Season begins for local girls tennis teams

Posted: September 6th 2023

First singles player Maria Sakoulos leads Middle Township into the new season.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

Three of the four local high school girls tennis teams got their new seasons started earlier this week.

Lower Cape May and Wildwood Catholic were each shutout winners, while Middle Township lost a close 3-2 decision. Lower also won its second match on Wednesday.

Wildwood doesn’t begin its season until this weekend.

The following is a look at each of the area teams:

LOWER CAPE MAY

Lower Cape May, coming off an excellent 18-4 season in which it won two state playoff matches, won its opener over Atlantic City Tuesday, taking all five matches in straight sets. Lower also won its second match Wednesday, topping Hammonton, 4-1.

Its top two players, junior Maddie Gilbert and sophomore Bryn Popdan, are making big jumps in the lineup to first and second singles, respectively. Hailey Elwell, one of just two seniors in the starting lineup, is playing at third singles.

The teams of senior Jayci Shivers and sophomore Ainsley Reed (first) and juniors Kamryn Thomas and Melanie Ortiz-Moreno (second) are set in the doubles slots. Sophomore Kayla Heinhold and junior Yana Brandenburg are also pushing for varsity time.

Longtime Tiger coach Greg Douglass sees this as a rebuilding season, but also expects his club to be competitive in conference matches.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

Middle Township was the Cape-Atlantic National Conference champion a season ago and brings back its top two players in sophomore No. 1 Maria Sakoulas and junior No. 2 Brenna Bussinger. Junior Fiona Gale, who played first doubles last season, is at No. 3 singles.

Sophomore Ava Hope and freshman Ella Leahy are at first doubles, with senior Isabella Pasciucco and junior Joline Abe at second doubles.

With its top players back, Middle should be very competitive. But its schedule is more difficult this season now that the league has been realigned to three conferences instead of two.

Jeanne Donohue returns for her second season as head coach.

Middle lost a tight 3-2 decision to Millville its opener. Bussinger and the team of Pasciucco and Abe earned the Lady Panthers’ points in the loss.

Middle is next in action Thursday at home against Cedar Creek.

WILDWOOD

Wildwood won just a pair of matches last season but has many new players looking to change the team’s fortunes under coach Bernardo Tapia.

Junior Charlie Cunningham (first), senior Charlotte Kilian (second) and sophomore Cydnee Kilian (third) will handle the single positions. Sisters Sophia and Angela Wilber, a senior and sophomore, respectively, are set at first doubles, while senior Jessica Johnson and sophomore Estella Robinson will play at second doubles.

The Lady Warriors open the season Saturday against Wildwood Catholic.

WILDWOOD CATHOLIC

Wildwood Catholic enjoyed a solid 9-6 season under head coach Joe Halasz last season. The Crusaders should be very competitive in the new Cape-Atlantic United Conference.

Two of its singles players are back. Junior Jamie Bogle moves up one slot to No. 1 singles, while senior Joanna McShaffry remains at third singles. Newcomer Evie McNicholas is at second singles.

The doubles teams are made up of Maura Bean and Isabella Smith (first) and Becca Frey and Rebecca Arcuri.

Wildwood Catholic rolled to a straight-set win over Pleasantville in its opener Tuesday.

The Crusaders next play at Atlantic City Thursday.