Berkeley girls tennis continues winning ways

By Rob Gantt

Special to HSSR

Moncks Corner - Berkeley High School’s girls tennis program has consistently been a winner over the years and is piling up victories again this fall.

The Stags, led by longtime coach Joe Harnage, improved to 12-4 overall and 7-3 against Region 7-AAAAA foes with a 6-0 win at Goose Creek Thursday, Oct. 3.

“At least three-fourths of our players started in middle school,” said Harnage, the two-time reigning region coach of the year. “We’ve got a steady feed of middle-schoolers coming into the program. Seventeen of our 24 (varsity and JV players) started in middle school. We teach kids from the very beginning. That’s a year-in and year-out process. Having some good athletes helps out.”

The 2024 varsity roster is strengthened by returning starters junior Hannah Giannelli, senior Reese Watson, freshman Esther Giannelli, sophomore Caroline Guerry, senior Rileigh Ballentine and junior Kaylen Bradshaw. Watson and Ballentine are two of six seniors on the squad.

Hannah Giannelli is a four-time all-region selection for the Stags and earned player of the year honors as a sophomore.

“She’s been top three ever since she’s been in the program,” Harnage said. “She’s an all-court player and plays really hard. She’s won a lot of good matches and she stays involved after her match is over.”

Watson, a reigning region player of the year in softball, gives the Stags a solid athlete at the No. 2 spot this season. She’s moved up a spot from 2023 and battles in her matches.

“She gives it her all,” Harnage said. “She keeps swinging until the match is over.”

Esther Giannelli, a freshman, will be a cornerstone for years to come. She’s only going to get better.

“She hasn’t reached her potential,” Harnage said, “but she’s gaining confidence every match. She’ll be a great player. She’s going to be challenging for the No. 1 spot next year.”

Like Watson, Guerry and Ballentine make their mark on other Berkeley teams. They bring competitiveness to the court. Guerry plays soccer and Ballentine softball.

Bradshaw and No. 7 player Veda Driggers, a senior, form the starting No. 2 doubles team.

Sophomore Lillian Elliott, junior Addison Metts and sophomore Raines DeAntonio round out the top 10 on Berkeley’s ladder. It’s a group that will contend for starting singles spots next fall.

Additional seniors playing out the final days of their Berkeley tennis careers are Brielle Meade, Yuxi Shao and Ainsley Lloyd.

“We have a great character kids and students of the game,” Harnage said. “We try to tell them this is a life sport. Tennis is something you can play for the rest of your life. It’s important to stay healthy. I want to get as many kids on the court as we can. Any time we can play an extra match, we do it.”

Football Update

The Berkeley football team kicked off their region schedule on Oct. 4 with a 30-22 win over Stratford, improving to 3-3 on the season.

Sophomore quarterback Henry Rivers went over the 1,000-yard mark in passing and has more than 500 yards rushing. He has accounted for nearly 20 touchdowns.

The receiving trio of Kevin Boone, Kayden Bash and Jvarriez Sumpter have combined for 60 catches this season. Freshman running back Bryson McGee has provided a spark in the run game.

Linebacker Marcus Henderson leads the defense with more than 60 tackles and has two interceptions. Fellow linebackers Gehad Snead and Kevin Rivers also rate among the leading tacklers and sophomore Cam McCue has been a leader in the secondary.