High school tennis: Highland girls still have plenty of talent

The bad news for the Highland girls tennis team is it graduated three All-Gazette players from a year ago, including two-time MVP Sarah Sgambati. The good news for the Hornets is they not only return four All-Gazette players but have regained a fifth. All that means 21st-year coach Lisa Reynolds' team should have a very good chance to win its eighth straight Suburban League American Conference title. All-Gazette players Evy Boucher, Ella Gillin, Mackenzie Pawlak and Ella Tople return for Highland, while 2021 All-Gazette pick Ally Haynes is back with the team after not playing as a sophomore. That should be enough for the Hornets to overcome the loss of Sgambati, Jo Oberhaus and Maddie Pawlak, who combined to go 317-81 (.796) in their four-year careers. In the SL National, Wadsworth returns its top singles players in honorable mention All-Gazette picks Lauren Ball and Lizzy Edwards, but the Grizzlies will have to replace a lot of graduated seniors if they are to challenge perennial power Hudson and conference newcomer Solon at the top of the standings. The Greater Cleveland Conference figures to be wide open with Solon's departure. Brunswick will have a new coach in Kevin Naugle, who replaces Mark Merchant, while Pete Hoffmann is back for his 19th season with Medina. Cloverleaf will look to finish in the top half of the Metro Athletic Conference under first-year coach Nicole D'Amico, who has taken over for 19-year coach Brenda Hewit. Here's a look at the five Medina County teams: Brunswick Coach: Kevin Naugle (1st season). Last year: 1-16 overall, 0-4 in GCC. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Ashley Weers (singles, sr.), Abby Ivory (doubles, sr.), Bella Chismar (singles, sr.), Addison Burns (doubles, jr.). Newcomers: Sofia Droz (singles, so.), Ciara Gormley (doubles, sr.), Sophia Angus (doubles, sr.), Madison Nolan (doubles, sr.), Kate Muniak (doubles, jr.). Noteworthy: Naugle is expected to also take over for Merchant as coach of the boys team. He played tennis at Highland prior to graduating in 1997. l Aaron Angus, the father of Sophia, is serving as Naugle's assistant. Cloverleaf Coach: Nicole D'Amico (1st season). Last year: 9-8 overall, 5-5 in MAC. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Ava Baldwin (1st singles, honorable mention All-Gazette), Gabby Colahan (singles or doubles, sr.), Vanessa Sweitzer (singles, sr.), Brenna Carpenter (singles or 1st doubles, jr.). Newcomers: Alyssa Bergman (doubles, jr.), Morgan Snyder (doubles, sr.), Stella Elkevizth (doubles, so.), Jasmine Shimko (doubles, jr.), Desi Bohner (doubles, so.), Madelyn Sweitzer (doubles, jr.), Kenna Waggaman (doubles, jr.). Noteworthy: D'Amico, a 2002 Brunswick graduate, played three years of high school tennis under her maiden name of Yunk. l Michelle Pryor will serve as D'Amico's assistant. Highland Coach: Lisa Reynolds (21st season). Last year: 14-4 overall, 7-0 in SL American. Key letterwinners lost: Sarah Sgambati (2-time Gazette MVP, 3-time All-Gazette), Jo Oberhaus (4-time All-Gazette), Maddie Pawlak (3-time All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Evy Boucher (singles or doubles, All-Gazette, sr.), Ella Gillin (doubles, All-Gazette, sr.), Mackenzie Pawlak (doubles, All-Gazette, jr.), Ella Tople (singles or doubles, All-Gazette, jr.), Ally Haynes (singles, All-Gazette as freshman, jr.), Wren Marquis (doubles, jr.). Newcomers: Lily Hantz (singles or doubles, fr.), Claire Schlak (doubles, so.), Hailey Pennington (doubles, jr.). Noteworthy: Reynolds owns a 232-121 record with the girls team and a 204-105 mark in 19 seasons in charge of the boys program for a total of 436-226. She has been Gazette Coach of the Year 10 times in girls tennis, including the last seven years, and four times with the boys. l Ty Damon, Josh Bertolone, Tony Sgambati and Lisa Boucher will serve as Reynolds' assistants. Medina Coach: Pete Hoffmann (19th season). Last year: 5-11 overall, 2-2 in GCC. Key letterwinner lost: Eve Chester (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Megan Nuske (1st singles, HM All-Gazette, jr.), Emerson Willis (2nd singles, sr.), Mandy Caspio (3rd singles or doubles, sr.), Julia Kraft (3rd singles or doubles, jr.), Ella Anderson (3rd singles or doubles, sr.). Newcomers: Karlie Sesko (doubles, sr.), Larken Talley (doubles, jr.), Hayden Rea (doubles, jr.), Sophia Young (doubles, so.), Ashley Wallace (doubles, so.), Claire Kocar (doubles, jr.), Nellie Alber (doubles, fr.), Olivia Klanac (3rd singles or doubles, jr.). Noteworthy: Brothers Dan and Mike O'Brien will serve as assistant coaches, as will Medina County Sports Hall of Fame member Tim McQuown. l With Solon having moved to the SL National Conference, the GCC race is wide open. Wadsworth Coach: Kristy Nichol (14th season). Last year: 11-9 overall, 2-4 in SL National. Key letterwinner lost: Sophia Fry (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Lauren Ball (1st or 2nd singles, HM All-Gazette, jr.), Lizzy Edwards (1st or 2nd singles, HM All-Gazette, sr.), Elyse Errington (doubles, sr.), Avery Neville (3rd singles or doubles, jr.), Liv Hill (doubles, sr.), Sienna Lucci (singles or doubles, jr). Newcomers: Tatum Mendel (doubles, sr.), Kenzi Shaffer (doubles, sr.). Noteworthy: John Hutchinson and Cara Johnson will serve as Nichol's assistants. l The Grizzlies are always solid, but it will be hard to contend in the SL National because Hudson, Brecksville and new member Solon are very strong year in and year out. Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on Twitter.