Boys Player of the Year
John Collins, DeMatha, Sr.
The senior capped an exceptional career by breezing through the season undefeated in his first season at No. 1 singles. Collins won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference No. 1 singles title and will play for the University of Maryland next season.
Girls Player of the Year
Katelyn Stokes, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jr.
Any question whether Stokes was still the best girls' singles player in the state were answered when the junior reclaimed the state championship. She had won the title as a freshman and lost in the state final last year. Stokes has remained unbeaten against county competition for three seasons, with three Region III singles championships and will be the favorite to win the state title again in her senior season.
Coach of the Year
Jason Ramos, DeMatha
For two seasons, the DeMatha tennis team played bridesmaid to rival Gonzaga (D.C.) at the WCAC championships. Ramos joined the program last fall, and with an approach that emphasized aggressive play he helped the Stags reclaim the title for the first time since 2006 with a lineup dominated by underclassmen.
Boys First Team
Subodh Arora, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sr.
The senior won the Region III singles title and was undefeated during the regular season. Arora avenged a North District Tournament loss to Charles H. Flowers' Myron Davis – his only loss to a county opponent this season – by beating Davis for in the Region III final.
Myron Davis, Charles H. Flowers, Fr.
Davis took the county by storm in his freshman year, as he went undefeated in the regular season and won the North District singles title.
Eric Ward, DeMatha, Sr.
Ward went unbeaten in his last three high school seasons, helping the Stags reclaim the WCAC crown by winning the No. 2 singles crown and teaming with Collins to win the No. 1 doubles title. Ward will play next season for Morgan State University.
Charlie Murphy, Eleanor Roosevelt
Murphy went undefeated at boys' No. 2 singles. When the postseason arrived, Murphy teamed with Chris Bonnell as the two won the North District doubles title and represented the county at the state tournament.
Steve Hyre, Bowie, Jr.
The versatile junior helped the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season by winning all but one of his matches at No. 1 singles. In the postseason, Hyre teamed with Erik Heckert to win the Region III boys' doubles title.
Girls First Team
Kenya Colbert, Charles H. Flowers
Colbert did not lose a match during the regular season and advanced to the girls' singles finals at both the North District and Region III tournaments. Colbert made her second-consecutive trip to the state tournament.
Diamond Adams, Bishop McNamara, Jr.
Few county girls enjoyed the success on the court as Adams did last fall. Adams used a powerful forehand to advance deep into the WCAC tournament, eventually claiming runner-up honors in her junior season.
Kate Monks, Bowie
Monks finished the regular season with just two losses at No. 1 singles. During the postseason, Monks teamed with Anna Nicholson to claim the North District and Region III doubles crown and advance to the state tournament.
Fayola Fears, Eleanor Roosevelt
Fears finished the regular season undefeated in county competition at No. 2 singles. Her work did not stop in the regular season as she teamed with Arjun Ivatury to claim the mixed doubles title at both the North District and Region III tournaments.
Anna Nicholson, Bowie, Fr.
Nicholson comes from a tennis family. Her brother Zach was a DeMatha standout and is currently playing at the Naval Academy. In her freshman year, Nicholson lost just once in the regular season at No. 2 singles and teamed with Kate Monks to sweep the North District and Region III doubles titles.
Boys Second Team
Anthony Harrison, Oxon Hill
Chris Bonnell and Arjun Ivatury, Roosevelt
Evan Ward and Brett Tielman-Fenelus, DeMatha
Erik Heckert and Eric Woolery, Bowie
Reggie Robinson, Flowers
Thomas Moore, Bladensburg
Darnell Lisby, Suitland
Cedrick Harris, Wise
Lawrence Manley, McNamara.
Girls Second Team
Betty Dardhirun, Gi-Anne Acosta and Maleequa King, Oxon Hill
Palesa Motshidi and Ashley Holland, Roosevelt
Laura Vasquez, Bowie
Fri-Atsoh Achirimofor and Gabriella Cadena, Laurel
Milanni Bushrod, Wise
Raquel Landry, Friendly
Rickae McCotter, Douglass
Natasha Moulson, DuVal.
The Gazette-Star All-County Tennis Team was selected based on performances during the 2008-09 school year. Some high schools play tennis in the fall, while others play a spring season. Staff Writer Terron Hampton compiled the team writeups.
