District 2 features some of the state’s top girls tennis players, including a former state champion.
Here is a list of 10 Players To Watch in the district going into the start of the season:
Bella Aniska, Riverside junior
Aniska played third singles for the Lady Vikes in their run to the District 2 Class 2A team championship match. She then joined Madeline DeFaber-Schumacher in winning a district doubles title and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state doubles bronze medal.
Gabrielle Chantiloupe, West Scranton junior
The top singles player in the lineup as West Scranton rose to the level of District 2 Class 3A team finalist, Chantiloupe was at her best in the postseason, avenging two regular-season losses during the team playoffs. She reached the quarterfinals of the district singles tournament before losing in three sets.
Madeline DeFaber-Schumacher, Riverside senior
The transfer student helped Riverside to the district team final with her play at second singles in her first year on the team. DeFaber-Schumacher teamed with Bella Aniska to earn a district title and PIAA state doubles bronze medal.
Leelah Farrell, Scranton Prep sophomore
A doubles player on Scranton Prep’s state semifinalist team last season, Farrell is coming off a strong summer in which she won the women’s singles title and was part of the championship women’s doubles team at the Scranton Tennis Club.
Karissa Ghigiarelli, Riverside senior
The 2019 PIAA state Class 2A singles champion won her third straight district title last season before an injury prevented her from attempting to defend her state title. From her number-one singles position, the unbeaten Ghigiarelli helped Riverside reach the District 2 Class 2A championship match despite entering the tournament as the fifth seed. Ghigiarelli won 16 straight 6-0 sets in the district singles and team tournaments on her way to High School All-American honors.
Rina Hanumali, Abington Heights junior
Hanumali was the number-two singles player on the District 2 Class 3A team champions. She also reached the semifinals of the district singles tournament.
Annie Johnson, Scranton Prep junior
A co-captain of this season’s team, Johnson played both singles and doubles last season while helping Scranton Prep win Lackawanna League and District 2 titles on the way to a trip to the state Class 2A team semifinals. She reached the district final in doubles.
Ella Krypel, Wyoming Seminary junior
The Wyoming Valley Conference’s top returning player filled the number-one spot in the lineup as the Blue Knights went unbeaten in the conference in 2020. Krypel reached the district final in singles and the semifinal in doubles and team competition.
Margaret Mihalick, Wyoming Seminary senior
Mihalick was also part of the singles lineup a year ago as the Blue Knights went through the WVC season only allowing 4 of 11 opponents to take a team point against them.
Bella Peters, Abington Heights senior
The three-time District 2 Class 3A singles champion enters the season with more than 50 career victories. Peters was the number-one singles player on the District 2 Class 3A team champions.
