GIRLS TENNIS: Scranton Prep captures another Class 2A crown; Abington Heights wins eighth straight in Class 3A

WILKES-BARRE – The dynasties in girls’ tennis continue.

Scranton Prep and Abington Heights added to their standard of excellence by once again capturing titles at the District 2 Tennis Team Championship Tournament on Tuesday at Kirby Park.

The two traditional power programs dominated.

Top-seeded Scranton Prep, the Lackawanna League champion, won its fourth consecutive Class 2A title by defeating rival and No. 2 seed Wyoming Seminary, 3-1, in the Class 2A final. The Classics (17-0) will play the District 11 champion on October 21 in the first round of the PIAA tournament.

“As a previous doubles player, to clinch this championship as a singles player was really special,” said Scranton Prep’s Hannah LaCoe, the No. 3 player whose win secured the crown. “It was a crazy feeling, and it was really exciting.”

Abington Heights, the No. 1 seed in Class 3A, powered past third-seeded Wallenpaupack, 3-0, to claim gold medals and a plaque for the eighth straight season. The Lady Comets (17-1) will play the District 3 runner-up on October 21 to start the PIAA playoffs.

“This is so special because there is no next year,” said Abington Heights’ No. 1 player, senior Sona Hanumali, who won her matches in a semifinal win over North Pocono and the final. “I think that I played better in my second match. I had fun today and hit some nice shots.”

The outcomes almost seemed a foregone conclusion, considering the histories of the two teams and their performances throughout the regular season.

After the Classics defeated fourth-seeded Montrose (13-4) in the morning semifinal, 3-0, they got two overpowering performances from veterans Lily Lengyel and Emma Cuck at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.

Both players have been leaders for the Classics on their teams that won the PIAA Class 2A championship in 2023 and reached the PIAA final in 2024.

Lengyel showed off her strength in a 6-1, 6-1 win over Wyoming Seminary’s Addison Priebe. It was an impressive effort considering she did not get to finish a much-anticipated showdown with Montrose’s Cara Evans. That match got halted with Evans holding a one-set lead, but Lengyel leading in the second, 3-1.

“I had to go in and play my best,” Lengyel said. “I stayed on top of my game. I knew it was going to be a tough match. This means a lot to me. I love everyone on this team.”

Cuck continued her steady play, which has made her one of the most reliable winners in Lackawanna League and District 2 history. Her solid forehand and consistent returns led to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Wyoming Seminary’s Cece Pons.

The win, combined with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 victory over Montrose’s Anna Evans in the semifinal round, improved Cuck’s career record to 74-1.

“This means more because we have such a young team,” said Cuck, who has been a starter on four straight championship teams. “Everybody stepped up. I think this proves how good we could be and how we have progressed.

“I think mentally everyone was prepared, and physically we tried our best.”

Wyoming Seminary (16-2) closed the gap when the team of Elisabeth Moules and Kimi Li defeated Gracie James and Donatella DeNaples, 6-1, 6-1.

Scranton Prep’s team of Adithi Velaga and Maci Bulzoni was locked into a tie with Wyoming Seminary’s Kate Minella and Jophie Li, 6-6, in the first set when LaCoe locked down the win by beating Lizzie Weaver, 6-4, 6-2.

“It’s tough to win however many straight games in our league and be WVC champions,” said Wyoming Seminary coach Raphael Cooper, whose team advanced to the final with a 3-0 win over Berwick in the semifinals. “And, it is also tough to lose to Scranton Prep. You have to be proud.

“I think we were a complete team, and I think this should show how complete a team Scranton Prep is. They got us today. I am proud of our girls and proud of District 2 tennis, because we only send one (to states), and Prep is going to go out there and do great.”

Abington Heights, which lost only to Scranton Prep this season, jumped out to an early advantage with Hanumali defeating Wallenpaupack’s Victoria Latek, 6-2, 6-3.

Amishi Amit earned a 6-1, 6-0 win over Olivia Kogan. The Lady Comets’ No. 1 doubles team of Jenna Follansbee and Brielle Crowell defeated Alexis Lopes-Torres and Jenna Petroski, 6-0, 6-4.

Abington Heights advanced to the final with a 4-0 win over No. 4 North Pocono (9-7). Hanumali had a win over Anna Clementoni, 6-2, 6-0; Sammy Rosenstein won at No. 3 singles over Isabella Forgione, 6-0, 6-0; Arp-Phillips defeated Kayleigh Hiza and Kayli McHugh, 6-0, 6-2; and Follansbee-Crowell beat Julia Shandra and Sydney Arnold, 6-1, 6-1.

“I think this is a really good feeling because we all worked so hard,” Rosenstein, a team captain, said.

Wallenpaupack (13-5) upset West Scranton (14-3), 3-2, in the other semifinal. The Lady Buckhorns won their 10th straight match and avenged a 4-1 loss from the regular season.

Cykosky and Feller defeated West Scranton’s Nora Frounfelker and Nina Emiliani, 7-6 (3), 6-4; Ezzo beat Chiara Pugliese, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3 singles; and Latek beat Katie Fahey, 6-1, 6-1, to lead Wallenpaupack.

“It felt awesome,” Latek said. “I played her before, and it was a lot closer. The match was 2-2, and I really tried my hardest, and I left everything out on the court. This means a lot to me because I am a senior, and I really wanted to make the final, especially because we were seeded third. We wanted to go out and prove that we deserved to be here.”

DISTRICT 2 TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLASS 2A

Semifinals

2-Wyoming Seminary 3, 6-Berwick 0

Singles: Priebe (SEM) vs. Hestor (BER), 6-3, 2-0 (match halted). Pons (SEM) vs. Lear (BER), 6-3, 2-1 (match halted). Weaver (SEM) over Post, 6-0, 6-0; Doubles: Minella-J. Li (SEM) over Holloway-Marshman, 6-1, 6-0. Moules-K. Li (SEM) over Calarco-Ashworth, 6-0, 6-2; Records: SEM 16-1, BER 11-4.

1-Scranton Prep 3, 4-Montrose 0

Singles: C. Evans (MON) vs. Lengyel (SP), 7-5, 1-3 (match halted). Cuck (SP) over A. Evans, 6-4, 6-4. LaCoe (SP) over E. Tillotson, 6-3, 6-2; Doubles: Velaga-Bulzoni (SP) vs. Smith-A. Tillotson (MON), 6-3, 5-3 (match halted). James-DeNaples (SP) over Welch-Schell, 6-3, 6-2; Records: SP 16-0, MON 13-4.

Final

1-Scranton Prep 3, 2-Wyoming Seminary 1

Singles: Lengyel (SP) over Priebe, 6-1, 6-1. Cuck (SP) over Pons, 6-1, 6-0. LaCoe (SP) over Weaver, 6-4, 6-2; Doubles: Velaga-Bulzoni (SP) vs. Minella-J. Li, 6-6 (3) (match halted). Moules-K. Li (SEM) over James-DeNaples, 6-1, 6-1; Records: SP 17-0, SEM 16-2.

CLASS 3A

Semifinals

3-Wallenpaupack 3, 2-West Scranton 2

Singles: Latek (WAL) over Fahey, 6-1, 6-2. Farkaly (WS) over Kogan, 6-1, 6-1. Ezzo (WAL) over Pugliese, 6-0, 6-0; Doubles: Cykosky-Feller (WAL) over Frounfelker-Emiliani, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Heffron-Fiorillo (WS) over Lopes-Torres and Petroski, 6-3, 6-4; Records: WAL 13-4, WS 14-3.

1-Abington Heights 4, North Pocono 0

Singles: Hanumali (AH) over A. Clementoni, 6-2, 6-0. Amit (AH) vs. C. Forgione (NP), 6-0, 5-4 (match halted). Rosenstein (AH) over I. Forgione, 6-0, 6-0; Doubles: Arp-Phillips (AH) over Hiza-McHugh, 6-0, 6-2. Follansbee-Crowell (AH) over Shandra-Arnold, 6-1, 6-1; Records: AH 16-1, NP 9-7.

Final

1-Abington Heights 3, 3-Wallenpaupack, 0

Singles: Hanumali (AH) over Latek, 6-2, 6-3. Amit (AH) over Kogan, 6-1, 6-0. Rosenstein (AH) vs. Ezzo (WAL), 6-2, 2-1 (match halted); Doubles: Cykosky-Feller (WAL) vs. Arp-Phillips (AH), 7-5, 1-6 (match halted). Follansbee-Crowell (AH) over Lopes-Torres and Petroski, 6-0, 6-4; Records: AH 17-1, WAL 13-5.