After a perfect season in 2016, in which she remained undefeated for 23 matches, Lahari Yelamanchili ‘19 claimed the 2A singles title in the state tournament. However, Yelamanchili has not committed to play LT tennis this year, and may only return if needed near the end of the season.

“This year I am trying to focus on my game with my regular coaches,” Yelamanchili said. “I need to be more aggressive with my game. I’m just working on moving forward.”

Yelamanchili is playing individual tennis tournaments against different people around the country through the United States Tennis Association (USTA), she said.

She is trying to build upon her skills so she can compete in international tournaments and improve her national ranking in hopes of receiving a college scholarship, LT girls varsity head coach Bill Wham said.

“Last year when we walked out there, we had the two best singles players in the state, Jelly Bozovic ‘17 and Lahari, so we were set,” Wham said. “This year we don’t have the strength at the top to do that. We just don’t.”

Wham currently has his players focusing solely on singles matches because that is where they lack strength, mainly due to the loss of Yelamanchili, he said.

“I don’t have one singles player out here, not one, that can play with [Yelamanchili],” Wham said. “I only have one really strong singles player and that’s Joie Reisch ‘18. She’s given it a lot of effort, and now hopefully it will come through.”

Co-captain Reisch is expected to score well for the team over the course of the season in hopes to fill Yelamanchili’s shoes, Wham said. She has been constantly improving, and is now looking for a scholarship to play in college.

“I think we have some strong players who were working hard this summer, and some players that made a huge jump in improving their game,” Reisch said. “Everyone is really energetic and excited to be playing.”

This year, tryout numbers were low compared to past years. While the varsity team has full numbers with 14 players, the JV team only has 10 players, whereas in previous years it has had 16-18 players, Wham said.

“A lot of it probably has to do with team sports,” Wham said. “That’s taking some kids from us because [tennis] is set up as a team by position, but when they go on the court they’re individuals and some kids don’t want to put the time in and the effort to succeed at that level.”

Tennis is a cut sport at LT, however no cuts were made this season, Wham said. It’s the feeder programs and other activities that are hurting LT’s program. The numbers this year won’t be a problem, but if they continue to decrease, it will become concerning.

“Overall, the level is pretty high,” co-captain Mattigan Kelly ‘18 said. “We are still going to be pretty good this year, but we definitely will have a long way to go.”

Last year, LT’s girls tennis team finished second in the IHSA state tournament. This year, the team is working hard to get one singles player and one doubles team to qualify for state, Wham said.

“I think we have a good chance of getting all our players to qualify [for state] if we keep it up with the solid effort and enthusiasm,” Reisch said.

The team’s next away meet is against Lake Forest on Sept. 23. The next home meet is on Sept. 26 against their biggest competitors, Hinsdale Central.