Mike Vukovcan It was a busy day for the boys’ and girls’ athletes in the Hopewell School District.
The High School Football team, the Boys High School and JV Soccer team, the Girls High School Volleyball team and the High School Girls Tennis team all took part in scrimmages today. The regular season for all teams will get underway within the next two weeks.
Vikings Sports Now wanted to let you know what’s going on with the HS Girls Tennis team.
Before we recap today’s scrimmage against Ellwood City, here’s a look at their 2025 roster and some thoughts from HC Brenna Wandel.
HOPEWELL 2025 GIRLS TENNIS ROSTER:
-Junior Alana Covalt
-Junior Claire Sarkis
-Junior Kaylee Wiley
-Junior Teagan Scully
-Sophomore Mackenzie Liston
-Sophomore Cassidy Bellomo
-Freshman Georgia Garber
-Freshman Evelyn Cagnon
HEAD COACH: Brenna Wandel
ASSISTANT COACH: Rita Wilson
“We’re really excited to be back on the courts this season,” said Coach Wandel. “Our girls’ tennis team may be small, just 8 players, but they’re full of heart. We have four returning players with a year or two of experience and four newcomers who are already giving it their all.”
“We opened with a scrimmage against Ellwood City. The final score was 0-5, but that doesn’t capture how close many of those points were. Several games were incredibly close, often coming down to just one or two points, with several reaching deuce multiple times. It was a competitive, hard-fought match, and if we can just take that next point in those tight moments, the results will start reflecting the skill and determination these players already have. Our singles lineup looks a little different this year. Everyone moved up to tougher spots, and they handled it with confidence.”
Today’s Scrimmage Results vs. Ellwood City:
1st Singles: Covalt (4-6, 0-6)
2nd Singles: Sarkis (0-6, 1-6)
3rd Singles: Liston (2-6, 2-6)
1st Doubles: Bellomo and Garber (1-6, 0-6).
“This was the first match for both girls, and they handled it with great teamwork and effort,” said Wandel.
2nd Doubles: Wiley and Cagnon (1-6, 0-6).
“Evelyn’s debut match alongside a returning partner was a great start for her,” said Wandel.
Hopewell and Ellwood City also played a doubles exhibition match with Scully, one of our new players, partnering with Sarkis.
“They played beautiful together, winning the first set 6-0 and leading 3-1 in the second set before we had to call it for the day. It was a great showcase of teamwork, communication, and confidence on the court.,” said Wandel.”
This season, the wins and losses aren’t going to be the important thing. The main focus of this coaching staff is going to be to develop this young team and get them on court experience for the future.
“We’re in a rebuilding phase, and the energy on this team is exactly what you want to see for the future of the program- positive, encouraging, and ready to grow,” said Wandel. “Our hope is that by getting the word out, more kids will see how much fun this sport can be and join us in the seasons ahead.”
The Hopewell Girls Tennis team will start the regular season on Monday, when they host Central Valley. The matches from the Junior High School will get underway at 3:30 PM.
