For the New Hanover women’s tennis star Sophie Catinohistory is only part of the pie.
The Wildcats star entered her senior season this fall, already establishing herself 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 the fun.
“Before every game, I reminded myself to have fun,” Catino said of his senior season. “I put a lot of pressure on myself, but it all started with having fun.”
Catino finished her high school career at New Hanover with a 31-2 overall record, leading the Wildcats to their 100th consecutive conference victory and helping bring the first girls’ tennis state championship banner to Brogden Hall. She won her fourth consecutive StarNews All-Area Women’s Tennis Player of the Year title.
LEGACY How these two New Hanover women’s tennis stars continue to shine
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. His perfect performance at No. 1 singles in the Wildcats’ regular-season victory over Hoggard helped the team reach the century mark with consecutive conference victories, a record that dates back to 2017.
New Hanover finished the regular season 16-2 and made three rounds of the state playoffs, where it lost 5-4 to Broughton. The loss comes a year after the team’s first double-team state championship appearance in school history.
While Catino’s records and legacy at New Hanover will undoubtedly last for years to come, moments like teaming up with teammate and close friend Hanna Davis to win a state championship will never fade.
“It was unreal,” she said of the feat. “It showed everyone what New Hanover women’s tennis is made of and set a good example of what you can do if you work really hard.”
2024 StarNews All-Area Women’s Tennis Player of the Year: Sophia Catino, New Hanover
Catino left no doubt as to the title of New Hanover County’s greatest high school tennis player. The UNCW signee led the Wildcats to their fourth straight Mideastern Conference title, compiled a 138-11 career record in all competitions and teamed with fellow New Hanover senior Hanna Davis to winning the 4A doubles state title.
Women’s tennis all zones StarNews 2024: 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 with Catino to win 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 win a fourth straight NCISAA state championship. The Hurricanes were the only regional team to defeat New Hanover this season.
Karli Hartman, Sr., Topsail: Hartman led the Pirates to second place in the Mideast Conference, going 12-5 at No. 1 in singles and finishing the season 23-9 overall.
Elizabeth Sifly, Soph., New Hanover: The Wildcats sophomore went 36-6 overall this year, collecting 11 wins at No. 3 in singles and another 14 in doubles.
Carys Subach, Jr., South Brunswick: The Cougars star went 9-1 at No. 1 singles in all competitions this fall.
Hailey Schreiber, Sr., Hoggard: The Vikings’ best player helped Hoggard finish third at the MEC, going 9-7 in singles play.
StarNews All-Area women’s tennis 2024: second team
Rynley Elvington, Cape Fear Academy; Kiara Haasbroek, coastal Christian; Analysis 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;
Pan-Middle East 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
Analysis 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
Hogwarts: 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 States
Taylor Garriott, Cape Fear Academy
This article was originally published on Wilmington StarNews: StarNews All-Area Women’s Tennis 2024 Wilmington, NC
