By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County girls tennis players to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.
ANNIE HENDERSON, Washburn Rural
A junior, Henderson was an All-City honoree last fall after teaming with Alizah Alvarez-Chedzoy to win the city title in No. 2 doubles. Henderson and Alvarez-Chedzoy placed fifth in Class 6A regional competition to qualifiy for state and posted a 2-2 record in the state tournament to finish 9-2 on the season.
KAYLYN HIEBSCH, Seaman
Hiebsch, a senior, teamed with Cadence Speer to finish second in the 2025 city meet in No. 2 doubles and Hiebsch and Speer also finished third in doubles in the United Kansas Conference and fourth at regionals as the Vikings swept city, UKC and regional team titles before finishing second in Class 5A.
BRIDGET HOOPES, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Hoopes finished third in the city tournament in No. 2 singles and qualified for the Class 6A state tournament in singles as Washburn Rural captured a 6A regional team championship.
LANA HULL, Hayden
Hull turned in a big freshman season last fall, capped by a seventh-place singles finish in the Class 4A state tournament for the third-place Wildcats. Hull finished second in the city tournament in No. 2 singles before placing fourth in singles in the Centennial League and third in regional competition.
Julia Katzer, Washburn Rural
JULIA KATZER, Washburn Rural
Katzer, a senior, teamed with Halle Owen to win the city title in No. 1 doubles and a Class 6A regional doubles championship. Katzer and Owen helped lead the Junior Blues to a regional team title and finished their season with a 26-6 record.
Camryn Lux, Seaman
CAMRYN LUX, Seaman
A senior, Lux teamed with Peyton Henry to finish second in the city meet in No. 1 doubles before the duo went on to earn the United Kansas Conference doubles championship, post a third-place regional finish and place seventh in the Class 5A state tournament. Lux, who went 28-7 on the year, helped the Vikings sweep city, UKC and regional team titles before Seaman finished second as a team in the 5A state tournament.
Halle Owen, Washburn Rural
HALLE OWEN, Washburn Rural
Owen, a senior, teamed with Julia Katzer to win the city title in No. 1 doubles and a Class 6A regional doubles championship. Owen and Katzer helped lead the Junior Blues to a regional team title and finished their season with a 26-6 record.
Madilyn Poole, Cair Paravel Latin
MADILYN POOLE, Cair Paravel Latin
A senior, Poole posted a third-place singles finish in the Class 3A-1A state tournament last fall, capping a 19-3 season. Poole finished third in the city tournament in No. 1 singles before winning a regional singles championship. An All-City honoree, Poole scored all of Cair Paravel's 12 points in the state meet as the Lions finished seventh.
CADENCE SPEER, Seaman
A senior, Speer teamed with Kaylyn Hiebsch to finish second in the city meet in No. 2 doubles and Speer and Hiebsch also finished third in doubles in the United Kansas Conference and fourth at regionals as the Vikings swept city, UKC and regional titles before finishing second in Class 5A.
Emma Sweeney, Seaman
EMMA SWEENEY, Seaman
Sweeney, a senior, finished a career-high second place in singles in the 2025 Class 5A state tournament, leading the Vikings to a runnerup team finish. A three-time state medalist, Sweeney swept city, United Kansas Conference and 5A regional singles titles as Seaman swept all three team championships. Sweeney went 30-2 on the season, with both losses coming against 5A state champ Mia Jaramillo of Andover.
Sophia Wichman, Hayden
SOPHIA WICHMAN, Hayden
After teaming with then-senior Emily Sheetz to finish second in doubles in the Class 4A state tournament as a freshman in 2024 for the 4A team-champion Wildcats, Wichman teamed with Avery O'Bray to finish 10th in 4A doubles last fall. Wichman and O'Bray finished third in the Centennial League and won a 4A regional title.
