Presenting Daily Local News 2022 All-Area Girls Tennis teams, Coach of the Year
DLN All-Area Girls Tennis 2022
FIRST TEAM SINGLES
KAITLYN EVANS, West Chester Henderson – Junior captured the Ches-Mont National Division singles title, then advanced to second round of District 1 3A singles tourney. “She’s a smart, tough, methodical player who grinds for every point,” said Henderson coach Peter Sok.
ISABEL EMMANUEL, Conestoga – Freshman was a first team All-Central League singles selection, playing first singles for the PIAA 3A state champions. Her standout play in the post-season was a key to the Pioneers capturing their second consecutive state title.
KATE EMMANUEL, Conestoga – Junior was first team All-Central League singles selection, playing second singles for the PIAA 3A state champion Pioneers. Her win at second singles in the PIAA 3A state final was key in Conestoga’s 3-2 victory.
MABEL QIU, Great Valley – Junior finished second in the Ches-Mont American Division singles tournament to Daily Local News Player of the Year Grace Liu of Unionville; then lost in first round of the District 1 3A singles tournament to Conestoga’s Jennifer He. Noted for her consistent play.
JENNIFER HE, Conestoga – Junior finished third in the Central League singles tournament, advanced to second round of District 1 3A singles tourney, and her victory at third singles in the PIAA 3A state team tournament championship final was key to the Pioneers’ 3-2 win.
ELLA MATULEWICZ, Bishop Shanahan – Sophomore finished second in the Ches-Mont National Division singles tourney, then advanced to second round of District 1 3A singles tournament. A member of the All-Ches-Mont National Division first team for singles.
FIRST TEAM DOUBLES
KATE EMMANUEL–ISABEL EMMANUEL, CONESTOGA – The sister pair captured the Central League doubles championship; then Kate, a junior, and Isabel, a freshman, combined for a second-place finish in the District 1 3A doubles championship, then advanced to the PIAA 3A state semifinals and finished fourth at States.
JENNIFER HE–BELLA CHEN, CONESTOGA – He, a junior, and Chen, a senior, finished second in the Central League doubles championship to Pioneer teammates Kate and Isabel Emmanuel; then finished fourth in the District 1 4A doubles tourney. Chen earlier teamed with Melissa Fan, a duo that received first team All-Central League doubles honors.
EMMA STANISLAWCZYK-ALLIE STANISLAWCZYK, UNIONVILLE – This pair of junior twins captured their second consecutive Ches-Mont American Division doubles tourney title. Won their first doubles match against PIAA 3A state champion Conestoga in the PIAA 3A team championship final.
MICHELLE HAN–SOWMYA KRISHNA, Conestoga – Han, a senior, and Krishna, a sophomore, teamed together to receive first team All-Central League doubles honors, and in the PIAA 3A team championship finals, their three-set win at second doubles was crucial to the Pioneers’ state title win.
SECOND TEAM SINGLES
Maya Tashie, West Chester Rustin
Dhriti Munagala, Downingtown East
Bella Chen, Conestoga
Sophie Zhang, Unionville
Amelia Jarden, West Chester Henderson
SECOND TEAM DOUBLES
Catherine Stone – Sophie Zhang, Unionville
Jaclyn Santaguida – Milana Amoss, Unionville
Amelia Jarden – Madelyn Walsh, West Chester Henderson
Danielle Litvan – Twisha Dudgundi, Downingtown East
Anna Jiang – Lili Lusvardi, Kennett
Kaitlyn Evans – Kiera Koay, West Chester Henderson
Ella Matulewicz – Renee Kinard, Bishop Shanahan
Ellie Kwak – KK Mort, Great Valley
Coach of the Year — Janet Johnston, Unionville
Under the coaching of Janet Johnston, Unionville captured the PIAA District 1 3A title and finished second at the PIAA 3A team championship, losing a narrow 3-2 decision to Conestoga in the championship finals.
Johnston, who has been head coach at Unionville since 2004, said, “When you have a talented team as ours has been this year — and has been for quite a while — it’s all about the kids and their drive and dedication to their team and the sport that they love. I just happen to be very lucky and blessed to be part of it…. I’m along for the ride!”
Joe Vogler, Supervisor of Athletic in the Unionville-Chadd Ford School District, said, “I appreciate Janet’s humility, but in my opinion, she is not only one of the best tennis coaches in the area and state, but one of the best coaches of any sport in the area and state. I agree that we are extremely lucky to have talented players here at Unionville, but Janet has an uncanny ability to maximize their talent at the right time. She also is amazing at building team chemistry, which isn’t easy when you have so much talent and are required to put them into a lineup — and that to me is the difference maker in many of her teams.”
Johnston, who is also a large animal veterinarian at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, said, “I’ve been privileged and very fortunate to have many players in our school district that have been playing tennis for quite a while prior to high school and are dedicated to improving their game. The opportunity to play tennis in this area is a big factor in what brings good players to our high school team — not every district in the state has the same opportunity for their kids.
“I believe it’s important to help student athletes learn life lessons through sport. It’s not all about winning and losing a tennis match. It’s about learning to work as a team, make friends and experiences that they’ll have for a lifetime and build skills that will serve them well in their lives beyond high school in their careers and families.”
