PHS Tennis Team earns 6th NLL Championship

The Perrysburg High School Girls Tennis Team entered the NLL Tournament undefeated at all positions during regular league play. The tournament was brought indoors for the first day of competition at the Perrysburg Tennis Center on Tuesday, September 25, due to poor weather conditions. The 7 starters lost a total of 10 games on the first day of competition in the 10 matches that were played. The finals were able to move back outdoors on Wednesday, September 26, at Bowling Green State University.

Senior Emma Carter took on Kailyn Szmania from Anthony Wayne in the 1st singles position. Carter won the match 6-1, 6-4 to win her 2nd straight NLL Championship at this position. Sophomore Syndey Onest took on Elizabeth Seiple of Anthony Wayne at the 2nd singles position. Onest won the match 6-0, 6-0 to earn her 2nd NLL Championship at this position. Senior Caitlyn Schankula has competed at the 3rd singles position the last 3 years. This year she earned her 3rd straight championship at this position by beating Ashley Rieger of Napoleon 6-0, 6-1.

The senior duo of Gemma Smith and Kyleigh Henthorn took on the Anthony Wayne team of Ashley Hartzell and Kassidy Pittman at the first doubles position. They won the match 6-3, 6-2. This is Smith's 3rd Championship at this position. Henthorn earned her 1st Doubles Championship after being the Runner-up her freshman and junior year in the 1st singles position and the Champion at 1st Singles her sophomore year, all while living in Springfield School District.

The 2nd doubles team of seniors Natalie Ondrus and Megan Smith are 1st year varsity members of the PHS team. They worked very hard throughout the season to cement a 7-0 record at this position during the regular season. In the Championship finals, they took on Gulia and Burasezski of Anthony Wayne. This match was hard fought by both teams. Smith and Ondrus ended up losing the match 6-4, 7-5.

Perrysburg won the championship by earning 66 total points in the tournament. Anthony Wayne finished 2nd with 48 points while Southview and Napoleon tied for 3rd in the tournament with 19 points each.

Next the PHS team moves on to the OHSAA tournament play with sectionals starting Thursday, October 4, at Findlay High School.