Picking the apical 4 5A tennis programs successful Southern Nevada is simply a elemental task. Predicting the authorities champion is overmuch much difficult.
Although determination are immoderate morganatic extracurricular challengers, Bishop Gorman, Coronado, Faith Lutheran and Palo Verde are again poised to conflict it retired for different title this season.
Though Palo Verde enjoyed a play of dominance, Coronado’s girls ended the Panthers’ five-year title streak past season, and Faith Lutheran’s boys person taken power by winning the past 2 titles.
This season’s representation could go much wide connected Aug. 21, erstwhile each 4 of the apical boys and girls teams look disconnected for the Vegas Cup Invitational astatine Bishop Gorman.
Girls
Coronado manager David Willingham said 2025 was a breakthrough twelvemonth for his program, arsenic the Cougars had not won a rubric since 2018.
“Last twelvemonth (the players) thought they could bash it,” helium said. “They knew successful their hearts that they had the ability. And present they are a batch much confident.”
But helium is alert of the parity betwixt the apical 4 teams and is informing his players not to go overconfident.
“I accent to them that this is simply a caller season,” Willingham said. “Anything tin happen, and they cognize it. You tin person immoderate large players, but if you don’t sacrifice for the greater good, things tin get benignant of dicey.”
Yes, Willingham has the unit to repeat. Among his apical players this play volition beryllium Bella Gallegos and Gigi Smart (2025 authorities doubles champions), Erika Gallegos (2025 authorities singles runner-up), and squad skipper Elyse Rygg.
Faith Lutheran manager Keith Fridrich said it’s excessively aboriginal to number different teams out, and helium feels his girls person the momentum to enactment up a battle.
“We person continually gotten person to Palo Verde and Coronado,” helium said. “And past twelvemonth we were capable to bushed Gorman.”
Other players to ticker see 2025 singles titlist Remi Rice of Palo Verde, Clark’s Ayaka Sugai, and Gorman’s Leilani Raymond, Camila Perez and Victoria Perez.
Boys
Fridrich’s squad has won 2 consecutive boys championships, leaving him to manager a delicate equilibrium betwixt pridefulness and overconfidence.
“(The players) cognize what they’ve done,” helium said. “They’ve seen the banners and they cognize we person a modular to unrecorded up to. They person a work to play to that standard, and they cognize each twelvemonth comes with caller challenges.”
Five of his 9 players from past play return, including Michael Bergin, who won Las Vegas Review-Journal archetypal squad honors past twelvemonth aft sweeping each 3 of his captious contests successful the Crusaders’ 10-4 authorities title triumph implicit top-seeded Palo Verde. Tyson Young and David Gluth besides instrumentality from that title team.
But Fridrich said respective of his younger players volition request to measurement up to springiness the squad an constituent of depth.
“Depth is however you triumph precocious schoolhouse matches,” said Fridrich, who warned that Clark, Arbor View and Shadow Ridge besides look beardown this season. “Some of our younger guys are going to person to measurement up to higher roles successful the lineup.”
Among others boys to ticker are Coronado’s defending authorities singles champion Lucas Rago, and Coronado’s Ishaan Shroff and Jack Merritt.
Nonleague play begins this week, with Coronado hosting The Meadows astatine 4 p.m. Thursday to unfastened action.
Contact Jeff Wollard astatine jwollard@reviewjournal.com.
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