She’s a doubles player by heart, but as a new mom and now in her third year at the helm of the W.F. West High School girls tennis program, Megan Wellander is adjusting.
The past two seasons have featured prominent doubles tandems. Katelyn Wood and Lilly Hueffed were state medalists in 2024, then Ellie Mittge and Manta Ceesay were the first alternates for state last spring.
For 2026, it’s been the three singles that have carried the torch for the Bearcats.
Mittge, Isabella Casimiro and Maddie Bradley recorded victories in straight sets on Tuesday afternoon, leading W.F. West to a 4-2 dual win over Centralia on the Jack State tennis courts in Chehalis.
“It is reassuring, I can trust them,” Wellander said. “For the right tennis player, it is better so they don’t have to put pressure on their partner. We can get caught in playing back and forth and not getting aggressive, which isn’t a bad way to play high school tennis.
“I’d love to see more of that aggressive doubles come into each of their (singles) play.”
Now at 6-0 in the dual season, the Bearcats haven’t lost a league contest since Wellander took over. Despite losses at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, their No. 3 duo of Mia Leslie and Tinsley Brown notched a 6-2, 6-0 win.
Yet the firepower has come from the three players that prior to this year, were in doubles.
Mittge has taken over as W.F. West’s No. 1 singles spot in the lineup and continued her stellar play with a 6-0, 6-1 verdict over Esther Hopkins.
More than her game on the court, her leadership off the court has reached a new level as one of the few girls returning with varsity experience.
“She is a strong leader, a thoughtful leader,” Wellander said. “Unsung hero kind of vibe. She carries a level of professionalism and I think that impacts the girls. Just an even-keel girl.”
Casimiro and Bradley, two sophomores, have slid into the Nos. 2 and 3 singles spots, respectively. Casimiro won 6-1, 6-1 while Bradley pulled out a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
“Isabella is a lot more cool,calm and collected; she is really hitting her stride,” Wellander said. “Maddie, she's getting comfortable, but I am excited for how she is doing.”
Centralia’s two wins came from Suki Bringman and Saryn Petesky at No. 1 doubles with a 6-3, 6-3 score plus Neela Haywood and Eliyah Rooklidge picked up a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 thriller at No. 2 doubles.
Haywood and Rooklidge teamed at sub-districts and have kept the momentum forward. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set and took advantage of unforced errors by the Bearcats.
“We were like ‘woah,’” Tigers head coach Keith Hopkins said of the instant chemistry.
Still, Centralia’s top goal is to get to the postseason and see what can happen. Like every other sport in Class 2A District 4, only three state berths are up for grabs.
“This is all practice to get to the end of the season,” Hopkins said.
W.F. West’s next league opponent is Aberdeen and Centralia battles Shelton, both on the road and on Thursday.
