Hero Treatment
Team Name
V Girls Tennis
Team Overview
Team Photo
2023 Girls Tennis
Front Row: Kaylee Simonetti, Gracie McCuan, Kate Wenzlik, Leah Clark, Lilly Bramer, Jenna Harris
Second Row: Lydia Pulos, Melissa Mora Robles, Anna Ribovich, Carolyn Rinaldi, Kate Cihlar, Campbell Miller, Charlotte Gilbert, Kaitlyn Llewellyn, Julia Eckart
Back Row: Coach Claudia Miles, Haley Slay, Johanna Ciborek, Molly Maltempi, Michelle Ganza Twizere, Coach Gary Innes, Karlie Nicolae, Kamryn Magaw, Alexis Ponikvar, Maura Sneath, Coach Marcy Nicolaey
Oct. 20, 2022
There is no substitute for experience.
Hoban’s Haley Slay learned that firsthand last year when she qualified for the Division II girls state tennis tournament, one of only three freshmen who made the field of 16. Her first match pitted her against defending champion Macy Hitchcock of Eaton, and ended in a 6-0, 6-1 defeat. Hitchcock would go on to win the state singles championship for the second year in a row.
This weekend, an older, stronger, and battle-tested Slay will make a return trip to Mason for the Division II state tournament. Her first match begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday at Lindner Family Tennis Center. This time, Slay will be the one with experience on her side. She will take on freshman Martha Sophia Thompson from Cincinnati Christian Hills Academy.
The sophomore is excited for another opportunity to compete on the biggest stage in Ohio high school tennis.
“Last year I lost in the first round to the girl who won,” Slay said. “It was a cool experience, but it was weird because I was just so nervous going into it. I didn’t know what to expect. But I’m playing a freshman this year in the first round. So I know that she’ll probably have the same nerves that I did last year. I just feel more confident going into it this year.”
If Slay wins her first match, she will have another match on Friday for the opportunity to advance to the state semifinals. The semifinals and finals will take place on Saturday.
Unlike sectional and district play, the state tournament often features players who are mostly unfamiliar with each other. This requires Slay to focus more on her game and have a plan for what adjustments might be needed during a match. Sometimes, that can be easier than playing a familiar opponent.
“I’m going in with a clean slate, and I feel like it kind of takes the edge off,” Slay said. “It’s a weird feeling playing people you know. In the match to go to state that I had at districts, I played one of my best friends. So it’s different preparing for those matches where I don’t really know the person.”
Hoban head coach Gary Innes has seen Slay show tremendous growth from her freshman to sophomore year, both physically and mentally.
“She is stronger, she moves better, and she hits the ball harder,” he said. “She is showing a lot more maturity and belief in herself. That comes from experience.”
Slay is an aggressive player who plays with power. Her serve is her biggest weapon and sets up the rest of her game.
“Usually my serve is my best shot because I can hit it pretty hard,” she said. “When my serve is on, usually the rest of my game is on. As long as I am getting the majority of my serves in, I think that’s really going to help me this weekend.”
Innes agreed with that assessment but believes there are intangibles that make Slay an even better player, and one who can be dangerous this weekend.
“What she doesn’t get a lot of credit for is that she's a fighter,” he said. “She has struggled with migraines and has been able to overcome that within matches and beat some tough players. She has tremendous determination and grit, and has put in a lot of time on her game, over and above what is required.
“She has a lot of tournament experience, but the high school state tournament is unique because of all the people watching and cheering you on,” Innes added. “Now, she knows all of what the state tournament involves.”
This experience, as well as her big game, has Slay feeling confident going into her second state tournament.
“Just like going into any tournament, I want to win as much as I can,” she said. “I would love to win the state tournament, and I think that definitely could be a possibility. I just have to play at my top level.”
Roster
Schedule and Results
Schedule & Results
Opponent | Date | Time | Location | Type | Details | Result | Score | Status |
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vs.
Avon Lake
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All Day
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Details | |||||
vs.
Hathaway Brown
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View Recap | Loss | 1-4 | |||
vs.
Hawken
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Hoban Tennis Courts | View Recap | Loss | 0-3 | ||
vs.
Solon
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View Recap | Win | 3-2 | |||
vs.
Magnificat
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Magnificat | Details | ||||
vs.
Canton South
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Hoban Tennis Courts | Details | ||||
vs.
Twinsburg
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Hoban Tennis Courts | Details | ||||
vs.
Beachwood
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Beachwood | View Recap | Win | 4-1 | ||
vs.
Andrews Osborne Academy
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Hoban Tennis Courts | Details | ||||
vs.
Revere
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Hoban Tennis Courts | Details | ||||
vs.
Magnificat
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Magnificat | View Recap | Win | 3-2 | ||
vs.
WRA
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Hoban Tennis Courts | Details | ||||
vs.
St. Vincent-St. Mary
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Springside Athletic Club | Details | ||||
vs.
NDCL
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Hoban Tennis Courts | Details | Win | 5-0 | ||
vs.
Hoover
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Hoover | View Recap | Loss | 0-4 | ||
vs.
Jackson
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All Day
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View Recap | Win | 3-2 | |||
vs.
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
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Hoban Tennis Courts | View Recap | Win | 4-1 |
Coaches
Team Coaches
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Gary Innes competed as a top junior before coming to the United States to play for Walsh University.
He captained the team to three national tournament appearances and achieved a national ranking of 14 for doubles. After competing Innes pursued a career in coaching and moved to Connecticut. He worked in private clubs and academies, where he was able to help juniors learn to love the game and achieve high levels of tennis success.
Innes specializes in junior development and is a Master of Tennis certified professional, one of the highest accolades a coach can achieve through the USPTA and the PTR.
Innes directed tennis programs on the East Coast for the past eight years before moving to Northeast Ohio to direct the tennis program at Portage Country Club. During the off season he is part of the USTA coach development team and works with some of the best coaches in the country on training aspiring coaches at the National Tennis Center. Innes is also the project director for the Tennis Congress, which has won industry awards for most innovative event of the year.
Credentials:
- USPTA & PTR Master of Tennis Professional
- USTA Coach Developer
- 10 Years Experience in directing tennis programs
- Project manager: Tennis Congress
- Founder: Serves You Right Tennis Inc.
Strength and Conditioning
Team Lifting Schedule
October 2023
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sun, Oct 1
Mon, Oct 2
Tue, Oct 3
Wed, Oct 4
Thu, Oct 5
Sat, Oct 7
Sun, Oct 8
Mon, Oct 9
Tue, Oct 10
Wed, Oct 11
Thu, Oct 12
Sat, Oct 14
Sun, Oct 15
Mon, Oct 16
Tue, Oct 17
Wed, Oct 18
Thu, Oct 19
Fri, Oct 20
Sat, Oct 21
Sun, Oct 22
Mon, Oct 23
Tue, Oct 24
Wed, Oct 25
Thu, Oct 26
Fri, Oct 27
Sat, Oct 28
Sun, Oct 29
Mon, Oct 30
Tue, Oct 31
Wed, Nov 1
Thu, Nov 2
Fri, Nov 3
Sat, Nov 4