Park Hill South might be losing half of its lineup from last year, but the Panthers will again be set up to be one of the area’s best.
Eva Kresovic returns at No. 1 after an all-state freshman season, looking to lift Park Hill South back into the playoffs for an 11th straight season. The present and future looks good with limited seniors on the roster again.
“They’re developing, but they’re really good,” Park Hill South coach Ian Cunliff said. “I don’t have a lot of seniors and pretty much everyone that is in that middle group that is competing for varsity, they’re all underclassmen. That’s exciting and good for the future.”
In addition to Kresovic, Park Hill South brings back sophomore Chloe Norris and senior Abby Norris at the top of the lineup. Kresovic won the Class 2 District 15 singles title over Halle Nixon, one of seven seniors lost to graduation.
The Norris sisters were the District 15 doubles champions.
Kresovic and the Norris doubles team both won sectional matchups to reach state, and Kresovic advanced to the state semifinals before losing to three-time state champion Caroline Pozo of Lafayette (Wildwood). Kresovic came back to place third in her freshman season.
The Norris sisters won their opening doubles match but finished 1-2 in their state debuts.
The three state-bound players also helped Park Hill South avenge an earlier loss with a 5-4 victory over St. Teresa Academy’s in the District 15 team final. The Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Lee’s Summit West and finishing 13-4.
In addition to the three returners, Cunliff expects Annie Saunders, Claudia Chou, Julia Stephens, Grace Andrews and Taryn Brown to fill out the lineup in hopes of keeping Park Hill South’s postseason streak alive.