After winning the IHSA title last year, the Benet Girls Tennis Team has continued their momentum into the 2025 season by making their way back to state.

The team won the 2025 ESCC Conference Championship on October 9. This was just the kickoff on the long road to IHSA State, that the girls have been preparing for all season. Six girls (2 singles and 2 Doubles) headed to York High School on October 17-18 to compete to qualify. There were nine school teams playing at York: Leyden, Proviso West, Glenbard East, Brookfield, Willowbrook, Wheaton Warrenville South, York, and Benet. Day one was a smashing success for the Redwings with Emma Mahlik, a freshman playing first singles on Varsity, making her way to the top. Senior Meaghan McCarthy and Junior Lily Lopatka  in the first doubles spot conquered their opponents. This was Lily’s first year playing doubles as she was a dominant singles player last year. Lily shared her experience as this was her last time playing with her senior partner, Meaghan: “Sectionals and state were intense but rewarding. Our goal was to make it to state and we did just that. Meaghan and I have a good bond on and off the court, which really helped. We had a great season and I couldn’t have asked for a better doubles partner. It was also a lot different playing doubles this time around as in years past I played singles, but I ended up enjoying playing doubles a lot more.”

The season came to a great end even though the results weren’t titles, the dynamic duo finished 2-2 at the IHSA Championship. Emma Mahlik who battled through six matches in two days to finish in the top 12 in 2A Singles at the IHSA State Championships. This shows a bright future for the next three years on the team. All in all, the Varsity Redwings girls gave it their all and rose to the challenge.