Columbia first singles player Amelia Burroughs
MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE — The Columbia High School girls tennis team is looking to have another successful season.
The Cougars, who went 9-7 last season, return a good group, led by senior Amelia Burroughs, who is in her fourth year on the team.
Last season, Burroughs made a strong run in the state singles tournament.
“Amelia is more than just a strong tennis player,” CHS head coach Steve Reichenstein said. “She is a terrific leader. She is committed and well-liked.”
Burroughs has a high tennis IQ and constantly strategizes and adjusts well whenever she competes, the coach said.
A standout CHS lacrosse player who surpassed 100 career points last spring, Burroughs traveled to San Diego, California, this summer to compete in the Billie Jean King national hard court tournament that featured the top 250 high school girls tennis players in the nation.
“It was really interesting and so fun to play,” said Burroughs at the Columbia HS Athletics Media Day on Friday afternoon, Aug. 21. “I went with my dad and got to see some of my friends.”
The Cougars were off to a 1-1 start, defeating Montclair 3-2 at home on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Baird Center courts in South Orange; and losing at perennial power Millburn 4-1 on Friday, Aug. 28.
Burroughs believes the Cougars can achieve a great year.
“I like how much chemistry we have together,” she said. “I think we work really well together and we are always supporting each other on the sidelines. Our doubles teams are especially good this year. I think we can make it really far, it not win the state tournament. That’s always our goal.”
Freshman Charlie Parkhurst is a singles player who will be a player to watch this season and in the future, while sophomore Madeleine Adams returns and will be another singles player to watch.”
In all, there are 28 players in the program across all levels, including 12 on varsity.
“I like the spirit of the team,” Reichnstein said. “It’s a very close team. They are very supportive of each other.”
The Cougars last season lost to Westfield in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 state tournament semifinals to finish 9-7. The goal is simple: to win the state sectional title. “We’re looking to have a strong season,” Reicheinstein said.
Note — Last spring, Reicheinstein was the head coach of the CHS boys tennis team that won the North 2, Group 4 state sectional title, before losing a heartbreaker to a strong Livingston team in the Group 4 state semifinal.
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