Kempney enjoys challenge on court
When Kailah Kempney heard that a new student had joined the Indian River girls tennis team this year, and that she may be a pretty good player, her voice resonated with excitement.
The Carthage senior said she welcomes the emergence of strong competitors in the Frontier League. She wouldn't mind a surprise contender for the league title this season.
"I'd love it," said Kempney, who is the three-time defending "A" Division tournament champion. "It would be fun. I like playing outside the division, I love playing Lowville even though they kill us every year.
"Now I want to see who this Indian River girl is."
The talent on the Warriors' squad is junior Nora Hampf, an exchange student from Germany. Kempney also expects to be challenged by South Jefferson's Olivia Hudson and Lowville's Julia Guignard.
"Kailah is a competitor," Carthage coach Sue Gallagher said. "When she plays she wants to match up against good opponents, challenging opponents, because that's what makes it fun in her mind. She doesn't want to go out there and win a real easy match."
Other top players she'll face in the "A" Division are IHC's Sophie Gullo and Watertown's Esha Chebolu. In the "B" Division her opponents will include Alexandria's Morgan Garlock and Beaver River's Kirsten Dziekan.
Kempney, who has verbally committed to play lacrosse for Syracuse University in the fall, often wears out tennis opponents with her athleticism.
"She's a type of kid who can return just about anything because she's quick and she's agile and she's got a lot of endurance," Gallagher said.
But Kempney's competitive spirit factors in as well.
"I don't like getting beat," Kempney said. "When we have our little competition matches in practice it's like dead serious, no joking around anymore."
Perhaps it's that intensity level that helps her handle the mental pressure of tough matches.
"Kailah's very composed, too," Gallagher noted. "She doesn't show any emotion on the court. She doesn't get overly anxious if she's behind. That is one part that makes her an outstanding athlete, especially in tennis."
The area where Kempney could use improvement is attacking the net more this season.
"She really needs to work on being an offensive player instead of relying solely on just hitting the ball back," Gallagher said.
Kempney agreed.
"I play more of a defensive game," she said. "I know Coach wants me to switch that, but I just work on returning the ball. I haven't come up with a strategy for setting myself up to force errors on them."
Carthage, which finished 8-5 overall, 8-4 league last season, will have difficulty matching up against South Jefferson, which returns every starter from last year.
With senior Kara Fahsel out with a back injury, freshman Hannah Millich is the only other Carthage player returning from last year's starting lineup. Millich will help provide strength to the Comets' young squad.
"She's gotten so much better," Kempney said. "She's taken lessons all summer. She's been keeping up with me, and I love playing with her. She makes me move."
Here's a look at all the Frontier League teams:
"A" DIVISION
Outlook: South Jefferson should emerge as the dominant team in the division. The Spartans, led byOlivia HudsonandRachael Bassett, return every starter from last year's 8-5 squad. Carthage, despite having one of the best players in the league with three-time tournament champKailah Kempneyon the roster, may have a slow start to the season as its young players establish positions on the team.Sophie Gullotakes over the No. 1 spot for Immaculate Heart Central, whileEsha Cheboluis in place to guide Watertown at first singles. The player to watch for Indian River will be juniorNora Hampf, an exchange student from Germany.
Carthage Comets
Coach: Sue Gallagher (4th year).
2009 record: 8-5, 8-4.
Roster: Allison Brady (Sr.), Kara Fahsel (Sr.), Kailah Kempney (Sr.), Ruby Robinson (Sr.), Amanda Dawley (Jr.), Allyson Farley (Jr.), Clarissa Lithkousky (Jr.), Giuliana LoConte (Jr.), Chelsea Major (Jr.), Tori Martle (Jr.), Miriah Mono (Jr.), Rachael Salyers (Jr.), Ivonne Schneider (Jr.), Morgan Egeberg (So.), Christiana Davis (Fr.), Kendra Jones (Fr.), Maggie King (Fr.), Hannah Millich (Fr.), Sheniah Mono (Fr.), Meaghan Paige (8th).
Immaculate Heart
Cavaliers
Coach: Rick Snow (1st year).
2009 record: 10-2.
Roster: Sophia Gullo (Sr.), Elana Tontarski (Sr.), Harpreet Aujla (Jr.), Ornella Mazzi (Jr.), Johnna Sims (Jr.), Michaelene Warren (Jr.), Heather Bruner (So.), Olivia Morris (So.), Megan Goss (Fr.), Emma Renzi (8th), Michelle Snow (7th).
Indian River Warriors
Coach: Patricia Gorman (3rd year).
2009 record: 0-11.
Roster: Jessica Bailey (Sr.), Tempest Bouknight-Davis (Sr.), Savannah Fuller (Sr.), Rachel Muntz (Sr.), Noreen Williams (Sr.), Libby Wulfken (Sr.), Haylee Bush (Jr.), Nora Hampf (Jr.), BryAnn Hoover (Jr.), Jenny Nasvall (Jr.), Danielle Adam (Fr.), Desiree Smith (Fr.).
South Jefferson
Spartans
Coach: Sarah Goodenbery (9th year).
2009 record: 5-7.
Roster: Rachael Bassett (Sr.), Olivia Hudson (Sr.), Julianne Rehley (Sr.), Allison Rhode (Sr.), Madeline Wetterhahn (Sr.), Chelsey Burger (Jr.), Arin Crowell (Jr.), Emmaline Voss (Jr.), Annabel Fair (So.), Janika Metz (So.), Austin Stevens (Fr.).
Watertown Cyclones
Coach: Brian Morrison (6th year).
2009 record: 7-6.
Roster: Tatiana Birambi (Sr.), Emma Blair (Sr.), Esha Chebolu (Sr.), Jennifer Desormo (Sr.), Robin Holberg (Sr.), Bridget Hovendon (Sr.), Megan Lamon (Sr.), Emily Schwerzmann (Sr.), Hannah Steele (Sr.), Ailice Gundayao (Jr.), Mariana Hiotis (Jr.), Nina Jacobson (Jr.), Erika Norstrud (Jr.), Emily Piche (So.), Alexandra Smith (So.), Michela Castillo (Fr.), Sarah Denardo (Fr.), Sandy Dunkleman (Fr.), Taylor McKinney (Fr.), Ashley Witherell (Fr.), Sierra Ritz (8th).
"B" DIVISION
Outlook: Beaver River may emerge as the top team in this division, having lost only two players from last year's 9-3 squad. For Lowville, which returns just two starters,Julia Guignardtakes over the No. 1 position left by 2010 graduate and "B" Division champ Katie O'Brien.Morgan Garlockis expected to stand out for Alexandria andKirsten Dziekanfor Beaver River, which should be particularly strong with its doubles teams.Kelly Furgisonis in line to lead Copenhagen, which will debut its third new coach in three years.
Alexandria Purple Ghosts
Coach: Terry Satterley (10th year).
2009 record: 6-3.
Roster: Morgan Garlock (Sr.), Chelsea Heath (Sr.), Valentine Picquet (Sr.), Cassie Butcher (Jr.), Alexis Derigo (Jr.), Lauren Ferency (Jr.), Tatum Millet (Jr.), Taylor Thomson (Jr.), Jenifer Robbins (Fr.).
Beaver River Beavers
Coach: Robert Bosco (17th year).
2009 record: 9-3, 7-2.
Roster: Olivia Cornell (Sr.), Rebecca Marturano (Sr.), Adriana Woolschlager (Sr.), Nicole Craska (Jr.), Victoria Gregory (Jr.), Kimberly Widrick (Jr.), Amy Wormwood (Jr.), Abigail Cornell (So.), Kirsten Dziekan (So.), Shirley Hellinger (So.), Cassie Lane (So.), Raquel Allred (Fr.), Andrea Peters (Fr.), Taylor Kieffer (8th), Angelina Camporeale (7th), Jordan Hulbert (7th), Kaytlynn Kloss (7th), Kylie Lyndaker (7th).
Copenhagen
Golden Knights
Coach: Pat Jolliff (1st year).
2009 record: 1-8.
Roster: Rebecca Edwards (Sr.), Kelly Furgison (Sr.), Sarah Mahar (Sr.), Cierra Dicob (Jr.), Elise Edmonds (Jr.), Nicole Henry (Jr.), Sara McNamara (Jr.), Brittany Tanner (Jr.), Erica Eddy (So.), Sydney O'Shaughnessy (So.), Ashley Willits (Fr.), Emily Griffin (8th).
General Brown Lions
Coach: Will Covey (1st year).
2009 record: 1-10.
Roster: Ellen Bourcy (Jr.), Haleigh Flint (Jr.), Taylor Humiston (Jr.), Colleen McKinney (Jr.), Destiny Bales (Fr.), Amanda Brouty (Fr.), Keara MacNeil (Fr.), Kaitlyn Miner (Fr.), Jillian Primicias (Fr.), Emma Raso (Fr.), Cheyenne Seery (Fr.), Hallie Sherburne (Fr.), Sydney Warmington (Fr.).
Lowville Red Raiders
Coach: Jim Rhodes (12th year).
2009 record: 11-2, 11-1.
Roster: Macalla Artis (Sr.), Veronica Berrus (Sr.), Victoria Quay (Sr.), Allison Griffiths (Jr.), Julia Guignard (Jr.), Paige Lyndaker (Jr.), Taylor Mooney (Jr.), Caitlin Thomas (Jr.), Brooke Lyndaker (So.), Courtney Lehman (Fr.), Chloe Samsa (8th), Mercedes Stauring (8th), Ashley Stocking (8th).
