Shawnee Township, OH — The Shawnee girls’ tennis program has achieved an unprecedented season, remaining undefeated in all 14 of its dual matches and securing the Western Buckeye League Championship. The team is now one victory away from advancing to the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association (OTCA) Division II Team State Tournament, according to coach Jeff Arthur.
So far this season, the Shawnee team has won all 14 of its dual matches without any player experiencing a loss. Beyond dual competition, the Indians also claimed victory in all three regular-season tournaments they entered. Their dominance extended to the Western Buckeye League, where they finished 9-0 in league duals and won all championship brackets at the WBL Tournament. This unblemished record has positioned Shawnee to potentially make team history.
Shawnee is scheduled to face Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic on Tuesday, October 6th, at 4:30 p.m. on its home courts. Should there be inclement weather, the match will be relocated indoors to Westwood Tennis and Fitness Center. The victor of this critical match will earn a spot in the Team State Tournament, slated for October 17th at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason.
Coach Jeff Arthur remarked on the rarity of the team’s performance. He stated that going through the entire season without any team member losing a dual match was "kind of unheard of." He added that while strong individual players are common, this team-wide perfection is "pretty amazing." Arthur also noted that he does not believe the Shawnee girls have ever qualified for the Team State Tournament, nor has he heard of any other local girls' teams achieving this feat.
Leading the team at first singles is sophomore Lila Brennan, who boasts a perfect 14-0 record in dual matches and a 25-0 overall mark, which includes tournament play and the initial day of OHSAA sectionals. Brennan expressed confidence in her team, stating she was "not really surprised" by their success given how hard her teammates worked throughout the winter and season. She credits her teammates for motivating her to improve as both a player and a person.
Junior Alivia Mack has maintained a perfect record at second singles, achieving a 14-0 dual record and a 25-0 overall mark for the season. In third singles, junior Riya Naroor also holds a perfect 14-0 dual record, with an overall season record of 24-1.
Shawnee’s doubles teams have also delivered strong performances. The first doubles duo of junior Jia Panchal and freshman Hannah Cox has an undefeated 14-0 record in duals and a 24-1 overall record. Cox, who plays tennis year-round, mentioned that "this is the only sport that I play." Both Panchal and Cox expressed hopes of making a strong run at the state tournament.
In second doubles, senior Leah Fuller and sophomore Hadassah Smith have teamed up, recording a 14-0 dual record. Fuller’s overall record stands at 23-0, while Smith's is 22-1. Smith highlighted the team’s dedication to improvement, stating they play year-round because they enjoy the sport and "want to get better at it."
In recent individual competition, the Shawnee team participated in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II sectional tournament. Lila Brennan and Alivia Mack qualified for the district tournament in doubles. Additionally, Jia Panchal and Hannah Cox advanced to the district tournament in doubles, and Riya Naroor qualified for districts in singles. The sectional tournament had not been completed at the time this information was reported.
The team, through consistent dedication and strong performances from every player, aims to secure its place in the state tournament, a milestone that Coach Arthur indicates would be significant for the program and the local area.
