Editor’s Note: This article was also published in the Benet Herald 2025 Graduation Edition.
After winning the ESCC Conference Championship and finishing the regular season with a record of 19 wins and one loss, the Benet Varsity Girls Tennis team was determined to make the most at the IHSA State Tournament. As a team, they won the IHSA State Championship in Class 1A. Girls Tennis successfully ended a five-year drought of state championships for the Redwings, during which Benet placed in the top four in over a dozen different IHSA state tournaments. Additionally, the team improved from their second-place finish last school year.
Seniors Shane Delaney and Clare Lopatka repeated as the State Doubles Champions. Delaney, who has been on Varsity since freshman year, says, “Clare and I have been a unit for so long now. I couldn’t have been happier to end my high school career with the best teammate and friend. I am so thankful to have been able to win this title, my last year of high school. Clare and I are both so proud!”
Additionally, seniors Natalie Grover and Katie Jendra both improved from a fifth-place finish last year in the State Doubles Competition to fourth. This has been their best state finish so far, showing their great hard work and dedication. Senior Meredith Converse, who finished in the Top 8 of the Singles Competition, and sophomore Lily Lopatka, who finished in the top twelve, both provided the points necessary for Benet to take home its second state title for Girls Tennis.
It was an exciting day, with the girls basking in their accomplishments, so much so that they were the last team to leave Hersey High School. For the seniors, it was the perfect way to cap their victorious season. The celebration continued at school during the Red Carpet Rally this spring, where the final dramatic moment of the day was the unveiling of the Girls’ Tennis State Championship banner in the gym, accompanied by “We Are the Champions” by Queen playing loudly in the background. The student body erupted in cheers, honoring a team whose legacy will be remembered for years to come. For underclassmen, the season set a new standard and served as inspiration for the program’s future. With a potent mix of experienced returners and rising talent, the Redwings are already looking ahead to next fall.
