2021 All-Shawnee County girls tennis team -- Front row, from left: Nina Del-Zio, Seaman; Mena DiMarzio, Washburn Rural; Meredith Kucera, Washburn Rural; Sheriden Wichman, Washburn Rural; Lauren Sweeney, Seaman; Ainzley Zulueta, Hayden; Emily Sheetz, Hayden; Haley Carpenter, Topeka High. Back row, from left: Kate Fritz, Washburn Rural; Shelby Schmutzler, Washburn Rural; Hailey Beck, Washburn Rural; Grace Unruh, Seaman; Lauren Sandstrom, Hayden; Adisyn Caryl, Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman state doubles champions Grace Unruh and Lauren Sweeney and Hayden singles champ Ainzley Zulueta headline the 2021 All-Shawnee County girls tennis team, which includes nine state medalists.
Unruh, a senior, and junior Sweeney capped a perfect 36-0 season with the Class 5A state doubles championship Saturday at Emporia while freshman Zulueta finished off a 35-5 season with a 4A state singles title at Winfield.
Washburn Rural placed all six of its varsity players on the All-Shawnee County team after sweeping team championships in the city, Centennial League and 6A regional tournaments.
The Junior Blues got ninth-place finishes in the 6A state tournament from senior singles player Sheriden Wichman and the junior doubles team of Kate Fritz and Meredith Kucera while senior Shelby Schmutzler and junior Hailey Beck made it to state in doubles and sophomore Mena DiMarzio advanced in singles.
Hayden's doubles team of sophomore Lauren Sandstrom and freshman Emily Sheetz placed seventh in the 4A state tournament, helping the Wildcats win the third-place team trophy, while Seaman junior Nina Del-Zio earned a 5A state medal with an 11th-place finish in singles.
Topeka High juniors Haley Carpenter and Adisyn Caryl made the All-City team after advancing to the 6A state tournament for the second straight season as doubles partners. Caryl has made it to state three straight years in doubles.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
HAILEY BECK, Washburn Rural -- Beck, a junior, teamed with Shelby Schmutzler to earn a Class 6A state doubles berth with a second-place regional finish. Beck and Schmutzler were the city champions in No. 2 doubles and finished third in doubles in the Centennial League meet.
HALEY CARPENTER, Topeka High -- A junior, Carpenter and Adisyn Caryl made it to the 6A state tournament for the second straight season as doubles partners, finishing fourth in 6A regional competition. Carpenter and Caryl also finished fourth in the city in No. 1 doubles and fourth in the Centennial League.
ADISYN CARYL, Topeka High -- Caryl, a junior, and Carpenter qualified for the 6A state tournament for the second straight season, finishing fourth in 6A regional competition. Caryl, a three-time state qualifier, and Carpenter finished fourth in the city in No. 1 doubles and fourth in the Centennial League in doubles.
NINA DEL-ZIO, Seaman -- In her first season at Seaman, Del-Zio, a junior, earned a 5A state medal with an 11th-place singles finish, helping the Vikings finish fifth as a team. Del-Zio won a regional title in singles, placed third in the city meet in No. 1 singles and fourth in the Centennial League in singles.
MENA DiMARZIO, Washburn Rural -- A sophomore, DiMarzio made it to the 6A state tournament in her first season on Washburn Rural's varsity with a fifth-place regional finsh in singles. DiMarzio was the city champion in No. 2 singles and was fourth in the Centennial League in singles.
KATE FRITZ, Washburn Rural -- Fritz, a junior, teamed with Meredith Kucera to win a 6A regional doubles championship and placed ninth in the 6A state tournament. Fritz and Kucera finished second in the city meet in No. 1 doubles and second in the Centennial League in doubles.
MEREDITH KUCERA, Washburn Rural -- A junior, Kucera partnered with Fritz to place ninth in 6A state doubles after winning a 6A regional championship. Fritz and Kucera also finished second in the city meet in No. 1 doubles and second in the Centennial League in doubles.
LAUREN SANDSTROM, Hayden -- Sandstrom, a sophomore, and freshman Emily Sheetz capped their 2021 season with a seventh-place finish in 4A doubles, helping the Wildcats finish third as a team. Sandstrom and Sheetz won a regional title after finishing third in the city meet in No. 1 doubles.
SHELBY SCHMUTZLER, Washburn Rural -- Schmutzler, a senior, teamed with Beck to advance to the Class 6A state tournament with a second-place regional finish. Schmutzler and Beck were the city champions in No. 2 doubles and finished third in doubles in the Centennial League meet.
EMILY SHEETZ, Hayden -- Sheetz, a freshman, and Sandstrom posted a seventh-place state finish in 4A doubles, helping the Wildcats finish third as a team. Sheetz and Sandstrom won a regional championship after finishing third in the city meet in No. 1 doubles.
LAUREN SWEENEY, Seaman -- A junior, Sweeney and Grace Unruh posted a perfect 36-0 doubles record en route to the 5A state championship. Sweeney and Unruh swept city, Centennial League and regional doubles titles for the second straight season. Sweeney and Unruh were fourth at state in 2020.
GRACE UNRUH, Seaman -- Unruh, a senior, and Sweeney earned the 5A state doubles championship with a perfect 36-0 record. Unruh and Sweeney swept city, Centennial League and regional doubles titles for the second straight season. Unruh and Sweeney were fourth at state in 2020.
SHERIDEN WICHMAN, Washburn Rural -- Wichman capped her senior season with a ninth-place singles finish in the 6A state tournament, earning the second state medal of her high school career. Wichman placed second in the city in No. 1 singles, third in the Centennial League and second at regionals.
AINZLEY ZULUETA, Hayden -- Zulueta turned in an outstanding freshman season, capturing the 4A state singles title and going 35-5 on the season. Zulueta was the city champ in No. 1 singles, placed second to 6A state champ Jill Harkin in the Centennial League and won a regional championship.
