Tennis team quick to compete at state level

Jefferson High School launched a girls’ tennis program in 1988. Its dynasty began soon after.

The Panthers took nine straight division titles under coach Dave Hohenthal starting in 1997 – with four consecutive state B-C championships and three state third-place trophies in that stretch. 

The 1997 team, coached by Hohenthal and Denise Richardson started the run, with Mitzi Makela, Holly Craft, Amy Lewis, Tiffany Makela, Melanie Brewer, Tara Buckland and Angie Lewis winning the Southeastern Divisional title. The next year, Tiffanie Makela, Amy Lewis, Angie Lewis, Nan Llewellyn, Jodi Makela, Virginia Johnson and Melanie May repeated.