Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Tennis champs look to defend crowns
Several area tennis players walked away with state titles a year ago, and they will all be looking to repeat.
The team of Jenna Bohnert and Grace Lueders won the Class 6A state girls doubles title and the Overall crown a year ago. Bentonville High’s Ella Coleman will also try to defend her Overall girls singles title.
In addition, Bentonville West will try to win its second consecutive 6A state girls team title.
Bohnert and Lueders claimed the title as the state’s best doubles team a year ago as sophomores in their first season to play together. Rogers High tennis coach Matthew Fulton has a message for the junior tandem’s competition this season.
“They are more comfortable on the court together than they used to be,” Fulton said. “I think last year they were learning to play together. They were two great singles players, but now it’s amazing how seamless they communicate.
“They are also best friends. They are really unique, two people who enjoy competing and enjoy each other. It’s fun to watch and fun to coach.”
The duo stuck together a year ago despite some adversity to win the state title in a tough three-set battle against West’s Sarah Schneringer and Kristyn Tappana. The Rogers team dropped the second set and trailed 4-2 in the third before winning the final four games to claim the match and the championship.
A little more than a week later Bohnert and Lueders defeated the West team 6-1, 7-5 in the Overall finals.
Fulton considers himself fortunate to be able to coach players like Bohnert and Lueders.
“They teach me a lot about supporting one another,” Fulton said. “They are teachers on the court.”
Fulton said his team is more seasoned this year with four of the top six players being seniors.
Alison Blundon qualified for the state tournament a year ago, losing in the first round. But she’s improved, Fulton said.
“She’s worked hard and she’s much more consistent,” Fulton said. “She’s worked hard on her game. Alison’s much more consistent. She was more of a power player last year.”
Coleman has not been able to participate in as many summer tournaments as she normally would in the summer because of the covid-19 pandemic. But Bentonville coach Emily Dillard said she’s worked hard on her conditioning.
“She’s used the summer to train a little harder,” Dillard said.
Coleman lost in the 6A state finals a year ago, but bounced back a week later to win the Overall crown as a freshman.
“Ella is extremely resilient and coachable,” Dillard said. “That state finals match was the only one she lost all year. But she put her nose to the grindstone the next week, switched gears and found a way to win.”
Dillard’s team has some question marks coming into this season though as Varunka Vijay, a state tournament qualifier a year ago, moved away and Shreya Kurichety suffered a torn ACL in soccer and is out for the season.
Kurichety and Olivia Roberts finished third in the state in doubles. So Dillard has to find a new partner for Roberts.
Junior Avery Berger qualified for the state tournament as a freshman in doubles. Sophomores Emily Ferm and Madison Bynoe are also possibilities along with Amanda Evans.
West coach Hunter Alexander didn’t have an individual champion but walked away with the team title last year and he likes his depth again.
Cassie Cervantes, who finished fourth as a freshman, and junior Page Weston give Alexander two strong singles players. Weston advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual state champion.
But his big issue is replacing Schneringer and Tappana, Alexander said.
Freshmen Eva Lopez and Darby Allison figure prominently in the plans. Senior Aubrey Kapales has also made “tremendous strides,” Alexander said.
“I think this is the strongest team we’ve ever had overall,” Alexander said. “I think we’ll be more competitive depth-wise than a lot of teams in the state.
“My challenge will be figuring out the lineup and what’s going to be best for the girls. Page started off playing doubles last year, so we’ll just have to see.”