July 12, 2025
Sports - Kendall County
Sports

Girls Tennis: Previewing teams from around Kendall County

By Joshua Welge

Maykayla Buenafe, who won the Southwest Prairie Conference singles title last year and qualified for state, is back to lead the Oswego East tennis team. (Shaw Media)

The girls tennis season gets started this week. Here are previews of teams from around Kendall County.

OSWEGO EAST

Coach: Peter Conrad

Top players: Makayla Buenafe, sr.; Crystal Hwang, sr.; Jasmine Chan, so.; Caitlin Carmody, jr.; Lilli Price, jr.; Sofia Calafos, so.; Kate Lindsay, so; Gloria Echegoyen, sr.; Molly Gardner, fr.; Ella Funk, sr.; Grace Thompson, sr.

Outlook: Buenafe, last year's Kendall County Newspapers Player of the Year, is back at No. 1 singles to anchor the Wolves' lineup. Last year, she won 26 matches and the Southwest Prairie Conference No. 1 singles title to lead Oswego East to its seventh team title in nine years, and qualified for state for the first time. Hwang gets a new partner with Chan at No. 1 doubles. "They look like they have been partners for a long time and have a solid net game," coach Peter Conrad said. Carmody and Price are at No. 2 doubles, long-time friends with good chemistry. Calafos and Lindsay are new to varsity have made great strides and slot at No. 3 doubles. Echegoyen and Gardner will likely team up at No. 4 doubles. Funk makes the move from No. 3 to No. 2 singles and brings a consistent, calm approach. Thompson will use her speed and consistency to fill out the singles lineup.

"The girls have worked very hard this week and understand that winning doesn't come easy," Conrad said. "We are looking for our third conference title in a row and eight out of the last 10. It will be a lot of hard work, but they all understand that we are lucky to be playing right now and they are not taking it for granted!"

YORKVILLE

Coach: Frank Yabsley

Top players: Sarah Pankow, sr.; Nicola Betz, sr.; Loren Wood, sr.; Jenny Lietz, jr.; Bea Strebel, sr.; Elissa Gates, sr.; Brooke LaFollette, sr.; Anabella Nuzzo, sr.; Alana Burger, jr.; Ashlee Dasenbrock, jr.; Kaitlyn Garrick, jr.; Kylie May, jr.; Brittany Pomierski, jr.; Elizabeth Taylor, jr.; Alyssa Waller, jr.

Outlook: Ashley Hatch, second at No. 1 singles in the SPC last year, has graduated, but Pankow and Betz are back to lead a Foxes team that finished fourth in conference. Pankow was conference champion at No. 2 singles and Betz, in her first year playing tennis, placed third in conference at No. 3 singles. Those two will move up to No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, with Wood and Lietz competing for the No. 3 slot. Doubles have yet to be determined, with Strebel, Gates, LaFollette and Nuzzo among those vying for spots.

"We will be very competitive at singles play with double being the key to another outstanding season," coach Frank Yabsley said.