Oct. 27, 2026Updated Oct. 28, 2026, 2:53 p.m. ET
Cathedral Prep’s Hutchinson sisters confirmed that constructive criticism is a valid oxymoron.
The No. 1 doubles starters for the Ramblers’ PIAA Class 2A girls team tennis dual against Winchester Thurston admitted as much after their match at Westwood Racquet Club.
“I like playing with my sister,” Ellen Hutchinson said, “because I can be honest with her. If we’re having a moment (on the court), I can tell her, ‘Please don’t talk to me!’”
Elizabeth Hutchinson agreed they’re prone to disagree between points.
“Yeah, we have our moments where we’ll (verbally) fight on the court,” she said, “but we’re pretty good about that for the most part. We play well together.”
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There were few if any qualms en route to the duo’s latest victory for District 10’s small-school champion.
Ellen, a senior, and Elizabeth, a junior, swept Winchester Thurston’s Anya Mahtani and Rosalie Panasiuk 6-2, 6-1. It also contributed to Prep’s 3-1 win over the Bears (10-2) on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the third seeds from the WPIAL.
Set scores for the dual’s unfinished No. 3 singles match were vacated once Prep’s advantage was insurmountable.
“It feels good to know we contributed to a (team win) like that,” Elizabeth Hutchinson said.
Paige Patsy and Ella Fetzner (No. 1 and 2 singles) were the other victors for the Ramblers (15-4), who advanced to this weekend’s main portion of the state tournament.
They’ll be northwestern Pennsylvania’s lone participant at Hershey Racquet Club due to Bethel Park, which eliminated Fairview 5-0 in a PIAA Class 3A first-rounder held earlier at Westwood.
Who’s next
Prep and District 1’s Lower Moreland will serve and volley in the 2A tournament’s last quarterfinal. Their Oct. 30 dual is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m.
The Lions of Huntingdon Valley improved to 13-2 with their 3-0 sweep of Masterman in an Oct. 27 dual at Philadelphia’s Legacy Tennis Center.
Although the Ramblers won’t be the biggest of underdogs, they won’t be favored solely based on Lower Moreland’s recent history. The Lions have reached the PIAA’s last three 2A finals, a run highlighted by their 3-2 victory vs. Scranton Prep that warranted the state’s 2024 championship trophy.
“All the pressure is on (them),” Prep coach Ryan Deimel said, “and if we play our best, I still really like our chances. Our team is loose and headed in the right direction.”
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Bethel Park (17-2) not only blanked Fairview but won each of its five matches in straight sets.
Included were 6-0, 6-0 victories by Cami Fisher over the Tigers’ Emiko Munekata in No. 1 singles and Hadley Murello over Eliza Krowicki in No. 3 singles.
“I thought we did the best we could (Oct. 27),” Fairview coach Aiko Munekata said, “but Bethel Park is an incredible team. I’m still proud of what we did this season, and I’m looking forward to a strong (2027) season.”
Fairview’s current season will resume for Aiko Munekata’s daughters and fellow Tiger Jenna Szklenski.
Emiko Munekata advanced to the Nov. 6-7 PIAA singles tournament as the district’s 2A gold medalist. Erika Munekata and Szklenski will compete in 2A doubles that same weekend.
Contact Mike Copper atmcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.