Top players from the senior semesters and special newcomers are the headlines at Tigers Tennis 2024

Tennis experience will not be a problem for the Edwardsville Tigers in 2024.

Not even with three newcomers in the team.

“We develop players in our academy and at the Tiger Tennis Camps that make a huge difference,” said EHS coach Dave Lipe. “That’s a major key element and component to every success we’ve had. There was a time in the not too distant past when that wasn’t the case. I give Emily Cimarolli and her team a lot of credit for that.”

The Tigers will start 2024 with a mixed team consisting of seniors Sophie Byron, Gabi Hill and Julia Harriss, junior Katie Woods and freshmen Dia Kannan, Bina Selimi and Amelia Hill.

“We have a large group of seniors this year,” Lipe said, “but the fact that these freshmen made it to the top six says a lot about their development as tennis players. They are good tennis players.”

“This team is good. These girls can play.”

Before Edwardsville’s season opener on Aug. 29 at John Burroughs, Woods and Kannan are the Tigers’ top two singles players.

Woods was the Intelligencer’s MVP for the 2023 season, in which the Tigers finished 21-11-2 and shared the Southwestern Conference champions with O’Fallon and the Class 2A Belleville West Sectional champions.

As a sophomore in 2023, Woods posted a record of 39-15, was named Belleville West individual champion, and was named 2023 SWC Player of the Year. In two seasons, Woods is 68-35.

She will be one of the many head teachers of the senior semesters at EHS, alongside Byron, Gabi Hill and Harriss.

“I’m super excited,” said Gabi Hill, who went 1-2 in singles play at the Class 2A state tournament last season. “I’m ready to dedicate one last year to Tiger tennis. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good season.”

Hill’s career record at EHS currently stands at 97-43.

Byron, who went 3-2 at the state level and earned All-State honors along with now-graduated doubles teammate Alyssa Wise, said she is excited to begin her senior season.

“I’m really looking forward to enjoying every single minute and really spending time with my teammates,” said Byron, who has a career record of 103-47 with two All-State honors in doubles.

The goals for EHS remain the same in 2024. In 2023, the Tigers won their fifth consecutive SWC title and 16^th since 2000 and their fourth consecutive section title. It was also the fourth consecutive section in which the Tigers had both the singles champion (Woods) and the doubles champion (Byron and Wise).

EHS finished the season in 19^th Place in the Class 2A state tournament as the only team from outside of Chicago area to finish in the top 20.

“We will try to win the conference and sectional championships again and make it to the state championship,” said Gabi Hill.

Goals also include leading a strong freshman class with Kannan, Selimi and Amelia Hill. Gabi is Amelia’s older sister.

“I really enjoyed showing them the team’s path and way of working,” said Gabi Hill.

Byron added: “There are quite a few newcomers. We’re trying to bring everyone together and make it an inclusive team.”

After away tryouts at John Burroughs on August 29 and in Chicagoland for the New Trier Invitational on August 30 and 31, EHS will play at home for the Heather Bradshaw Invitational at the EHS Tennis Center on September 6 and 7.

The Tigers host SWC opponents Alton and O’Fallon on September 10 and 12, respectively. They also host East St. Louis on September 16 and Collinsville on October 3. All games begin at 3:30 p.m.

EHS will also travel to Arkansas for a tournament in Fayetteville on September 13-14, to Chicago for the Buffalo Grove Invitational on September 20-21, and to the Lockport Invitational on October 4-5.

As usual, EHS will host the Southern Illinois Duals on September 27 and 28. The home game against Quincy on September 27 at 4 p.m. is Senior Night.

The SWC tournament is scheduled for October 11-12, the sectional championships are October 18-19, and the Class 2A state tournament is October 24-26.

“It’s been a very positive year so far,” Lipe said. “Every team is different. Every day is different. But working with these girls has been a joy. They’ve been very enthusiastic and willing to learn. They’ve already improved. We’re continuing to work and improve.”