The area high school girls tennis scene in 2024 witnessed an extraordinary display of talent. The Dunlap Eagles emerged as the dominant force, securing their second consecutive state trophy finish. Nine local girls earned the prestigious all-state honors, and a fresh-faced freshman emerged as a rising star and the area's best player. This achievement has sparked excitement and admiration among tennis enthusiasts.

Unraveling the Success Stories of Area High School Girls Tennis

Section 1: Dunlap Eagles - A Reign of Dominance

In 2024, the Dunlap Eagles stood tall at the top of the high school girls tennis mountain. Their second straight state trophy finish is a testament to their exceptional teamwork and individual skills. Coach Pat Gornik expressed his pride, stating, "This was one of the most exciting ones for us. We had high hopes coming in. We had to keep winning points... it was truly a total team effort. Call it success by a thousand cuts." The Eagles' success is not just a one-time occurrence but a reflection of their consistent performance and dedication.Their freshman star, Anna Yu, cut right to the chase with a fifth-place finish at the state level. Yu's footwork, swing, and composure have been honed under the tutelage of former Dunlap star Victor Spolidório. Spolidório himself had an impressive prep singles career, going 153-12 and going on to play at Northern Illinois. Yu's 41 wins from the No. 1 singles spot were the most among varsity girls singles players in the state. She did not lose to a Peoria area player all season, showcasing her dominance.

Section 2: Standout Players and Their Achievements

Olivia Reynolds, a senior co-captain from Richwoods, piled up a 43-8 record playing in the key singles slot. She added to her prep record by reaching 100 varsity wins last season. Teaming up with Bartelme last fall, they went 3-2 at state in doubles and reached the fourth round of consolation. Reynolds was part of multiple tournament titles, including the LaSalle-Peru Invite, Morton Invite, Richwoods Invite, and the Moline Sectional.Alassea Michel, a junior from Dunlap, won four matches at the Class 1A state finals and finished in the consolation quarterfinals, earning second-team all-state honors. She played as Dunlap's No. 2 singles player and had a remarkable 38-5 record. Only two of her losses were to her teammate Anna Yu, and no other Peoria area player could beat her. According to tennisreporting.com, she ended the season with the second-most singles victories among all girls in the state.Chloe Kendall, a sophomore from Morton, was a singles star with a 31-19 record. She earned all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors and finished third in the Metamora Sectional to reach Class 1A state. At state, she won her opening match but lost her next two, including a 6-0, 6-1 decision to Yu.The Gusso sisters, senior Carolina and sophomore Isabella from Dunlap, put together a 29-13 record in the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles slots. They finished second in the Geneseo Sectional and had a big showing at Class 1A state, winning six matches before falling in the state fifth-place battle. Their second-team all-Mid-Illini Conference picks ended up earning first-team all-state honors.Maya Baman and Melaina Humbles, junior doubles partners from Dunlap, powered through the season at 32-5. They won the Geneseo Sectional title and earned first-team all-Mid-Illini Conference honors. At Class 1A state, they won their first two matches but dropped their next two, including a loss to Isabela Ji and Sophia Holt from Chicago U-High, who were state runners-up. They reached the fourth round of consolation to claim third-team all-state honors.Lauren Poole, a junior from Metamora, finished second in the Metamora Sectional and earned first-team all-Mid-Illini Conference honors. She had a 35-10 singles mark and landed third-team All-State honors after playing into the fourth round of the consolation bracket at state.Olivia Bradford & Ellie Schaffer, senior doubles tandem from Metamora, finished third in the Metamora Sectional and reached the fourth round of consolation play in the Class 1A state finals. They were second-team all-Mid-Illini Conference picks and landed third-team all-state honors.Lexi Burton, a junior from Metamora, won the Metamora Sectional singles title to earn a trip to Class 1A state. She had a 29-6 season and earned first-team all-Mid-Illini Conference honors. She lost her opening match at state and defaulted from the tournament in her second outing.

Section 3: Honorable Mentions

Annabelle Hiel, a senior from Washington, and Anica Roozenboom, also a senior from Washington, received honorable mentions. These players have also made significant contributions to the local tennis scene and deserve recognition for their efforts.Dave Eminian, the Journal Star sports columnist, covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com and can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.