Emma Cuck has made the trip to Hershey and now, as a senior, is driven by her memory from last season.

This is the fourth time she will compete in the Scranton Prep lineup at the PIAA Class 2A Championships. The Classics won the state championship in 2023 and finished as the runner-up last season after a 3-2 loss to Lower Moreland.

Scranton Prep (18-0) plays District 10 champion Cathedral Prep (11-9) at 4 p.m. in the quarterfinals. The winner advances to the semifinals on Saturday at noon. The final is set for 6 p.m.

“I am very excited,” Cuck said. “We didn’t get to finish the way we wanted last year. We have another opportunity. We are approaching it differently, and we are ready.”

During her career, Cuck has a record of 78-2 as a starter at No. 3 singles and this season at No. 2 singles. Her victory in the first round over Maddie Groff was the 10th in 11 state team tournament matches.

As a freshman, Cuck competed at No. 3 singles and defeated Moravian Academy’s Laura Li, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, and Sewickley Academy’s Rayna Thakkar, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3). Scranton Prep lost to Sewickley, 3-2, in the quarterfinals.

In 2023, Cuck helped fuel the Classics’ run to the state title. She defeated Moravian Academy’s Penelope Blomfield, 6-0, 6-0, in a 3-2 win in the first round. At Hershey, she defeated Sewickley’s Maria Sirianni, 6-4, 6-1, in a 4-0 overall victory; Cathedral Prep’s Paige Patsy, 7-5, 6-2, in a 3-2 semifinal win; and Lower Moreland’s Abigail Yanovitsky, 6-1, 6-2, in the gold-medal win.

Last season, Cuck opened with a win over Allentown Central Catholic’s Valentina Munoz, 6-1, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, she battled past Cathedral Prep’s Sophia Glance, 6-2, 7-6 (5), and beat Quaker Valley’s Jay Olawaiye, 6-2, 6-4, in the semifinals. She carried an undefeated record into the championship rematch against Lower Moreland but suffered her first defeat, as Yanovitsky gained a measure of revenge with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win.

This season, Cuck moved up to No. 2 singles. She played in her first District 2 Singles Championships and advanced to the semifinals. Montrose’s Cara Evans won the match and eventually defeated Cuck’s teammate Lily Lengyel in the final.

In the state team quarterfinal, Cuck matches up against Cathedral Prep freshman Ella Fetzner.

“It’s important to start strong, play confidently, and avoid making any unnecessary mistakes,” Cuck said. “I am going to play my game to the best of my ability.”

Lengyel, a junior and Scranton Prep’s No. 1 singles player, carries an impressive state resume into the quarterfinals as well.

She is 7-1 in the tournament and will match up against Patsy, who has climbed to No. 1 singles since her loss to Cuck in 2023.

Hannah LaCoe, Scranton Prep’s No. 3 singles player who is 18-0 this season, will play Lydia Beuchert.

In doubles, Scranton Prep’s No. 1 team of Adithi Velaga and Maci Bulzoni will play Katie Kuhar and Eliza Kalner. The Classics’ No. 2 team of Grace James and Donatella DeNaples faces Elizabeth Hutchinson and Ellen Hutchinson.

The other quarterfinal match will have District 3 champion Lancaster Catholic (15-1) playing District 7 runner-up North Catholic (13-3) at 2:30. The winner will face the winner of the Scranton Prep-Cathedral Prep quarterfinal.

In the bottom of the bracket, District 7 champion Quaker Valley (12-1) plays District 3 runner-up Wyomissing (13-1) at 5:30 p.m., and District 4 champion Danville (20-0) plays District 1 champion and defending state champion Lower Moreland (15-3) at 7 p.m.

Originally Published: October 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM EDT