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Canfield duo, singles player state-bound
Cianciola, Economus, Kan will represent Cardinals
By Dan Hiner
Canfield
Canfield will be well represented when the Division I girls tennis tournament kicks off at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason this weekend.
The Cardinals will have a singles and a double team in the tournament.
Seniors Cece Economus and Sydney Cianciola will compete as a doubles team while sophomore Anna Kan will compete in singles.
It’s the first state appearance for Economus and Kan, but Cianciola isn’t new to state. Her brother, Tim, finished third at state in May and she won state in 2016 with her sister, Hannah.
“It really got me excited because I really wanted to follow in his footsteps, but me and my sister went two years ago,” Cianciola said. “I really wanted to get back there with Cece and have another shot at it.”
But Cianciola isn’t the only with family ties at state. Ursuline’s Lexie Tsudis and Economus are cousins.
Cianciola and Economus lost in the first round of the 2017 districts. This season, the duo was seeded throughout the sectional and district tournaments.
“Since I’m a senior now, it’s even more special,” Economus said. “Last year, it would have been awesome. But even now, going in, it’s my last year — my last match is going to be on the state tennis court. That’s the best place to finish your tennis career.”
There hasn’t been much rest for the Canfield tennis players. Economus and Cianciola have practiced consistently during the season to prepare themselves for a state berth.
“We got one of our first days off on Sunday, actually,” Economus said. “We’ve put everything we’ve had into this. I feel like it should definitely pay off.”
Economus and Cianciola will play Mason’s Sanjana Reddy and Ananya Aggarwal in the first round.
Cianciola said the doubles partners will just go with the flow. They aren’t going to stress about the tournament and will compete the best they can.
“Obviously there will be a little nerves because it will be our first round there,” Cianciola said. “Hopefully we just go out there and play and have our hard work really pay off.”
Kan will face Cincinnati Turpin’s Caitlin Fisher in the first round. Kan finished sixth in the district tournament to claim the final qualifier spot.
She will be one of two sophomores competing in the singles tournament.
“I wasn’t really thinking that I was younger than everybody else,” Kan said. “I don’t think it makes that big of a difference.”
For Canfield tennis coach Rob Stephens, the state tournament will bring mixed emotions. Larry Davis, Stephens’ former coach, died on Saturday. Davis coached the Cardinals for 37 years, compiling a 595-155 record and 27 league championships.
Stephens went to Davis for advice throughout his time as the Cardinals coach.
“I learned a lot from Larry when I was on his team,” Stephens said. “Seeing how he coached and how he handled things, he’s been to state for so many years. How he worked with everyone was incredible.”