Ella Strohmaier, Andy Zhu Win Tennis State Championship

Archmere junior Ella Strohmaier entered the DIAA State Tennis Tournament in second doubles bracket as the second seed. To win, she had to compete strategically against No. 1 Erin Gross of Caesar Rodney. On May 25 at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Ella did just that, winning in two sets, 6-4, 6-1. Ella became Archmere’s first individual girls champion since Abby Podolski in 2017, also at second singles.
The Dialog quoted Ella as saying, “I try to not think about anything and focus on the game, try to tune everything else out, like the cheering and all that,” she said. “And just don’t change anything about my game. Try to just keep it consistent. Don’t play timid or scared. Just keep attacking.”
 
Erin Gross took a 2-1 lead in the first set, coming back from love-40 to do so. But that was the only edge she had. Ella rallied from that deficit to win twice in the first set and again in the second set. The Archmere girls team took home second place in the state.
 
To read the full Dialog article on Ella’s win, click here.
 
Junior Andy Zhu entered the DIAA Tennis Tournament on Thursday at St. Andrew’s as the top seed, aiming for his third State Championship title. Andy fought back from a 4-3 deficit in both sets as he swept Charlie Sternberg of Sanford, a frequent practice partner, 6-4, 6-4, earning that third consecutive title at first singles.
 
According to the Dialog, “I just kind of stayed with my strategy from the last round, the semifinals, of using my forehand and running around every single ball, and attacking every single ball. I really didn’t go to net that much. I kind of wanted to go to net more, but, I don’t know, I kind of just finished it on the ground strokes,” Zhu said.
 
The matches were close throughout, a fan favorite with large crowds cheering, with many of the games needing extra points to be decided. Andy will be training at a tennis academy in Maryland this summer, getting ready for his final year at Archmere and hopefully a clean sweep of the State Championship. 
 
To read the full Dialog article on Andy’s win, click here.
 
Congratulations to Ella and Andy!
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Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.