The 2019 Parkland girls tennis season holds much promise. To fully understand why, one needs to look back at the 2018 season.

Last year, the Lady Trojans had a superb season under coach Michael Hingston, one of the best high school tennis coaches around. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Parkland is returning most of last year’s talent for the 2019 campaign.

Nothing is perfect and the Trojans have lost former number one player Murong Yao, who graduated after a superlative 2018 campaign and outstanding career.

“Saying that she’s hard to replace is an understatement,” said Hingston.

But make no mistake, the Trojans are loaded. Their depth and desire to compete consistently at every facet of the game means trouble for opponents.

“The word compete means different things to some people than it means to me,” said the coach. “If you are double-faulting or making unforced errors, then you are really not competing.”

Typically, Hingston’s squads do not beat themselves. If that holds true again this fall, then most rivals will not beat them either.

Last season’s number two singles player, senior Joanna Wu, was described by Hingston as the team’s best competitor. She is now the number one singles player.

Last season, Wu showed she did not accept defeat easily or often. Most of her 2018 matches were uncompetitive, and Wu lost only three matches all season. Some highlights included postseason wins over Liberty’s Paige Simons, 6-2, 6-2 ,and Nazareth’s Jenn Soika, 6-1, 7-5.

Senior Jessica Tseo, who served as Parkland’s number three singles player last season, has moved up to the number two slot. Her junior season was a battle through a series of injuries, which improved as the year unfolded.

Tseo displayed a sold all-around game using her forehand and serve to cruise to an 11-3 record, including a nice 6-0, 6-3 win over Emmaus’ Jocelyn Chow in the regular season finale.

The number three position shows the depth of the Trojan roster. A freshman, Leah Zolotareva, started the year as the number three singles player.

“She just came out and earned it,” said Hingston. “She is quiet and unassuming and just comes to work every day. Leah is absolutely without ego.”

Livingston has lost the doubles services of Aditi Pallod and Sasha Singh to graduation. Their loss will not go unnoticed, but once again, the Trojans received outstanding performances from juniors and underclassmen all last season, a sign of their depth and good coaching.

Early this season, Hingston is still assembling doubles partners, but one young lady has already distinguished herself. Freshman Erin Joo, has earned the top spot for doubles. Initially Joo will be teamed with senior Emma Halpin.

The doubles team of sophomore Sophia Lee and senior Maya Paul “really came together,” according to Hingston, last season. The 2018 highlights for the duo included a 6-7, 6-0,6-2 playoff win over Nazareth’s Samantha Sands and Katie Kresge. The duo, the number two doubles team last year, is now fourth on the depth chart, due to outstanding competition. That competition includes the doubles team of junior Anabel Stein and sophomore Kalia Miles.

Parkland defeated East Stroudsburg South 7-0 in the season’s first match Aug. 19.

Hingston hopes his team is among the top three or four schools in the East Penn Conference this fall, and is playing its best tennis for league and district tournament competition.

“This is one of the more consistent teams I’ve had,” the coach said.