Woodlands Academy tennis player places 6th at state

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The singles competition prowess of Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart junior Courtney Croll took her all the way to the IHSA Girls Tennis Class 1A State Finals, where she wrapped up her 2025 season with a sixth-place finish. Croll won five of her seven matches during the Oct. 23-25 tournament held at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. The strength of Croll’s solo performance placed Woodlands’ Wildcats at #16 in the team standings out of the 50 Class 1A schools that scored any points at the State Finals.

Croll entered the tournament as the #7 seed. “Courtney represented the Wildcats with grit, determination and power,” said Jim Franke, Woodlands Academy varsity tennis head coach. “She advanced to the Quarterfinals (of the Championship Bracket) where she lost a tight battle to the #2 seed in three sets.” Croll went on to win two of her three Consolation Bracket matches, losing the battle for fifth place to an opponent from Deerfield High School.

Based on her record and performance at the state tournament, Croll was subsequently designated an All-State honoree.

During the regular season, she achieved an undefeated 14-0 record. Croll’s journey to the State Finals began with a #1 singles second-place finish at the Independent School League (ISL) Conference Tournament on Oct. 10. Additionally, she was named to the All-Conference team. The ISL is an athletic conference comprising eight private secondary schools in the Chicago metro area.

Next up was Croll’s first-place finish at the IHSA Sectional Tournament hosted by Antioch Community High School on Oct. 17. Ten area high schools, mainly from Lake County, competed in this event. Croll defeated players from Antioch, Lake Forest and Lakes Community high schools to win the sectional championship.

“She is one of the smartest, toughest competitors I have had the privilege to coach,” said Franke. “The quality of her play energized the whole team and made us better.”

As a whole, the Wildcats’ varsity tennis team finished the 2025 season with a 9-6 record playing in one of the toughest conferences in the state, according to Franke.

“This was a tight-knit group held together and led by team captains Maggie Glunz, MacKenzie Lockhart, and Morgan Mathy,” said Franke. “MacKenzie/Morgan played #1 doubles, and their 14-8 record was a big part of the Wildcats’ success.” During the postseason, they advanced to the quarterfinals of the Antioch Sectional, finishing just one match away from qualifying for the State Finals and helping the Wildcats secure third place at Sectionals.

Other varsity tennis players included Lucy Petherbridge, Sophie Patino, Nyah Watson and Talia Sevin.

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Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent, day-and-boarding, college-preparatory school for young women of all faiths in grades nine through 12. Founded in Chicago in 1858 and located in Lake Forest since 1904, Woodlands is part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries on six continents. To learn more, visit woodlandsacademy.org.