Kegel bright spot in tough season for Ellwood City girls' tennis team
Ellwood City has only 10 players on its entire girls tennis team, while many teams in WPIAL Section 2-AA have more than double that number.
Part of the reason is the Wolverines have lost many players over the past few years to volleyball. Ellwood City coach Kim Conti said she has lost somewhere between five to eight players to the sport recently.
That’s partly the reason why the Wolverines are just 1-5 this season in section play.
“We’ve been competitive,” Conti said. “We have a solid team, but we play in a really strong section. The other teams have rosters with 25 girls and we have 10. We do the best we can with what we have.”
What the Wolverines have is the best player in the section, Reed Kegel. Kegel hasn’t lost in section play in the past season and a half and has qualified for WPIALs each of the past two seasons.
“She’s kind of been our pride and joy,” Conti said.
Behind Kegel is sophomore Lauren Stiles, who beat out last year’s No. 2 singles player, Randi Sharketti for the position. Sharketti is the Wolverines' No. 3 player this season.
In doubles, seniors Molly Dean and Mackenzie Yoho form the squad’s top tandem, with senior Marisa Pflug and sophomore Sam Shodd playing No. 2 doubles.
Part of the reason is the Wolverines have lost many players over the past few years to volleyball. Ellwood City coach Kim Conti said she has lost somewhere between five to eight players to the sport recently.
That’s partly the reason why the Wolverines are just 1-5 this season in section play.
“We’ve been competitive,” Conti said. “We have a solid team, but we play in a really strong section. The other teams have rosters with 25 girls and we have 10. We do the best we can with what we have.”
What the Wolverines have is the best player in the section, Reed Kegel. Kegel hasn’t lost in section play in the past season and a half and has qualified for WPIALs each of the past two seasons.
“She’s kind of been our pride and joy,” Conti said.
Behind Kegel is sophomore Lauren Stiles, who beat out last year’s No. 2 singles player, Randi Sharketti for the position. Sharketti is the Wolverines' No. 3 player this season.
In doubles, seniors Molly Dean and Mackenzie Yoho form the squad’s top tandem, with senior Marisa Pflug and sophomore Sam Shodd playing No. 2 doubles.
tennis