Cometsā?? junior starts perfect again

The girls tennis season is officially underway, and with volleyball, field hockey, and now girls soccer all in the fall lineup, some tennis teams have seen a drastic change in returning players.

For the Crestwood Comets however, one key player would never consider leaving her team.

Kristi Bowman, 16, a junior at Crestwood, has been playing tennis since she was 6 years old and enjoyed a spectacular season last year. She went undefeated in singles competition during the regular season, going 13-0 and helping lead her team to a 12-3 record and a Wyoming Valley Conference 3A title.

Bowman has said that tennis is her only sporting interest and that focus has helped her going into every season. Because she is not a multi-sport athlete, Bowman uses her time year round to continually look to improve her game.

"I really like playing tennis, it's the only sport I play," Bowman said. "It keeps me focused on what I have to do and it keeps me focused on the upcoming season."

Bowman said that practicing throughout the year not only helps her physically but also mentally by helping her keep a positive attitude.

Although she has enjoyed individual success, she cares more about how her team does and gives her teammates her unending support. Her goals going into this season were to better herself from last year and help the team make a deep playoff run.

"I was undefeated last year and I would like to stay undefeated but I'm just going to take every match one at a time and see how I do," Bowman said. "I think that the whole team would like to make it to districts again because we all had a lot of fun last year. I just want to do my best to help my team reach that goal."

This season, Bowman is 7-0 in singles play. Teammates Brittany Stanton and Melanie Kobela also sport 7-0 singles records.

 

Berwick

Coach: Trinell Bull

2011 Record: 5-8 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Jessica Dennis, Shea Volkel, Brooke Warton, Kenzie Goulstone

Key Players Added/Retained: Kasey Bacher, Julia Fonte, Whitley Culver, Erica Robbins, Dallas Hess

Coach's Outlook: "I'm looking to develop their skills because I have so many beginner girls. Everday there is improvement and some of the doubles players from last year may be playing singles so that will be new for them."

 

Coughlin

Coach: Teresa Popielarski

2011 Record: 9-4 in WVC

Players Lost: Jenna Lutchko, Summer Lentini, Julie Barry, Eryn Harvey

Players Added/Retained: Becca Elmy, Dana Schneider, Mykela Pacurariu, Julia DeMiller, Danielle Adcock, Alia Sod, Jackie Marrouquin

Coach's Outlook: "This team is one of the hardest working and most motivated teams I have every coached and I'm so proud of the progress they have made. I'm very excited about this season, I think they are going to do well."

 

Crestwood

Coach: Scott Lenio

2011 Record: 11-2 in WVC, WVC 3A champions

Keys Players Lost: Mary Kate Coulter, Corey Gallagher

Keys Players Added/Retained: Kiana Thompson, Christina Perry, Claire McCallick, Alexandra Kintz, Rebecca Price, Grace Hao

Coach's Outlook: "We have returning experience in the on, two and three singles positions as well as a number of one doubles sport. We need out number two doubles spot to help us out in the tight matches. We would like to be competitive for a playoff spot in the AAA division."

 

Dallas

Coach: Dominic Ross

2011 Record: 11-2 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Melissa Tucker, Chloe Alles

Key Players Added/Retained: Dana Yu, Bridget Boyle, Grace Schaub, Courtney Sickle, Kajal Patel

 

GAR

Coach
: Abdullah Azad

2011 Record: 0-13 in WVC

Players Lost: Jessica Pacheco, Anissa Bathtom

Players Added/Retained: Raquel Sosa, Iduku Aka-Ezoue, Vanessa Castillo, Diane Lopez

Coach's Outlook: "I'm just looking to build my team for our future."

 

Hanover Area

Coach: Terry Schnee

2011 Record: 2-11 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Marsha Geiser

Key Players Added/Retained: Kati McManus, Leise House, Emily Rinehimer, Gabby Keating

Coach's Outlook: "I'm looking for more competitive individual match ups within the team. I'm very pleased with the growth the players are showing and hopefully that'll translate into more wins for us."

 

Hazleton Area

Coach: Amber Corrado

2011 Record: 8-5 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Megan Hudock, Amanda Pliska

Key Players Added/Retained: Erika Grula

Coach's Outlook: "I basically have the inner players, my whole team consisting of first years. Very beginning group. I have mainly juniors."

 

Holy Redeemer

Coach: Joe Suchocki2011 Record: 12-1 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Emily Suchocki, Ally Muth, Shaina Dougherty

Key Players Added/Retained: Fallyn Boich, Nell Chmil, Beth Chmil, Tricia Harenza, Megan McGraw, Leanne Tabit, Emily Kabalka

Coach's Outlook: "Have a good winning season and make the playoffs"

 

MMI Prep

Coach: Mark Dryfoos

2011 Record: 5-8 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Devan McCarrie, Englysh Handlong

Key Players Added/Retained: Gabriella Lobitz, Stephanie Pudish, Antonia Diener, Gaby Becker, Claire Sheen, Carrie Bandirska, Jacqui Meuser, Kelsey Donaldson, Katelyn, McGuire, Soprina Guarnari, Haley Kirschner

Coach's Outlook: "We're just getting to know each other and see where we go from here. We have pretty darn good team and we have some injuries and as soon as our players get healthy we'll be in great shape."

 

Pittston Area

Coach: Kim Collins

2011 Record: 3-10 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Anna Podrasky, Alicia Chopyak, Haliegh Zurek

Key Players Added/Retained: Miranda Warunek, Mikhaela Moher, Elaina Menchelli, Sara O'Hop

 

Tunkhannock

Coach: Jeff Underwood

2011 Record: 3-10 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Hope Murray, Jessica Murley, Sisile Maruzzeli

Key Players Added/Retained: Marlena Chesner, Becky Mills, Jennifer Grasso, Jill Patton, Morgan Drumgell, Prutha Patell

Coach's Outlook: "We're just looking to have a fun season. We're being competitive and we want to be competitive."

 

Wyoming Area

Coach: Tiffany Callio

2011 Record: 3-10 in WVC

Players Lost: Lisa Chihorak, Brina Platt, Emily Lukasavage, Alisha Pizano, Alex Romano

Players Added/Retained: Valerie Bott

Coach's Outlook: "We have a very young inexperience team. The first few matches we have to see where we're at but I'm hoping to get a couple wins. They've been practicing and working very hard, so hopefully we can pull out some wins."

 

Wyoming Seminary

Coach: Mike Balutanksi

2011 Record: 12-1 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Madison Nardone

Key Players Added/Retained: Anita Ghosh, Nathalie Joanlanne, Emma Spath, Alaina Schukraft, Jane Henry, Sheena Syal

 

Wyoming Valley West

Coach: Jim Zimmerman

2011 Record: 7-6 in WVC

Key Players Lost: Cathy Byrnes

Key Players Added/Retained: Christa Talpash, Devin Ryman, Laura Monto, Gillian Pajor, Emily Coslett

Coach's Outlook: "I just want to improve after every match and I think that will happen with these girls. They really enjoy playing and they work hard, so we should be getting better as the season progresses."