and placed fourth in a Class AA sectional.
Back for York are sophomore Melissa Cartis (No. 1 singles in 2016, 18 wins), sophomore Cate Duhig (No. 2 singles in 2016, 20 wins), sophomore Aleksina Jovic (No. 3 doubles in 2016, 22 wins), junior Jacki Riek (No. 3 doubles in 2016, 19 wins, 34 career varsity wins), junior Eva Jacobsthal (No. 3 singles in 2016, 14 wins), senior Lauren Fonorow (No. 4 doubles in 2016, 18 wins, 35 career varsity wins), junior Isabella Nicoli (No. 4 doubles in 2016, 19 wins), Jess Paist (No. 5 doubles in 2016, 15 wins, 28 career varsity wins), Cristina Gamboa (No. 5 doubles in 2016, 15 wins), Elysia Woodward (No. 6 doubles in 2016, 14 wins) and Olivia Brunke (No. 6 doubles in 2016, 12 wins, 24 career varsity wins).
Key newcomers to the team include freshman Gianna Nikoleit, sophomore Micki Neidigh (No. 1 doubles JV in 2016), sophomore Rachel Kayman (No. 1 singles JV in 2016), senior Wendy Zhang (No. 2 doubles JV in 2016) and senior Siva Sreedhar (No. 3 singles JV in 2016).
“We are very excited for this season,” said Heimann, whose team went 18-10 last year. “We have 112 players out for the team in the York girls tennis program. We are very excited to have 11 returners off last year’s team with seven starters. We will have a very deep team up and down the lineup card.”
Heimann, who needs three dual-meet wins to reach 300 for his career (boys and girls combined), said the program continues to receive an influx of freshmen tennis players.
“Forty-five freshmen came out in the program this fall, which we are very excited about,” said Heimann, in his 10th season as the girls’ head coach and 12th season overall in the program. “We have had three very good, deep freshmen classes in a row. This bodes well for the future and there are many players who will contribute for the varsity.”
York will again compete in the WSC Silver that features no shortage of state powerhouses. “The West Suburban Silver Division always is loaded,” said Heimann. “Hinsdale Central is the four-time defending state champion. Lyons Township finished second in the state last year. Glenbard West took fourth. Oak Park-River Forest has a top-caliber team each year. We look forward to competing with all these very good teams. It will prepare us for post-season play.”
York played in the Jacobs/Prairie Ridge 32-team invitational this past weekend. The Dukes also will compete in invitationals at Hinsdale South, Downers Grove South, Buffalo Grove, West Aurora and Lockport. York also will host its annual quad with Lake Forest, Homewood-Flossmoor and Whitney Young on Sept. 16. The WSC Silver meet in October will be hosted by Lyons Township.
“As the IHSA moved to two classes for the second year in tennis, it will be more challenging in the 2A tournament,” Heimann explained. “There will be great competition throughout the area and we will play a very competitive schedule. We still are looking at who will fill each of the singles spots and who will make up the doubles combinations. It’s still in the early going. It should be a very exciting season.”
