Spring sports review 2026: Girls tennis
Kenzie Kania ranked second academically in the Chesterton Class of 2026 and second to none in the DAC as a tennis player.
Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com
The Chesterton girls tennis team’s sixth consecutive sectional title under big-time winning coach Tom Bour came with a bit of an early scare, but once the Trojans shook off a sluggish start in a first-round match vs. host Valparaiso, they went on a roll and easily claimed the title.
They defeated Valpo 4-1, then knocked off Boone Grove and Portage by 5-0 margins before losing to perennial state contender South Bend St. Joseph in the LaPorte regional 4-1 after breezing past New Prairie 5-0 in the opening round.
The Trojans’ third DAC crown in four years withstood a much stiffer challenge than the sixth consecutive sectional title.
Lake Central was the clearcut favorite in the DAC and even the schedule favored the defending conference champion because the match with Chesterton took place in St. John.
The Trojans upset the state’s No. 17-ranked team and it took eight days and a clutch performance from their No. 3 singles player, Emma Dobson.
The match was tied 2-2 when darkness forced a suspension of the lone remaining match, which was tied 4-4.
Dobson was the lone Trojan still competing eight days later, but she was far from alone. As 13 teammates who joined her on the drive to St. John cheered her on, Dobson delivered, winning the final two games, vaulting the Trojans into first place.
For one of the three points for the Trojans, No. 1 singles player Kenzie Kania avenged a loss to the same opponent who had defeated her the previous year and went undefeated during the DAC season, earning MVP honors.
Final DAC standings:
Chesterton, 2. Lake Central, 3. Crown Point, 4. Valparaiso, 5. Michigan City, 6. LaPorte, 7. Portage, 8. Merrillville.
All-DAC:
Chesterton: Kenzie Kania, Genevieve Driscoll, Amelia Smith, Elizabeth Navarro.
Crown Point: Jessica Harper, Mary Mumaugh, Natalie Svetanoff.
Valparaiso: Avi Greiner, Eva Senese.
Lake Central: Nora Karr, Andie Schultz, Sai Chodavarapu, Lyla Hurey.
MVP (No. 1 singles): Kenzie Kania.
Chesterton awards:
MVP: Kenzie Kania.
Sportsmanship: Emma Dobson.
Coach Tom Bour was named District I Coach of the Year.