Indy Star

By Patrick Dorsey

 

The high school girls tennis season begins this week with the Indianapolis area featuring the four-time defending state champion, Park Tudor, and a number of teams looking to challenge that reign. The IHSAA team state finals are June 6 and the individual singles and doubles competition June 12-13.
Five Indy-area teams to watch

» Park Tudor: The Panthers have won four straight championships and should be strong once again this season. No. 1 singles player Lindsay Thygesen returns, but she's not guaranteed that spot this year -- coach Dave Heffern said Maggie MacPhail and freshman Chelsea Carter also could compete at No. 1, while last year's No. 2 singles player, Caroline Emhardt, is expected to join Sarah MacPhail at No. 1 doubles.
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» Carmel: The three-time state champion Greyhounds lost to Park Tudor 3-2 at last year's semistates and finished the season tied for second in the coaches' poll. This year they will be led by Courtney Wild, the 2008 individual singles runner-up. Freshman Mikaela Carlson also is expected to compete.

» Cathedral: The Irish bring back senior Paola Usina to the group that fell to Carmel last year at regionals, finished the year ranked sixth in the coaches' poll and won the City Tournament.

» Brebeuf Jesuit: First-team All-State selection Gabrielle Rubenstein highlights the lineup for the five-time champion Braves, who were ranked seventh at the end of last year but drew Park Tudor in sectionals (they lost 3-2). Can they avenge that loss this year?

» Zionsville: The Eagles reached the state finals last season and finished the year ranked No. 4 in the coaches' poll, but lost their No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, along with two doubles players. Coach Pat Slama said freshman Andrea Middleton likely will take over at No. 1 singles, with the rest of the roster shaping up behind her.
Five Indy-area players to watch

» Courtney Wild, Carmel: As a freshman last year, Wild went 16-3 in the regular season and didn't lose a tournament match until the individual final, where she took champion Caroline Hedrick (Columbus North) to three sets. She also earned first-team All-State honors and is a tested USTA player.

 

» Christina Riley, Avon: As a junior last year, Riley (a North Carolina-Wilmington recruit) didn't lose a match until the individual state finals, where she took fourth (and finished 23-2 on the season). In the state semifinals, she took Wild to a third-set tiebreaker. "She had the chance to win it all last year," coach Stan Malless said, "and that's motivated her to work even harder."

» Gabrielle Rubenstein, Brebeuf Jesuit: The County Tournament No. 1 singles runner-up as a sophomore in 2008 (to Park Tudor's Lindsay Thygesen, whom Rubenstein also beat last year), Rubenstein was selected first-team All-State, has USTA experience and is one of the state's top recruits for 2010.
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» Paola Usina, Cathedral: A senior, Usina is the reigning City Tournament champion at No. 1 singles and a second-team All-State selection in 2008.

» Lindsay Thygesen, Park Tudor: Thygesen was a second-team All-State pick in 2008, is the reigning County Tournament No. 1 singles champ and is aiming for another team state title . . . be it at No. 1 singles, or elsewhere (if Maggie MacPhail or Chelsea Carter wins the Panthers' top spot).