For the second time in the past four season, Woods Cross girls tennis is the best team in Class 5A. 

The Wildcats won the 5A state tournament on Oct. 7, scoring 65 points to win in convincing fashion. The second-place squad, Timpview, had 43 points. Woods Cross scored points in all five positions and had three state champions: first singles, second singles and second doubles. 

Woods Cross also won the state championship in 2021. 

“Winning a state championship is an incredible feeling,” head coach Molly Richards said. “The girls were thrilled, and I was so happy for them and proud of them, collectively and individually. They had worked so hard throughout the season and for many, many months leading up to it, and it was so exciting to see all of that effort pay off.”

Though tennis is an individual sport in the sense that players don’t have multiple teammates on the court with them affecting play, there is definitely a team aspect to it. Winning the team title wouldn’t be possible without every player doing her part. 

“The key to winning a team title is teamwork,” Richards said. “One person excelling doesn't result in a state championship, so everyone’s talent and efforts matter. For us, this year teamwork meant asking people to do things that stretched them outside their comfort zone and putting the team’s objectives and goal of winning a state title above personal preferences. Each girl had to stretch, adapt and make sacrifices. I was so proud of how each player rose to the occasion during four very tough and competitive state tournament matches. This is the best Woods Cross has ever done in a state tournament. It is an incredible accomplishment as a group.”

In first singles, senior Emmy Richards won first place, defeating Granger’s Samantha Salea 6-3, 6-1. She won in the Round of 16 easily, 6-0 6-0 and then prevailed 6-3, 6-3 in both the quarterfinals and semifinals. Junior Sydney Kemp, in second singles also took home the top prize. She took care of Kendall Woods of Timpview in the finals 6-1, 6-4. She also won in the Round of 32 and the quarterfinals 6-1, 6-1 Kemp moved to the finals with a 6-0, 6-2 win. Meanwhile, the doubles tandem of sophomore Lillie Bennion and Ruby Robbins were dominant. They breezed to the finals with victories of 6-0, 6-1 in the Round of 32, 6-1, 6-0 in the quarterfinals and 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals. They faced a doubles team from Wasatch for the championship and prevailed 6-2, 6-2. 

Molly Richards was pleased with all her players and lauded praise on them for their efforts at state and throughout the season. 

“I couldn’t even begin to pick out a player who stood out more than another,” she said. “Each girl had a job to do, and they did it beautifully. Winning a team state title requires depth in your lineup that is hard to come by, but when the pressure is on, each player needs to lift where they stand and win the tough points and beat the tough opponents. I watched each player really dig deep and give her very best effort and individual contributions translated to team success.”

At third singles, Lila Johnson, a sophomore, also got to the finals. She faced a tough opponent for the championship, Addison Burt of Timpview, and came up just short, falling 6-4, 7-5. Junior Kate Schanz and sophomore Liza Eyring, playing together at first doubles, won in the Round of 16 by the score of 6-0, 6-1 and in the quarterfinals 6-0, 6-0. After prevailing in the semifinals 6-0, 7-6 (7-4), the pair lost in the finals 6-2, 6-4. 

The Wildcats entered the tournament with high hopes – and a target on their backs. Woods Cross won Region 5 and had earned the top seeds at every position. Still, Richards knew her team would face some tough tests, so the players needed to be ready to compete. Richards said her players were mentally strong and stayed focused throughout the tournament. 

“We knew going into the tournament that we were favored to win,” she said. “We were the 1st seed in every position, but state is a big stage and upsets happen all the time. We knew in order to win we would have to manage the pressure of the situation, the loud crowds, and our own expectations. That is sometimes easier said than done, and a few of our girls were playing in the state tournament for the very first time. That can be a very stressful and intimidating spot to be in. But the veterans as well as the first timers all handled it so well. They showed so much poise and self-discipline under significant pressure.”

With this being the second state championship in four years, Richards has built one of the top girls tennis programs in the state. The Wildcats were runners-up last season and in 2022 as well. Woods Cross could be championship favorites in 2025. 

The Wildcats bring back most of their starters next season, along with the momentum and confidence that success has brought. 

“A state championship doesn't come along very often, so we are enjoying the moment and the significant accomplishment for these awesome girls,” Richards said. “Then we absolutely hope to carry this momentum into next season. Six of the seven players from our state lineup will be back next year, so we hope to continue the tradition of excellence and make a run for it again next year.” λ