Lady Wildcats Open Season With Strong Win at Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – The Central Mountain girls tennis team opened the 2025 season on a high note Monday, defeating Selinsgrove 4-1 on the road despite playing without their No. 1 player and reigning state singles champion, Addison Lindsay.

The Wildcats’ youthful lineup featured two freshmen, four sophomores, and one senior, but they showed poise. Freshman sisters Lucy and Lane Walker stepped into the top two singles spots and delivered in their varsity debuts. Lucy earned a hard-fought win over Alexis Hoot 6-4, 7-5, while Lane posted a steady 6-2, 6-2 victory against Talia Mowery. Sophomore Kassie Williams made quick work at No. 3 singles, blanking Nicole Webster 6-0, 6-0.

In doubles, Audra Eaton and Tess Akeley added to the team tally with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Madison Maneval and Anna Young. Selinsgrove secured its lone point at No. 2 doubles, where Ashlyn Lehman and Emily Longacre battled back to top Leah Wian and Kylee Markle in a tiebreaker, 6-7 (7-3), 6-0, 10-6.

Coach Tom Zettle was pleased with how his young squad handled the pressure. “Very happy with the way the girls played on Monday. Several girls made great comebacks after being down a game or two,” Zettle said. “All the girls kept their composure throughout the entire match, which is difficult to do sometimes, especially with as young of a team as we have.”

The JV squad also found success, winning four of five abbreviated doubles matches. Erin Thompson and Erin Packer won 4-1, Meilin Talbot and Issabella Parker earned a 4-1 victory, Zoe McElroy and Amelia Svederus won 4-0, and Sofia Neitz teamed with Talbot for a 4-2 win.

Central Mountain now turns its attention to Wednesday’s trip to Hollidaysburg for what is expected to be another tough test.