Ava Mathur established herself as the area’s best as just a freshman.
Now a senior, her body of work speaks volumes in itself. A tireless worker, a passion for improvement, a drive that pushes her each day and a chip on her shoulder that powered her through matches and past opponents.
When the dust cleared this fall at the Div. I state tennis tournament, it capped a career not seen in recent memory for the Wooster Generals or for the area.
Mathur wrapped up a career record of 115-26 with a final campaign that saw her post a 29-7 record against some of the best competition in the state. She is a four-time OCC champion, a three-time state qualifier and even bigger this fall, she was a natural leader and mentor for the youth around her.
One of the most impressive feats wasn’t just her on court play, but it was the marked improvement of the play around her by her teammates. Her willingness to teach, willingness to be there, offer advice and mentor them through the area’s most brutal schedule with an eye on the prize.
In the end, when Hailey Jung finished fourth at districts, it proved how much it paid off as the team thrived down the stretch.
“Ava really embodied what a coach is looking for, not only is she skilled, but she is devoted, works all year to get better and better, that’s infectious,” said Wooster coach Cordell Smith. “When other teammates see that, they see her leading the warmup, how she handles herself, it rubs off on them. she never complains about anything, never content with her play, she is through and through a competitor, a leader, a role model, she built relationships with her teammates, she was purposeful with that, whether she won or lost, she was always there with the team.”
That perfect combination of drive, willingness to teach and success is why Mathur was selected as The Daily Record Girls Tennis Player of the Year.
Finalist for Player of the Year
Hailey Jung, Wooster: Quiet, but steadily improved and showed a knack for being able to deliver some key wins this past season. Just a sophomore, Jung developed her game and evolved into the area’s second-best singles player with a strong serve, powerful play at the net, great on court decision making and finished with a record 22-11.
Alyssa Rae-McIntosh, Wooster: Another sophomore in this talented Wooster lineup, Rae-McIntosh developed as the season wore on and really rounded out the starting singles lineup. Playing against the area’s toughest slate of games, she will only continue to improve next year, is already among the areas best at singles, finished 14-9 and was the OCC Champion at third singles.
Coach of the Year
Cordell Smith, Wooster: Having the area’s best player, doesn’t always mean team success, but this past season, Smith translated that perfectly. Featuring a young lineup outside of Mathur with two sophomores, Smith kept the area’s most brutal schedule and it paid dividends as his two sophomores developed and evolved and his doubles teams were among the area’s best.
Under his guidance, Smith’s Wooster squad won their fifth-straight Ohio Cardinal Conference Title, beating powers like Lexington and Ashland, which his scheduling could have been the difference. With a belief that ‘iron sharpens iron’ he lived by challenging his players to get better, to improve their game and become more complete players. In the end, the team reaped the rewards as they saw two singles players advance to districts and his doubles team just miss the cut for districts.
First Team (alphabetical order by last name)
Elizabeth France, Wooster (SO): Skilled singles player, played doubles this past year, grew her game and thrived with Megan Wyneski
Stats: 12-6 at doubles, OCC Champions, finished in Elite 8 at sectionals
Abigail Sines, Chippewa (JU): Strong singles player and has established herself as one of the best in the NET
Stats: 20-3 overall record, runner-up in the NET, finished in Elite 8 at sectionals
Megan Wyneski, Wooster (SR): Calm leader, patient on the attack, strong net play and teaming with France was lethal
Stats: 12-6 at doubles, OCC Champions, finished in Elite 8 at sectionals
Honorable Mention
Nadia Cascarelli (Wooster), Arora Chaney (West Holmes), Lily Fedorchak (Triway), Brionna Fuller (Wooster), Kara Jones (Central Christian), Clara Kirkhart (Chippewa), Brylie Rickley (West Holmes), Ella Wallace (Orrville) and Alaina Yeagley (Orrville)
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: 2024 All-Daily Record girls tennis team
