News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy tennis team turned in a dominating performance to capture its fifth consecutive state championship. With Ella Mancuso winning the singles title for the second year in a row and the team of Caroline Holliday and Cameron Raines capturing their second consecutive doubles championship, the Redstickers rolled up 21.5 points to win the 2025 LHSAA Division I State Tennis Championship, held April 28 and 29 at Forsythe Park in Monroe. 

Runner-up Barbe scored eight points, while Dominican and Mount Carmel scored six points each. There were 13 teams in the field. 

Mancuso defeated Ciara Sergi of Mandeville 6-4, 7-5. Holliday and Raines defeated their teammates, Adeline Hedges and Ryland Stafford, 7-6, 7-5 in an all-SJA final match. 

“We got everyone into the semifinals,” said head coach Jonathan Howard. “That’s a huge accomplishment. I don’t know how we could have scored any more points.”

Howard said his team was one of the best in Louisiana high school tennis. To ensure his players were ready for the state tournament, they took to the road throughout the season to face off against tough competition. “We went across the country to find other teams to play that we were competitive with, so everyone on the roster had a lot of tough matches during the year,” Howard said. “It paid off at the state tournament.” 

Mancuso, a senior, said bringing home the singles and team championships were special accomplishments. “I have spent the last four years being dedicated to and loving this team,” she said. “I feel so lucky to represent a team that encourages and pushes one another to be our very best. Our coach has put so much time and effort into this program so that we may have amazing results. Our team scored 21.5 out of 23 points, which is some of the best scoring our team has had. I am so excited that I was able to end my high school career this way.” 

Holliday, also a senior, said the state championship is testament to how hard team members have worked throughout the year. “We gave our all, and I think the results really showed that,” she said. “In my years on the SJA tennis team, I have never experienced every player making it to the second day of state. I am so happy that my doubles partner, Cameron Raines, and I have two titles back to back. We have improved greatly over the past two years, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I want to give the biggest thank you to Coach Jonathan. He believed in me when he put me in doubles last year when I had played singles my first two years. He is so proud of all our hard work and dedication, and we are all very grateful to him.”

Junior Kate McCann said it was enormously fulfilling to bring a fifth state championship trophy home to SJA. “I think it is a reflection of the work that every single person puts in day in and day out, on and off the court,” she said. “Especially after falling in the second round last year as a singles player, being able to play my own team in doubles all the way to the semifinals gave me the feeling that being in that moment was everything I had worked for.”

Sophomore Harper Brown-Rachleff said this year’s state championship was truly memorable. “It was such an amazing experience to win alongside my teammates and watch everyone leave it all on the court,” she said. “The bond we have built is so strong, and for all of us to have made it to at least the semis together was such an accomplishment.”

Hedges said she was extremely proud of the team’s successes throughout the year, given the loss of several key players from last year’s team due to graduation. “But under the guidance of our wonderful coach, we were able to step up and have success on our mission to win five consecutive state championships,” she said. “Going out in such a winning fashion as a senior captain is a remarkable experience, and I am so thankful for such an amazing school and team that provided me with this opportunity.”

Raines, a junior, said she was particularly excited to win the state doubles title with her partner, Caroline Holliday. “It's her last season, and it felt great to finish with a win,” she said.

Howard said he was very proud of this year’s senior class. In addition to their outstanding talent, they provided strong leadership throughout the season. He also thanked senior Darby Thompson, who served as a team ambassador this year. “She did an outstanding job managing relationships and point totals,” Howard said. “She meant a lot to the team.”