Winchester Tennis Team Looks to Continue Winning Ways

The most successful team at is in good shape to continue its remarkable streak this season.

The Sachems girls tennis team has won four straight state titles and carries a 92 match winning streak into its season opener Wednesday against Reading.

"This year's team is going to be as strong as any one of those teams," said Paul Sughrue, who is in his second year coaching the girls team after leading the boys team for three years. "We have high hopes."

The team returns its entire singles lineup — seniors Abby Shewalter and Alex Criss and sophomore Chloe Georgaklis — and two of its four starting doubles players from last season.

The Sachems are led by Abby Shewalter and Alex Criss, a pair of highly-ranked seniors who will play collegiate tennis next year.

Shewalter, a No. 1 singles player who is headed to the Naval Academy, has all the shots and can hit winners from anywhere on the court.

"She can paint the court left and right," Sughrue said. "She'll just move you back and forth."

Kriss will play No. 2 singles. The Trinity-bound Kriss, who will play No. 2 singles, has a very strong forehand and backyard and excels at the baseline.

Sisters Katy and Karen McKeough will start at first doubles. Both started last year — Karen, a sophomore, at first doubles and Katy, a senior, at second doubles — and they asked to play together this year after their partners graduated.

"They're going to be one of the top doubles teams in the state," Sughrue said. "They've played together all their lives and they're familiar with each other's games. They'll compete for the North sectional championship and if they were to win that, they'll be one of the four teams in the state tournament."

Senior Maddie Mangan and junior newcomer Sarah Wheeler will complete the starting lineup and play second doubles.

The main competition this year can come from Burlington, Lexington and Belmont.

The Sachems needed to win all three singles matches to beat Lexington 3-2 last year in its closest league game, and the Minutemen return most of their team.

"Our goal every year is to win the Middlesex League and go deep into states, and we have a good chance of doing both," Sughrue said.

Winchester girls tennis

Last season: 23-0

Key players: Abby Shewalter, Sr.; Alex Criss, Sr.; Chloe Georgaklis, So.; Katy McKeough, Sr.; Karen McKeough, So.; Maddy Mangan, Sr.; Sarah Wheeler, Jr.
Key losses: Catie Chang, first doubles; Laura Steele, second doubles.

Outlook: The Sachems return five of seven starters from a team that went undefeated and won its fourth straight state title. With two college-bound talents at singles and one of the top doubles teams in the state, Winchester is again the team to beat this year.

Quote: "We have high hopes" — coach Paul Sughrue