Lincoln East gets a repeat; McCook captures first title since 2017
By Tony Chapman – For the Nebraska School Activities Association
The 2025 Nebraska School Activities Association state tennis tournament ended its four-day run at the Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln on Wednesday as Lincoln East captured the Class A tournament for their seventh title in school history.
Last Friday in the Class B tournament, McCook earned their second title in school history by outlasting a balanced field of contenders. The Bison had previously won Class B in 2017.
Team runner-ups were Lincoln Southwest in Class A and Omaha Duchesne Academy in Class B.
Class A: Powerful Spartans capture three titles on way to seventh title
The Lincoln East tennis machine keeps moving forward.
On Wednesday, the Spartan girls won their third title in four years and seventh in school history as they won each bracket to claim the Class A state championship 60-35.5 over Lincoln Southwest. The state title added to the three-peat that the boys team is on as well. In all, the Spartan programs have combined for 19 state titles.
“I am just proud of the kids for working hard and then believing you can be in these moments,” Spartan head coach Chris Stock said. “They handled it well. I appreciate all they give the program, now and for the future.”
It was an emotional day for the Spartans, especially for champion Brianna Rademacher who won No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Rhana Kang of Elkhorn South. The sophomore dedicated her title to older sister Belinda, who had her season cut short due to injury. Belinda Rademacher was a two-time champion for Lincoln East in her career.
“This one is kind of special for me,” Brianna said through tears after her match. “I am just glad I got to do it for her.”
She is the third Rademacher sister to win gold at No. 1 singles. Bianca won in 2022 and Belinda was the champion in 2019.
But, it wasn’t just Rademacher who earned a gold medal.
At No. 2 doubles, junior Stella Simpson erased a 6-0 loss in the opening set to win the final two sets 6-2, 6-2 over top-seeded Alyssa Sherman of Elkhorn South. She finished her season 36-5.
The Spartans were also unbeaten in doubles play. Freshman Belinda Qiao and junior Kyler Garcia cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kate Felt and Meenakshi Variyam of Lincoln Southwest at No. 1. At No. 2 doubles, the senior duo of Stacia Jacobsen and Tatum Lewis overcame a first set loss to defeat Sophie Johnson and Ellie Hain of Southwest 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-3.
“You wouldn’t think about something like that happening,” Stock said of his team getting all four titles. “Just to get in the semifinals is really, really difficult. In those last two rounds, we played really hard teams. For our kids to play their best tennis was just awesome to watch.”
Brianna Rademacher said for East it has never been about the championships, but the process of getting there.
“Our goal is never about winning, it’s just about going out there and supporting each other,” she said.
FINAL BRACKETS: No. 1 Singles | No. 2 Singles | No. 1 Doubles | No. 2 Doubles
Class B: Steady McCook wins tight Class B team race
McCook girls tennis coach Matt Weimers knew the Class B race would be a tight one heading into the state tournament. He also knew his team would have a very good chance to be one of the teams to survive the two-day event on top.
The Bison – buoyed by titles at No. 2 singles from Brooklynn Gillen and No. 1 doubles from Izzy Clause and Roslyn Weimers – did just that as they outpaced Omaha Duchesne Academy 42.625-34.75 in the team race.
“It feels very gratifying,” coach Weimers said. “We got third last year and we only lost one player so we knew that we would have a chance this year, but you just never know. There were five or six teams down here that had a chance to win.”
Despite the close team race, the Bison had done enough early to just have to win one of their final matches for the title. When they won in 2017, they also beat Duchesne 42-41.5.
It was three seniors who snared the titles for the McCook.
Gillen, who advanced to the championship at No. 2 last year, finished her season unbeaten at 43-0 and lost just three sets until the finals where she beat top-seeded Agata Pacchiella of Gretna East 6-2, 6-3.
“I think Brooklynn was very motivated by what happened last year,” coach Wiemers said. “Her demeanor was great all season. And she got down here and she was ready. She didn’t really get pushed very much.”
It was a little different for Clause and Weimers – the coach’s niece – in the No. 1 doubles final. After losing their opening set 6-2 to Kate Baumert and Victoria Leu of Omaha Skutt Catholic, they won the final two sets 6-2, 6-1 to finish 46-1.
“No. 1 doubles was a really tough bracket,” the coach said. “We had really tough matches with Gothenburg and then GICC is a great opponent. Our kids took the best shot from everyone.”
Gretna East freshman Zoe Katsavelis completed a perfect 38-0 season at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Aubrey Phonephakdy of Elkhorn North in the championship match.
At No. 2 doubles, runner-up Duchesne got a championship from senior Anne Holtze and sophomore Margaret Sauer as they defeated Omaha Skutt 6-2, 6-4 in the finals match.
FINAL BRACKETS: No. 1 Singles | No. 2 Singles | No. 1 Doubles | No. 2 Doubles
Tony Chapman is a freelance writer based in Grand Island. He has written for multiple Nebraska daily and weekly newspapers. His Harvest Sports Newsletter covers a wide variety of Nebraska prep sports.