Tennis players to watch

Apr 22, 2003

By Matt Massey, Greg Bishop and Mason Kelley

(Last year's performances, unless otherwise noted.)

Girls

WesCo 4A North

Liz Currey, Stanwood, Jr. - Spartans' No. 1 singles player played doubles primarily.

Lauren Mickels, Stanwood, Sr. - Reached state in doubles with Kahika White.

Angela Li, Cascade, Jr. - Narrowly missed state singles tournament.

Maggie Manucal, Oak Harbor, Sr. - Runner-up in league tournament.

Rashelle Heath, Lake Stevens, Sr., and Erin Nissen, Lake Stevens - Doubles team could be best in WesCo North by end of season.

WesCo 4A South

Jackie Mills, Everett, Sr. - No. 1 singles player topped highly regarded Tanya Ramfar of Kamiak earlier this season.

Tanya Ramfar, Kamiak, Sr. - Second in district singles and state qualifier; likely top player from WesCo this spring.

Teri Busch, Kamiak, Sr., and Katie Arnestad, Kamiak, Sr. - Knights' No. 2 and 3 singles players could be potent doubles pair in postseason.

Samantha Lim, Shorewood, Fr. - Youngster plays No. 1 singles.

Ashley Opdyke, Shorecrest, So. - Moved into No. 1 singles spot recently for one of division's top teams; district singles qualifier.

SPSL North

Megan Proffitt, Kentwood, Jr. - Experienced tournament player was district qualifier last two seasons.

Sara Koura, Kentridge, Jr. - Teams with Celina Knight in doubles; started 5-0 in singles this spring.

Rachelle Richardson, Auburn Riverside, Jr. - District singles qualifier; strong baseline game.

Shannon McKiernan, Auburn, Sr. - Consistency is her strength; reached district in singles.

Celina Knight, Kentridge, Sr. - Foreign-exchange student has talent.

Beth Davis, Kentlake, Sr. - Improving player could factor into postseason in No. 1 singles.

Rosalyn Currie, Tahoma, So. - Young, rising star.

SPSL South

Michelle Sekyra, Puyallup, Sr. - Won two matches at state.

Rachel Owens, Emerald Ridge, Fr. - Power baseline player who brings wealth of tournament experience despite youth.

Jamie Chan, Decatur, So. - Mighty mite is big baseline boomer; would have qualified for postseason, but chose not to participate.

Kristin Yates, Federal Way, Jr. - Lefty plays singles and doubles, likely teaming with Danielle Yellam for strong doubles team.

Danielle Yellam, Federal Way, Sr. - Teamed with now-graduated Debbie Raghubeer for two doubles wins at state.

Faana Fanene, Rogers, Sr. - Teams with Caitie Campbell for top doubles team in SPSL South.

Caitie Campbell, Rogers, Sr. - Reached state as sophomore in doubles.

Katie Schultz, Jefferson, Jr. - Teams with freshman lefty Corinna Fabre for strong doubles combo.

Kelly Besett, Curtis, Sr. - Steady baseliner is No. 1 singles player for strong team.

KingCo 4A

Hali Walther, Eastlake, Jr. — Eighth in singles at state.

Rachel Tamigniaux, Lake Washington, Jr. — Fifth in district singles.

Suzuye Nomura, Franklin, So. — State qualifier.

Emily Gallichotte, Garfield, Fr. — Up-and-coming freshman.

Amy Eshelmen, Roosevelt, Jr. — District qualifier.

Amy Deihl, Inglemoor, Jr. — State doubles qualifier.

Dana Olsen, Ballard Jr. — Eighth in Metro League doubles.

Sheena El-Alfy, Redmond, Sr. — Top singles player.

Svetlana Gyulnazarian, Juanita, Sr. — Top singles player.

Emily Nye, Bothell, Sr. — Top singles player.

Katie Russell, Woodinville, Sr. — First in doubles, third in singles in KingCo; state doubles qualifier.

Emily Webster, Woodinville, Sr. — Teamed with Russell for KingCo doubles title.

KingCo 3A

Lilli Sandler, Mercer Island, Jr. — Fifth in singles at state.

Stephanie Hammond, Mercer Island, Jr. — Fourth in doubles at state.

Liz Oldenburg, Mercer Island, So. — Second in doubles at state.

Angela Pham, Newport, So. — Fifth in KingCo singles.

Jacyln Boals, Mount Si, Jr. — Fifth in KingCo doubles.

Alyssa Goldberg, Bellevue, So. — Seventh in KingCo singles.

Patty Nowak, Interlake, So. — Sixth in KingCo singles.

Weronica Nowak, Interlake, Sr. — Sixth in KingCo doubles.

Tiffany Johnson, Skyline — Eighth in KingCo singles.

Katie Collier, Issaquah, Sr. — No. 1 singles player.

Alisha Weible, Liberty, Sr. — No. 1 singles player.

Vy Duong, Sammamish — No. 1 singles player.

Metro League

Melinda Wong, West Seattle, So. - Third in singles at state; consistent and powerful groundstroker won Metro, district singles.

Whitney Cheng, Bainbridge, Sr. - Big baseline hitter was third in Metro.

Kara Mooney, Seattle Prep, Sr. - Big hitter fourth at Metro.

Asako Hayashi, and Jennifer Padden, Lakeside, Jrs. - Hayashi teamed with Hannah Curtis for one of top Metro girls doubles combinations; now plays with Padden.

Lauren Cook, Seattle Prep, Sr. - Combined with Caitlin Coakley for state, district and Metro doubles titles; No. 2 singles player for Panthers.

Caitlin Coakley, Seattle Prep, Sr. - No. 3 singles player for Prep.

Seamount King Division

Jenny Lewellen, Kennedy, Fr. - Could be top singles player in league as first-year varsity player; plays on Junior Nationals circuit and is No. 2 under-14 player in Pacific Northwest.

Erika Buechler, Hazen, Jr. - Reached district after going 9-3 in league.

Hanh Hoang, Evergreen, Sr. - Advanced to district.

Kelly Williamson, Highline, Sr. - Won district doubles crown with now-graduated Erin Englehart.

Lisa Hirata, Mount Rainier, Sr. - Has improved vastly after going 11-0 in doubles play with two different partners.

Seamount Pierce Division

Alana Wong, Peninsula, Sr. - State qualifier; steady baseline player.

Hillary Bridge, Peninsula, Jr. - Plays No. 2 singles for Seahawks.

Boys

Metro League

Peter Kung, Lakeside, So. - Won singles at 3A state tournament as freshman; helped Lions tie Seattle Prep for state team title.

Brett Blasingame, Seattle Prep, Sr. - Teamed with Ryan Slemons for doubles title at state; concentrating on singles.

Cavin Kindsvogel and Alex Gilbert, Lakeside, Srs. - Formidable team could take state doubles title; Kindsvogel paired with Amir Gazvinian for third at state.

Amir Gazvinian, Lakeside, So. - Should be tough after moving to singles.

Alex Matthews, Fr., and Ryan Slemons, Jr., Seattle Prep - New partners should challenge for state doubles title.

Seamount King Division

Mike Rittenhouse, Hazen, Sr. - State singles qualifier in singles; fourth at district.

Doug Mozeika and Andy Trinh, Mount Rainier, Srs. - Doubles team fifth at state, falling in semis.

Matt Joens, Kennedy, Jr. - Keeps improving; could team with junior Drew Kauzlarich to form strong postseason doubles pairing.

Daniel Ellis, Hazen, Sr., and Alex Sessoms, Hazen, Jr. - Combine for solid doubles team with state potential.

Seamount Pierce Division

Kenneth Alcalde, Peninsula, Sr. - State runner-up in singles to Kung, losing 6-3, 6-4 in finals.

Note: Most leagues play boys tennis in the fall, except Metro and Seamount. The state tournament is in the spring.