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The Hollidaysburg Area High School girls tennis lost its No. 1 singles player from the last four seasons, but don't expect the Lady Tigers to suffer much of a dropoff this season.
With Gretta Rhodes and Rachel Gallagher graduating, Hollidaysburg will lean on experienced seniors Megan Ferris, Regan McKee, Nina Meadows and CeCe Williams to help lead nine juniors and a group of six freshmen who are expected to make impacts on the team.
Hollidaysburg will be competing in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference this year with Central Cambria, Central, Tyrone and Bishop Guilfoyle.
Altoona lost its top two players in Morgan Stevens and Sophia Caputo but returns three starters, seven other players and welcomes a few freshmen who should help fill the voids.
Central Cambria lost five experienced players but will have juniors Ally Morgan and Marley Ratchford back to try and defend its District 6 Class 2A team title.
Central has a new coach in Shaun Coppersmith and returns three starters in senior Ashlynn Renner and juniors Julia Ritchey and Brooklyn Coppersmith.
Tyrone returns just two starters but has a roster of 19 players. And Bishop Guilfoyle only has four players on its roster, but three of them saw significant action last year.
Here's a rundown on each of the area's teams:
Altoona
Coach: Jake Colledge, third year
Career record: 43-24
Last year's record: 10-5
Conference: Independent
Returning starters: Senior--Olivia McMinn. Juniors--Isabella Graham, Courtney Irwin
Other returning players: Senior--Jade Oakes-Lopez. Juniors--Kaylee Swain, Oriana Dent, Triumph Kilmartin, Mary Worley, Madison Marketta, Abby Donlan
Newcomers: Senior--Lily Adams. Freshmen--Andie Irwin, Skylar Irwin
Strengths: "We have a solid foundation returning in Bella Graham, Courtney Irwin and Olivia McMinn, who will provide leadership and match experience for the team. Likewise, incoming freshmen Andie Adams and Skylar Irwin are eager to jump into the starting lineup as are other team members, Oriana Dent, Kaylee Swain, Triumph Kilmartin, Mary Worley and Madison Marketta."
Concerns: "Match experience. We have many new players in this year's lineup as the departure of four starters from last year's squad is always a challenge to replace, but our girls are anxious to form their own identity and compete. Also, finding the best doubles teams combinations."
Overall outlook: "Although we have lost two former District 6 champions in Morgan Stevens and Sophia Caputo, I am overly confident in our returning players and our incoming freshmen, to fill the void as we look to compete for a district championship."
Assistant coaches: Miriam Colledge, Kristen Lucas (volunteer), Brett Mitchell (volunteer)
Bishop Guilfoyle
Coach: Brayley Lewis, first year
Career record: 0-0
Last year's record: 0-22
Conference: Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference
Returning starters: Junior--Lily Pearl Koelle. Sophomores--Ella McClellan, Kaitlyn Link
Other returning players: None
Newcomers: Freshman--Nina Gingrich
Strengths: "We have three returning starters from last year. All the players have positive attitudes and approach practice with enthusiasm. Each player has worked in the offseason to improve their game and gain experience."
Concerns: "The obvious concern is that we only have four players on the team. This season is the first time our doubles team will play together in competitive matches."
Overall outlook: "Most of the lineup has experience playing in competitive matches. I think the players can be competitive in the individual matches. I look forward to coaching these players this season."
Assistant coaches: None
Central
Coach: Shaun Coppersmith, first year
Career record: 0-0
Last year's record: 12-7
Conference: Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference
Returning starters: Senior--Ashlynn Renner. Juniors--Julia Ritchey, Brooklyn Coppersmith. Sophomore--Kate Dunn
Other returning players: Sophomores--Zoe Grill, Brooke Smith
Newcomers: Sophomores--Abigail Smith, Maggie Blattenberger. Freshmen--Breslyn Beech, Aubry Eckman, Taryn Walters, Gabby Decker
Strengths: "Lots of experience at the top four spots, hardworking, willing to learn and always showing up ready to play."
Concerns: "The only concern that I would have is that the bottom half of the team doesn't have any real match experience yet. But on the other hand, I feel like they are ready to go."
Overall outlook: "We are pretty solid with lots of experience with our top four players. The top four played almost every match last season. The fifth spot is our most improved player from last season who even started and won a few matches. After No. 5, there's lots of competition to see who will grab our last doubles spot. I feel like we will have a really good season again this year. Our goals are pretty simple -- work hard every day, take practice just as serious as matches and improve every time we step on the court."
Assistant coach: Karen Gorman
Central Cambria
Coach: Kimberly Cavalier, eighth year
Career record: 103-16
Last year's record: 13-1
Conference: Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference
Returning starters: Juniors--Ally Morgan, Marley Ratchford. Sophomore--Lydia Paskowski
Other returning players: Seniors--Olivia Heinzeroth, Lillian Janosko, Anna Stock, Aurora Hott
Newcomers: Senior--Klyah Ott. Freshmen--Ricky DeArmin, Madison Deitz, Taryn Ream
Strengths: "We have very strong starters who have been playing and competing during the offseason. In addition, we have a few new players who have played before and have also been getting court time in as often as possible, which makes a pretty big difference when it comes to match play. Even with the loss of last year's players, the team is strong and ready to compete to keep the D6 (2A team) title at Central Cambria."
Concerns: "Five of our top players graduated last year, which leaves a pretty big roster gap and only three returning starters. Changes in our schedule due to LHAC restructuring will be challenging. We play five schools we have never competed against. Previous years, we go into the season and each match with an idea of what we are up against, and which players are returning. Obviously, this year we won't have that advantage."
Overall outlook: "Although the season's outlook appears challenging, we are excited to get started and see how we match up against the newly added teams. Our new additions have a lot of potential and love the game. The entire team is full of promise and the players communicate well and work together. It's going to be another exciting year for Central Cambria tennis."
Assistant coach: Shane McGregor
Hollidaysburg
Coach: Brian Denis, 23rd year
Career record: 587-120
Last year's record: 17-2
Conference: Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference
Returning starters: Seniors--Megan Ferris, Regan McKee, Nina Meadows, CeCe Williams. Junior--Sarah Neatrour
Other returning players: Juniors--Katie Klingner, Sarah Urban, Lily Grosser, Grier Morris, Sophia Zangrilli, Meghan Nelson
Newcomers: Juniors--Leah Petrunak, Lauren Hajnosz. Freshmen--Crosby Denis, Grace Muriceak, Olivia Panaro, Emma Moritz, Taylor Eardley, Sandy Zheng
Strengths: "Great returning nucleus of starters who have big match experience coupled with a tremendously talented group of freshmen. The girls are very close knit -- they support each other very well, even though they are competing for spots. We have great depth all the way down our lineup -- our bottom half would make a very strong top seven locally. The girls will be match ready after a busy week of challenge matches as well as recently finishing up our summer league."
Concerns: "No sophomores on the roster. No room in our schedule to play some of the state qualifying teams that we have played in the past. Replacing our top two players from last year, Gretta Rhodes and Rachel Gallagher, who will be playing DI and DII tennis -- we're looking for someone to step up and take over that leadership role. Convincing the players that the intensity level of our practices has to be high, to create a competitive environment. It may be hard to try to find playing time for all members of the team."
Overall outlook: "We are looking forward to a very exciting year. Our goals will always be the same -- contend for a district championship, advance some players to the state tournament, and hope to win the Laurel Highlands championship in our first year of competition. We want to maintain our position as one of the best programs in the state for our school's size and hope to take the next step and beat all the bigger schools in our district to earn the district team championship."
Assistant coach: Amanda Denis (volunteer)
Tyrone
Coach: Randy Irvin, 11th year
Career record: 98-160
Last year's record: 6-5
Conference: Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference
Returning starters: Senior--Hannah McClellan. Junior--Emma Witkamp
Other returning players: Senior--Carena Eamigh. Juniors--Halee Young, Mariah Miles. Sophomore--Nicole Ramsey
Newcomers: Seniors--Kate Heisler, Allison Nycum. Junior--Gianna Juart. Sophomores--Bella Laird, Ezri Bumgarner, Jocelyn Diehl, Jenna Watson, Brooklyn Lambert, Emily Christofer, Jamis Maceno. Freshmen--Cassidy Fleck, Grace Zimmerman, Ava Cavallucci
Strengths: "We have six returning players from last year's team and 19 overall girls on the team. We have a very athletic, and hardworking group of girls. The new girls are all picking up the game very quickly, and this will give our team some additional depth."
Concerns: "Our biggest concern is getting the girls ample court time because of the weather and our very early match schedule."
Overall outlook: "We are excited to get out and play some tennis against other schools."
Assistant coaches: Jim Klesius, Dawn Irvin