For New Hanover girls tennis star Sophia Catino, history is just one piece of the cake.
The Wildcats standout entered her senior season this fall already standing tall as one of New Hanover County’s most accomplished female athletes of all time. However, for the UNCW signee, the numbers were just a byproduct of having fun.
“Before every match, I would remind myself to have fun,” Catino said of her senior season. “I put a lot of pressure on myself, but (Having fun) is where it all started.”
Catino capped off her high school career at New Hanover by going 31-2 overall, leading the Wildcats to their 100th consecutive conference victory, and helping bring the first girls tennis state championship banner to Brogden Hall. She earns her fourth consecutive StarNews All-Area Girls Tennis Player of the Year honor.
LEGACY How these two New Hanover girls tennis stars keep shining
The senior went 11-2 at No. 1 singles, falling once early in the season and then retiring after suffering an injury late in the year. Her perfect performance at No. 1 singles in the Wildcats’ regular-season finale win over Hoggard helped the team reach the century mark in consecutive conference victories, a record that spans back to 2017.
New Hanover wrapped up the regular season 16-2 and went three rounds deep into the state playoffs, where it fell 5-4 to Broughton. The loss comes a year after the team’s first dual-team state championship appearance in school history.
While Catino’s records and legacy at New Hanover will undoubtedly last for years, moments like pairing with teammate and close friend Hanna Davis to win a state championship will never fade.
“It was unreal,” she said of the achivement. “It showed everyone what New Hanover girls tennis is made of and set a strong example of what you can do if you really work hard.”
2024 StarNews All-Area Girls Tennis Player of the Year: Sophia Catino, New Hanover
Catino left no doubt regarding the title of New Hanover County’s greatest high school girls tennis player. The UNCW signee led the Wildcats to their fourth straight Mideastern Conference title, compiled a career record of 138-11 across all competitions, and teamed up with fellow New Hanover senior Hanna Davis to claim the 4A doubles state title.
2024 StarNews All-Area Girls Tennis: First Team
Hanna Davis, Sr., New Hanover: The Sewanee signee was 13-0 at No. 2 singles and 11-0 at No. 1 doubles for the Wildcats this fall. She teamed up with Catino to claim the 4A doubles state title, the first in program history.
Taylor Garriott, Jr., Cape Fear Academy: The Hurricanes’ leader went 11-3 at No. 1 singles and helped Cape Fear claim a fourth consecutive NCISAA state championship. The Hurricanes were the only area squad to defeat New Hanover this season.
Karli Hartman, Sr., Topsail: Hartman led the Pirates to a second-place Mideastern Conference finish, going 12-5 at No. 1 singles and finishing the season 23-9 overall.
Elizabeth Sifly, Soph., New Hanover: The Wildcats’ sophomore went 36-6 overall on the year, collecting 11 wins at No. 3 singles and another 14 in doubles.
Carys Subach, Jr., South Brunswick: The Cougars star went 9-1 at No. 1 singles across all competitions this fall.
Hailey Schreiber, Sr., Hoggard: The Vikings’ top player helped Hoggard to a third-place MEC finish, going 9-7 in singles.
2024 StarNews All-Area Girls Tennis: Second Team
Rynley Elvington, Cape Fear Academy; Kiara Haasbroek, Coastal Christian; Analise Garner, Laney; Cayden Persichetti, Topsail; Kate Bennington, Hoggard; Emma Miller Buchanan, New Hanover; Laurryen Lennon, Laney; Gunnie Becham, Cape Fear Academy; Evie Munroe, Coastal Christian;
All-Mideastern Conference
Co-Players of the Year: Sophia Catino and Hanna Davis, New Hanover
Coach of the Year: Jenifer Coleman, New Hanover
Team Sportsmanship: Ashley
First Team
Analise Garner, Laney; Karli Hartman, Topsail; Cayden Persichetti, Topsail; Hailey Schreiber, Hoggard; Elizabeth Sifly, New Hanover; Carys Subach, South Brunswick
Second Team
Kate Bennington, Hoggard; Virginia Breeden, Topsail; Emma Miller Buchanan, New Hanover; Kathryn Hildreth, Hoggard; Laurryen Lennon, Laney; Kendall Mills, Topsail
Third Team
Audrey Bobo, Hoggard; Emily Cox, North Brunswick; Hannah Cumbee, West Brunswick; Elizabeth Lewis, New Hanover; Reagan Norris, Ashley; Avery Ward, Laney
Honorable Mention
Ashley: Kyla Bartlett
Hoggard: Allie Sauer, Mia Neuwirth
Laney: Bentley Waldkirch, Haydie Cain, Camryn Lennon
New Hanover: Susan Davis, Maggie Hooks, Blair Mickle, Carson McWhorter
North Brunswick: Amelia Bush, Anni Shaw South Brunswick: Julia Wagaman, Alexis Albertson, Opal Boehmer, Lana Harden
Topsail: Reed Garofano, Georgia Ford, Avery White
West Brunswick: Kimberly Bart, Abigail Davis, Finn Gorrit
NCISAA All-State
Taylor Garriott, Cape Fear Academy
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 2024 StarNews All-Area Girls Tennis Wilmington, NC
