Bombers Girls Tennis has been on a dominant run over the past two years under Head Coach Torrey McNeal.
Bombers Girls Tennis has been on a dominant run over the past two years under Head Coach Torrey McNeal.
After compiling a 13-1-1 record in 2023, the Kenston Athletic Administration decided to move the Bombers girls tennis program up to Division I.
With the move to Division I in 2024, Bombers Girls Tennis has picked up right where they left off last season.
On Sept. 4, the Bombers claimed their sixth victory of the season defeating the Chardon Hilltoppers, 4-1.
Then on senior night, on Sept. 5, the Bombers defeated Shaker, 4-1.
In defeating the Hilltoppers on September 4th, Coach McNeal said that his players did well as they stayed focused and played under control.
“They went out with specific goals that they were working on, on each court,” said McNeal. “We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, playing under control, and trying to play smart and steady.”
Showing great focus at first singles for the Bombers was the coach’s daughter, Brooke McNeal, who continued her dominant season as she took on her opponents from the Hilltoppers and Raiders.
McNeal won her match over her Hilltoppers opponent by a score of 6-0, 6-0. In fact, McNeal did not allow a single point to her competitor which is known as a golden match.
McNeal followed up her incredible performance against the Hilltoppers with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over her opponent from Shaker on senior night.
With victories over the Hilltoppers and the Raiders, McNeal is now 9-0 on the season.
In fact, for the season, McNeal has not lost a set. In playing 114 games over nine matches, McNeal has compiled a 108-6 record.
It has been an incredible run over the last two years for McNeal. In 2023 McNeal, the WRC singles champion, was voted WRC Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. In addition, McNeal was an OHSAA district champion, qualified for the state tournament, and was named All-Ohio.
After the match against the Hilltoppers, McNeal talked about what she is looking forward to as the season progresses.
McNeal said she is excited about the conference tournament, districts and beyond.
“We’ve won the (conference tournament the) past four years in a row, so hopefully we can get five this year,” said McNeal. “And it’s always just a fun day with all the girls. And then later in the season, I am excited for districts.”
She added: “I hope to defend my title, but we’ll see. We moved up in divisions so it will probably be a little more tough. But I’m hoping to make it to states again this year and maybe advance a little farther.”
In addition to McNeal winning both of her matches at first singles, Alex Ungaro (second singles) and Anna Spivak (third singles) won both of their matches, 6-0, 6-0 over their Hilltoppers and Raiders opponents.
After defeating her opponent from Chardon, Ungaro talked about her match.
“My match went very well for me,” said Ungaro. “I know what to do when I go out there, so I just get it done.”
Both Ungaro at second singles, and Spivak at third singles have had excellent seasons.
In nine matches this season, Ungaro has compiled a 7-2 record, while Spivak has gone 8-1.
Also helping to lead the Bombers to a 7-2 season record include Giulia Badalotti and Sabrina Billock at first doubles and Alaina Murphy and Sadie Petrash at second doubles. Also, playing as part of the first and second doubles teams this season is senior Samantha Worsdall.
