This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Talent Rich Ladue, Burroughs, St. Joe Tennis all Look Strong in 2011

The five-school Ladue-Frontenac Patch teams won state titles in Class 2 singles and doubles and Class 1 singles last year.

Ladue Rams

The Ladue girls tennis team came as close as possible to winning the "Triple Crown" at the state tournament in Springfield last fall.

The Rams won the individual singles championship (Lindsey Whitehead) and the individual doubles championship (Cam Newton and Annie Kopp). But they fell just short in defending their team title, falling to Rock Bridge 5-4.

Find out what's happening in Ladue-Frontenacwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nonetheless, it was a memorable season for the Rams and was done  with underclassmen in their top four singles positions.

Two of those young players, Whitehead and Kelsey Bearman, are not playing high school tennis this fall.

Find out what's happening in Ladue-Frontenacwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But Newton and Kopp return which is great news for first-year coach, Kevin Lackey.

"To be honest it is hard for me to judge how we might do this year because I haven't seen any of the other teams play," said Lackey, a former Ladue player. "I am impressed with what we have. I feel we have the pieces in play to return to state, both individually and as a team."

Senior Libby Ferris returns from last year's starting singles lineup although she will have to make the big jump from No. 6 singles to No. 3.

Senior Mary Jane Rogers is the other returning Ladue player although she was not in the state lineup.

"I'm lucky and blessed to have the talented players that I do," Lackey said. "I feel that we can stack up against anybody."

Ladue will likely have to find out how it stacks up against St. Joseph's Academy, the perenial Class 2 power.

The Rams have knocked out the 14-time state champion (which is the most in state history) the last two years and would have been favorites to do so again if Whitehead were still playing.

St. Joe Angels

But the absence of the state champion levels the playing field a bit as the Angels have a very solid top three of juniors Grace Hyde, Taylor Revling and Ellis Bisig. Hyde and Revling finished second to Newton and Kopp in doubles at state last year.

"I call those three girls that St. Joe's Holy Trinity," St. Joe's coach Doug Smith said. "They give us a very good top three players."

The Angels graduated their four, five and six players but they return senior Abby Morris and sophomore Natalie Willis.

St.Joe has a very impressive freshmen class (17 of the 28 players in the program are freshmen). Olivia Conway, Ellie Helton, Ellie Gorman, Kaki McDaniel and Maddie Stieven could make immediate contributions.

The Angels lost only to state champions Ladue and Visitation in dual matches last year and won the MWAA and Heather Bradshaw Tournaments. They could be just as solid this season.

"The goal is always to win state," Smith said. "That is a given."

Burroughs Bombers

Area schools feature some of the best individual talent in Class 1.

Senior Sydney Lehman of John Burroughs is the defending state singles champion and she beat Katherine Desloge of MICDS in the championship match. Both Lehman and Desloge return for their senior seasons.

Lehman's championship was the unprecedented eighth in a row (and ninth in the last 10 years) by a Bomber.

"I am sure that Sydney will be considered the favorite coming in," Bomber coach Steve Beauchamp said. "I think she has a very good chance to repeat."

The Bombers should have a solid team this year with the return of seniors Katy Barenholtz, Martha Reis and Maddy Smith and sophomore Madison Rinder.

Barenholtz is a four-year player, who played No. 2 and 3 last year. Reis and Smith also played in the top five.

"The time is now for this team with the solid group of seniors," Beauchamp said. "We have some good experience and I think we match up pretty well with the competition we will face."

MICDS Rams

Katherine Desloge gives MICDS a very talented No. 1 player although the Rams will be inexperienced in most other positions.

"Katherine looks as good as ever," MICDS coach Brad Heinemann said. "She just got back from a national tournament in San Diego where she won her first round match. Her and Sydney are probably the top players from the small schools. Hopefully they will get back to the finals and play each other again."

Senior Lily Simeon will likely make the huge jump from No. 7 to No. 2. senior Taylor Glover, junior Merrill Hermann, sophomore Angeline Veronikis and freshman Emily Lee will also compete for starting spots.

"Last year was a rough season for the team," Heinemann said. "Hopefully we can start to get the program back to where it was."

Villa Duchesne Saints

There is good competition at Villa Duchesne to replace departed Lauren Mangano for the No. 1 singles spot.

Senior Anna Gallagher, junior Summer Desloge, sophomore Catherine Dubuque and freshman Brittany green are all in the mix.

Another freshman, Merritt Stahle, should also be an immediate contributor.

"I think it is going to be a fun year and a very in which we should be competitive," Saints coach Allison Wilson said. "I have been impressed with the drive and chemistry from these girls. I am very optimistic."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Ladue-Frontenac