Dave PurpuraColumbus Dispatch
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The usual central Ohio girls tennis powers appear ready and able to sustain their success this fall, and that applies to individuals as well as teams.
Eight state tournament qualifiers from a season ago are back, none more prominent than two-time defending Division II champion Amiya Bowles. The Bexley junior is undefeated in 40 high school matches, and she will try to become the seventh three-time singles champion in state history and the first since Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown’s Lauren Gillinov pulled off the feat from 2014-16.
There has been only one four-time champion, Cincinnati Indian Hill’s Andrea Farley (1985-88).
Last year’s Division II doubles champions, the Columbus Academy duo of Yasemin Bilgin and Arya Chabria, have graduated, as did Division I doubles runners-up Paige Cornelius and Richardlyne Francois of New Albany.
Here are 12 central Ohio girls tennis players to watch this fall:
Tamanna Arya, Columbus Academy
The senior returns at first singles for the Vikings, hoping to build on last year’s 22-8 record and first Division II state tournament appearance. Arya was champion of the Vikings’ home sectional and district runner-up. She also helped Academy to second place in the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association state tournament.
Sophia Bojko, New Albany
A senior coming off her first Division I district tournament berth, Eagles coach Marc Thomas expects Bojko to alternate between singles and doubles with various partners. Bojko was 10-3 between both doubles courts as a junior and finished third at the Pickerington Central sectional.
Amiya Bowles, Bexley
The junior swept through the first half of her high school career, winning all 40 matches in straight sets, including back-to-back Division II state singles championships. Nineteen of those wins came a year ago, when Bowles won her first nine postseason matches by shutout and lost only seven games in the state semifinal and final combined.
Lauren Burkett, Dublin Coffman
Burkett should sit atop the lineup for a deep Shamrocks team after going 24-2 as a junior, including Division I sectional and district championships. Burkett, who won 14 of 15 regular-season matches at No. 2 singles, split two matches at state.
Calleigh Cameron, London
The senior moves up to first singles after going 11-1 at No. 2 a year ago and advancing to within a match of qualifying for the Division II district tournament. Cameron has been on varsity since her freshman season.
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Airi Clements, New Albany
The senior takes over No. 1 singles for the Eagles after the graduations of Cornelius and Francois, who played singles in the regular season and reached the Division I state tournament three times in doubles. Clements was 22-4 as a junior, won the Pickerington Central sectional and split two matches at district.
Soleil Cordell, Olentangy Berlin
Cordell burst onto the scene as a freshman, immediately earning the top singles spot for the Bears and qualifying for the Division I state tournament. Cordell (24-7) placed second at district and advanced to the second round at state.
Nora Grennan, Watkins Memorial
Grennan went 27-6 as a freshman, including 22-3 in singles, but fell one win short of the Division I state tournament. The Warriors’ top singles player again this fall, Grennan was Licking County League champion and Hilliard Bradley sectional runner-up.
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Alice Hawley, Upper Arlington
The senior won 21 matches a year ago, including all 15 at third singles and first doubles, and advanced to the second round of the Division I district tournament in doubles. Hawley and teammate Danielle Ball finished second to UA’s Alexa and Isabella Roth at their home sectional.
Amelia Kunard, Dublin Scioto
The senior first-singles player went 12-4 last season, building on a strong career that has seen her win 23 of 32 matches the past two years and 13 of 14 in OCC-Capital play. She reached district as a freshman in singles and doubles as a sophom*ore.
Avery Reed, Olentangy Orange
The senior went 20-7 last fall, finishing fourth at district and splitting two matches in her Division I state tournament debut. Reed played first singles throughout the year, going 12-4 in the regular season and 5-0 at the UA sectional, and will fill that spot again for the Pioneers.
Alexa Roth, Upper Arlington
The sophom*ore thrived on multiple courts, going 21-5 overall – including 11-2 at second singles – and advancing two rounds into the state tournament in doubles with sister Isabella, a 2024 graduate. The duo won sectional and finished second at district.
dpurpura@dispatch.com
