Champaign Central High School Girls Tennis

2008 – Coach Gary Day.   Central's girls tennis team had a trying season this year. Sophomores Samantha Emery and Nelli Golmeeva held the number one and two singles spots. Both of the girls did well leading the team through tough matches. The team had great senior leadership with Caitlin Peters, Megan Wentworth, and Sophie Roney being active parts of the Varsity team. Junior Alexis Berns rounded out the top six and did a good job throughout the season.The girls ended 8th at Big 12 and 7th at Sectionals. Caitlin Peters and Megan Wentworth shared the title of MVP. The senior members were Sophie Roney, Megan Wentworth, Caitlin Peters, Tanya Chen, Sara Benekohal, and Emily Ho. 

 

2007 – Coach Gary Day.  The 2007 season was a rebuilding season for girls tennis. The team struggled with a loss of nine seniors from the previous season and found themselves with many new players. The top six players were: Brittany Penwell, Valerie Kinney, Kelly Kyrouac, Nelli Golmeeva, Samantha Emery, and Caitlin Peters. Five girls made it to Sectionals. Central placed 7th out of 10 at the Big 12 tournament.  

 

2006 – Coach Gary Day.  The 2006 Girls tennis team achieved a great deal of victory. The team had talent, helping them to a record of 4-5. The senior girls were good motivators and helped the younger girls improve for next season. Each season the team has a motto to live by, and this years was "One More Round". This helped team unification and the strive to succeed. The team had an impressive accomplishment of winning the Sectional tournament. Lindsey Hallett was an important key player. She was ranked number one, and made it to State. To top off the great season, the girls ranked 60th in the state of Illinois. Losing nine seniors will be a definite setback next year, but we look forward to seeing new and young talent. 

 

2005 – Coach Gary Day and Coach Lukeman. The 2005 girls tennis team had a terrific year. Senior Shira Stolarsky ended her high school career on a good note, playing number two on Varsity. Lindsay Hallet had a phenomenal season, making it to State. She won her first round but lost the second. The team's overall record was 3-7. Every match was played hard and with tons of heart. Next year should be a successful season.  

 

2004 – (2-8/2-8) Coach Gary Day. Full of young talent, seniors Sarah Wallace, Leslie Willis, Laura Frederick, Lachan Band, Jill Grider, Kelsey LaPayne, Chandra Moll, Sulee Cao, and Chelsie Hopkins, seven dedicated players who led team.  Lindsey Hallett, Laura Frederick, Shira Stolarsky, Chandra Moll, India Mullady, Amanda Mangian, and Leslie Willis, largest turnout in the past 5 years, had a lot of inexperienced players, good improvement.

 

2003 – Coaches were Gary Day and Coach Lukeman.  Coach Day and Coach Lukeman had a lot to do with the success of this team.  The girls think that their coaches were sensational.  The team was led by nine seniors this year, and the most successful of them was Natalie Tabb.  Tabb led herself to many victories and continued on to State.  Throughout the season, there were many friendships made, and all the girls agreed that the bus rides were the best. 

 

“The bus rides will always be unforgettable.”

~Becca Nizzi. 

 

Together, the team dominated several opponents and went through many ups and downs. They ended up with a result of 6th in the Big 12 Conference.  Their season was filled with fun, which was one of the Lady Maroons’ goals this year.

 

2002 – Coach Day.  Sporting many young and talented players, Central girls’ tennis had the makings of a strong 2002 team.  With returning and former MVP and now three-time state qualifier Natalie Tabb, the team had the skill and leadership for a great season.  The record might not be what the girls had hoped for, but the team played hard.  With crushing defeats by Big 12 conference and 3rd in Sectionals.  However, in the end, junior Natalie Tabb qualified for her third trip to State, where she finished 17th. 

 

2001 - Coach Gary Day.  MVP: Natalie Tabb.  Most Improved: Maggie Fesenmaier. The girls finished 2nd at Conference and Sectionals.  The team finished with a 7-2 record in dual meets.  Seniors Ellen Stanko and Mary Parkhill qualified for state doubles where they finished in the top 20.  Natalie Tabb qualified for singles at state where she finished 13th. 

 

“I wouldn’t mind being marooned on an island with pro tennis player, Andy Roddick.”

~Anna Rost 

 

2000 – (11-1) Coach Gary Day.  The girls’ tennis team started their season off with their third new coach in three years.  However, that did not stop them from rising to the top of their conference.  They finished 2nd, losing only to Bloomington.  After losing their # 1 and # 2 players from last year, freshman Natalie Tabb stepped up and filled the #1 singles position.  Tabb and the #2 singles player, Ellen Stanko, led the team to a dual meet record of 11-1.  The tennis team dominated their sectional, Natalie Tabb won singles, Jill Harms and Mary Parkhill won doubles, and Berina Fazlic and Erica White took third place in doubles.  After winning the Sectional, five out of six players advanced to the State Finals.  The girls had a very successful two days, taking 19th place in the state as a team. 

“This year was a lot of fun.  I’m looking forward to next year, but I’ll miss all of the seniors!”  ~Ellen Stanko

 

 

1999 – (11-1) Coaches Alfie Swartzbaugh and Gordon Kay.  MVP: Deanna Deschler.  Most Improved: Jenna Yambert and Erica White.  Team Spirit: Liz McMillan.  These Central swingers beat Centennial, took second at the Big 12 tournament, and won Sectionals.  Because of their finish at Sectionals, the top six qualified for State.  Central ended the season by placing 28th in the State tournament. 

 

1998 – (8-1) Coaches Dwight Stricklin and Missy Holste.  MVP’S: Liz Fraker and Nicole Griglione.  Most Improved: Jill Harms and Mary Parkhill.  Liz Fraker and Nicole Griglione finished their two-year doubles career with a record of 45-3.  They were seeded 3-4 going into the State tournament and were able to get revenge on Moline to once again earn a spot in the finals.  Fraker/Griglione finished second for the second year in a row.  The team had ups and downs throughout their ’98 season.  One of the season high points was at the Charger Invitational.  Central won the tournament without dropping a match.  The team came up short in the rest of the meets ear4ning second in the Mattoon Tournament, Big 12 Conference, and Sectionals.  The team qualified only the doubles tandem of Fraker/Griglione to the State competition. The team ended up finishing 19th overall.

 

1997 – (10-1) Coach Dwight Stricklin, Asst. Coach Missy Holste.  Spirit Award: Lisa Boucek.  Most Improved: Deanna Deschler.  Outstanding Performances: Liz Fraker and Nicole Griglione finished their season with a doubles record of 32-1.  They were victorious at the Big 12 Conference and at Sectionals.  Fraker/Griglione was the 1-2 seed at State and ended up taking 2nd place.  This was the best finish for Central since 1978.  The team had a very successful ’97 season.  They brought back five of six varsity players and added a former Centennial star, Nicole Griglione, to their lineup.  This made Central one of the strongest teams in their conference.  They won the Purple and Gold Invitational and finished 2nd at the Sectionals.  The team qualified two doubles teams to State and were able to achieve and outstanding 5th place finish.

 

1996 – (9-2) Coach Eric Schacht.  Captain: Leslie Harms.  MVP: Liz Fraker.  Spirit Award: Jill Stanko.  Most Improved: Leslie Harms.  They placed 2nd at the Mattoon Invitational, 4th at the first Bloomington Invitational, 7th at the second Bloomington Invitational, 4th at the Big 12 Tournament, and 2nd at Sectionals.  They also sent three people, Laura Martin, Leslie Harms, and Liz Fraker, to State. 

 

“Our team had great success this year even though we only had two of last year’s top seven returning.  We finished in the top 25% of every tournament that our whole team played in, and we finished 9-2 in dual meets with our only two losses to the first and third place teams in State last year.  Our greatest accomplishment, however, was turning the individual sport of tennis into a team sport.” 

~Captain Leslie Harms

 

1995 – (8-3) Coaches Eric Schaact and Anne McCall. Captain: Jena Setters.  MVP: Elizabeth Fraker and Monica Montero.  Tournaments: 1st at the Mattoon Invitational, 2nd at the Charger Invitational, and 10th at State. 

 

“It was a great, strong season.” 

~ Jena Setters.

 

1994 – (9-3) Coaches Anne McCall and Eric Schaact. Captain and MVP Gabrielle Giertz.  Most Improved: Jena Setters.  Spirit Award: Corey Young.  The team finished 2nd in the Mattoon Invitational out of 8 teams and finished 4th out of 16 teams in the Charger Invitational.  The team also finished 4th in the Big 12 conference shutting out Urbana 8-1.  They ended the season at the Sectional meet in 2nd place with all 6 varsity players qualifying for State.  Gabrielle Giertz took 1st place in singles at the Mattoon Invitational and 2nd place in the Charger Invitational, and placed 4th in the Conference meet and second at Sectionals.  Corey Young placed 4th at Sectionals in the singles competition.  Terra Martin and Jena Setters paired up to play doubles in the Sectional meet and took 3rd place.  Erin Boucek and Leslie Harms also competed at Sectionals and took 4th place. 

 

1993 – (5-4) Coach Punam Paul.  The varsity showed its stuff as it rolled over Mattoon, Rantoul, Urbana, and Decatur not giving up a single match.  The team also had impressive 3rd place finishes at the Mattoon and Charger Invitationals.  The JV had two meets scheduled against Rantoul this season, but due to a car accident, only one was played.  The JV team also won 9-0.  The team placed 6th at conference.

 

“Since we got 6th last year, we were expecting to improve, but we weren’t at all disappointed.”

~Anne Misner

 

The team also placed an impressive 2nd at Sectionals.  The top four varsity players were all returning varsity players from last year.  A key roll was played by Junior Gabrielle Giertz who spent her second season at the No. 1 singles and qualified for state for the second year in a row.  Her record was 18-8 going into the tournament.  She ended the season by placing 33rd in the state. 

 

1992 – (8-4) Coach Marge Anders.  They placed an impressive 6th place in the Big 12 Conference.

 

“We did well this year.  Everyone helped make our season a good one.”

~Coach Anders. 

 

The team did exceptionally well at the Mattoon Invitational and in the matches against Decatur MacArthur, Decatur Eisenhower, Rantoul, Urbana, and Stephen Decatur.  They placed at least in the top half or top third of all their tournaments. 

 

“I thought the team as a whole did very well this year.  Sophomores like Gabrielle Giertz up to seniors like Erica Leach really helped the team do well.”

~Haley Brown

 

1991 – (8-4/4-1) Coach Marge Anders.  Captains Anastasia Truran and Kristin Misner.

The captains and doubles partners placed 2nd in the Big 12 Conference Meet, 2nd in Sectionals, qualified for the state tennis tournament (3rd year in a row), and finished the season with a record of 22-8.  Freshman Gabrielle Giertz also made a great contribution with her 15-2 singles record. 

 

1990 – (8-3) With their winning record of 8-3, the 1990 girls’ tennis team had a great season.  With Anastasia Truran as the first seed and Diana Truran as second, the team was off to a good start.  Kristin Misner and Anastasia Truran placed 3rd at sectionals and Carnaby Goldstein and Diana Truran placed 4th.  These two doubles teams both went to state.

 

1989 – (10-1) Coach Anders.  The 1989 Girls’ Tennis team was undoubtedly the best CHS has had in years.  Central placed 2nd in the Big 12 tournament.  Competing with energy and determination, Holt and Larson placed 3rd and Jahn placed 5th.  The team captured the sectional championship a week later.  Outstanding performances came from Hole and Larson (1st place), Jahn (2nd place), Misner and Truran (4th place), and all qualified for the State meet. 

 

1988 – Marjorie Anders, the 1988 Girls Tennis Team still finished strong.  This season’s top four consisted of Amy Jahn, Jill Holt, Kendall Larson – all juniors – and senior Marissa Murphy.  Surprising freshmen Anastasia Truan and Kristan Misner rounded out the remaining six of the varsity team.  Other contributors were sophomore Carnaby Goldstein and senior Pam Russell.  The dynamic doubles team of Kendall Larson and Marissa Murphy placed 4th in the Big 12 Conference Meet.  They were also top-seeded at Sectionals, but lost in the finals 6-4, 5-7, and 4-6 to finish second.  Sensational singles player Amy Jahn also lost in the finals of the Sectional meet, but all three did qualify for the State tournament.  The trip to the suburban Chicago tournament is the 2nd time for Murphy and the 1st for Larson and Jahn

 

1987 – Coach Scott Davis.  The Girls Tennis Team was undefeated, placed 3rd in the Big 12, 2nd at Districts, and sent 4 seniors to State.  Much of their success was due to contributions made by their new coach, Scott Davis.  M. Holste, K. Holt, J. Cunnington, and L. Murphy went to State in doubles. 

 

1986 – Coach Dennis Sparks.  How many victories is a thermos full of water worth?  According to News-Gazette sportswriter, Fred Kroner, and Girls Tennis Coach, Dennis Sparks, about fourteen.  Does this mean they believe two thermoses are worth 28 wins?  Sparks, thinking his girls were not being aggressive enough, decided the wet look would do them some good, and threatened to douse any player not playing aggressive enough with the thermos.  Fortunately, though, the Maroons played harder and compiled an undefeated regular season record.  Those who advanced to the state tournament this year were 1986 co-captain, Missy Holste in singles, along with the duo of 1987 co-captains, Jenning Cunnington and Liz Murphy in doubles and the tandem of 1986 co-captain Kathy Holt and Missy Murphy in doubles. 

 

1985 – (7-3) Coach Dennis Sparks.  The 1985 Girls Tennis Teams finished the year with an improved record of 7-3.  Four girls qualified to go to Chicago for the State meet.  They were sophomores: Missy Holste, Kathy Holt, Jeany Cunnington, and Liz Murphy.

 

“The team is still young, overall, and we improved a lot.”

~Coach Sparks

 

1984 – (6-4) Coach Dennis Sparks, 1st year coaching, number one doubles team made it to the quarter-finals ending up with a single loss to Urbana in the 3rd set tie-breaker.

 

1983 – (7-4) Coach Joann Busch.  This year has been a very good year for the 1983 varsity girl’s tennis team, which won 7 out of 11 meets.  In the conference meet they placed 5th overall, while seniors Jenny Little and Martha Fess were doubles champions.  During the state tournament, the Panthers placed in the top 16 out of 128 teams.  Juniors Mary Twohey and Christine Cunnington also qualified for the state tournament. 

 

1982 – (9-3) Coach JoAnn Busch, graduated all but one starter last season, 2nd at conference, 2nd and 3rd place in singles, beat Urbana by a half point at Sectionals, 4 members qualified for State, singles: Martha Fess and Jennifer Little, doubles: Michele Nelson and Mary Twohey, Fess and Little reached second round, Nelson and Twohey were eliminated in the first round, new award donated by a graduated member of the squad “My Best Award”, awarded to Michele Nelson.

 

1981 – (15-0) 10 varsity players who all lettered, 5 seniors, Keri Lenz and Martha Fess were Big 12 Doubles Champs, Karen Bates and Kris Stauffer were champs in District and the Homewood-Flossmoor Tournaments, 2nd at the 8-team Homewood-Flossmoor Tournaments, won District, Susan Miller got 4th place in singles and the doubles team Lenz and Fess finished second to teammates Bates and Stauffer at District, all who won at District went to State, Bates and Stauffer placed in the top 12 teams, Lenz and Fess in the top 16, placed 14 out of 144 schools in State.

 

1980 – (16-0) – Coach Busch.  Amassing an impressive dual meet record of 16-0, the team was, according to Coach JoAnn Busch, “a real powerhouse.”  Busch felt that the toughest competition during the year came from LaGrange, Bloomington, Peoria Richwoods and Springfield dual meets.  She was also obviously proud of the 3rd Big 12 Conference Championship in four years and the teams win at the District Tournament Championship at Danville.  The season was topped off by qualifying five girls out of a possible six for State Tournament play.  Those qualifying were seniors Mary Hummel (#1 doubles) and Kelly Turk (#2 doubles), juniors Kris Stauffer (#1 singles) and Keri Lenz, and freshman Marty Fess (#2 doubles).  Three team members boasted an undefeated dual meet record in singles; Mary Hummel, Keri Lenz and Marty Fess.  Junior Jennifer Cocagne and sophomore Briana Yates had only one dual meet loss in singles and the doubles team of Kelly Turk and Marty Fess also experienced only one dual meet loss. 

 

1979 – Coach JoAnn Busch.  This Although they suffered the loss of one of their players, they came in second at the Homewood-Flossmoor Tournament.  Ginny Fess lettered with a record of 7-2, and Amy Hinton lettered with a record of 10-1.  Keri Lenz and Tracy Turk made it to the Big 12 semi-finals in doubles. 

 

1978 – (13-0) Coach Busch, 2nd in State, Big 12 Champions, District winner.

 

1977 – (12-1) Coach Busch. Central girls’ tennis team finished a spectacular 12-1 season by sending five girls to the state tournament.  Those girls were Anna and Avra Jain as number one doubles players, Therese Reilly and Liz Wentworth as number two doubles, and Mary Hummel as number one singles.

 

“We had an amazing team.  All eight girls lettered this year.”

~Coach Busch

 

The Jains were outstanding players for the team.  Their season record was 10 wins and 1 loss for singles and 11 wins and no losses in doubles.  During the regular season Avra’s doubles partner was Mary Hummel and Anna’s doubles partner was Therese Reilly.  Later in the season the Jains became partners with each other.  Therese Reilly, a power hitter, occupied the 3rd position unchallenged for the entire season finishing the season with a singles record of 9 wins, 4 losses and doubles score of 10 wins and 1 loss. 

 

“Mary Hummell, a freshman, occupied the 4th position with the grace and steady play of a seasoned veteran though this was only her first year of competition.”

~Coach Busch. 

 

“We’ll be looking closely at this team in the coming year because no one is graduating and the entire team will be returning.”

~Coach Busch

 

1976 – (8-3) Coach Jean Ward, led by seniors Janet Bates and Emily Baker and sophomores Anna and Avra Jain, lost only to Springfield and Danville.  In addition, they sent the Jains to state.  Mrs. Jean Ward, 2nd year coach, emphasized the depth of the team,

 

“With only 3 graduating this year and more freshmen coming in, we should have a consistently strong team for coming years.” 

~ Coach Ward

 

The team also included, senior Patty Behrens, juniors, Sara Bruno, Jill Foley, Sarah Little, Seri Porter and Gina Perruca, sophomores, Kim Adams and Kim Lafferty. 

 

“Although our record wasn’t as good this year, the team still was strong through out every position.  We were surprised by the continuing improvement of our opponents.”

~Janet Bates

 

1975 – (10-1) Coach Jean Ward.  A powerhouse team of female netters dominated the conference and district tournaments.  Central girls’ tennis team showed true superiority with a near-flawless 10-1 season, losing only to Danville in a squeaker of four matches to five.  The team was led by top seeded Kay Ginsberg, with a 6-3 record.  The duo of Anna and Avra Jain proved to be crucial to Central’s success as both posted 9-0 records.  Adding to Central’s success story were Emily Baker, 8-0, and senior Mary Blackburn, 7-2.  Having won both the conference and district tourneys, the team sent Ginsberg to State to play singles and the Jains twins to play doubles, where they earned honorable mentions.

1974 – (9-1) Coach Kris Patton, first season as coach, led by senior Ruth White and junior Kay Ginsberg, White and Ginsberg advanced to State, lost in first round, only loss of season was by Lincoln at 4-5, broke team’s 11-game winning streak, 5 returning lettermen for next year, , 2nd at Big 12, 1st at District.

 

1973 – (4-0) Coach Sue Cattle, 30 tried out, only 8 made cut, only 3 of 8 were returning varsity competitors, Ruth White qualified for State 2nd year in a row, Jan Anderson only senior on the squad, won District.

 

1972 – (5-0) Coach Cattle, 20 girls tried out but only 8 made it, won regional tournament at Kankakee, Ruth White and Jan Anderson qualified for State in singles, along with only 64 girls from the entire state.  This and the team’s perfect season showed a great improvement over the 1st year.

 

1971 – Women’s lib is alive and well and living in Central High School.  For proof, check with PE instructor, Miss Susan Cattle, who organized the first girls’ tennis team.  Twenty-five girls battled for the opportunity to practice in three 90-minute sessions each week.  After qualifying for the team, the girls’ competition was not yet over.  They then competed in challenge matches among themselves to determine standings within the team.  Becky Beach gained special recognition as the number one netter.  Winning seasons are hard enough for veterans to come up with, but Central’s beginners succeeded in winning two games in a three-game season.