Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls tennis: Nease’s Danielle Wei embraces title, hard work in final season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Danielle Wei never had a doubt.

Sure, the Nease girls tennis team had won just two previous state championships in school history, but Wei, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls tennis player of the year, felt as confident as ever that this season would end in a third. And when the Panthers trounced Jensen Beach for back-to-back state championships, Wei’s confidence paid off.

“Honestly, not really,” Wei said when asked if there was any pause about going back-to-back. “I mean, we are a very strong team. I didn’t really have any doubts.”

The confidence was rooted in belief from top to bottom of the lineup. Wei focused more on junior tennis during Nease’s team championship season and slid up to the No. 1 line to take the spot held by Kylie Kochis, a two-time All-News4JAX player of the year.

“I felt like I definitely embraced it,” Wei said of the move up to the top line. “It was not so much nerve wracking. I mean, I had absolute faith in my team.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX players of the year

Nease was a wrecking ball as a team. Wei went 11-1 at No. 1, her only loss in a tiebreaker against Spruce Creek’s Ashley Narath. She rolled in straight sets the rest of the season, including a 6-2, 6-2 romp against Jensen Beach’s Domenica Monserrate in the final.

“I’ve never been a part of something big, so it’s definitely like mind blowing for me,” she said of the team championship.

Wei said she was just an observer for the longest time before tennis became a family tradition.

“Honestly, my mom and dad got me into it. They played every single day, and one day they were just like, oh, do you want to hit some balls with us,” Wei said. “And so I went on court with them, and I really started playing better than them. I felt like I said to myself, ‘oh, I’m really good at this sport. I went out with some friends, and just from there, like a sport that’s given me like so much.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls tennis team

Player, school, class, notable

Angela Chen, Stanton, So.

Honorable mention All-News4JAX selection last year. Moved up into No. 1 spot and excelled. Unbeaten in singles until losing in tiebreaker in Class 2A state opener.

Caroline Cooper, Creekside, Sr.

Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Went 12-5 at No. 1 singles and 13-5 at doubles and went to Class 4A state meet with Claire Mitchell. Finished 74-27 in her career.

Olivia Jepsen, Nease, So.

Finished 22-6 overall, with a dominant stretch (14-2 with partner Danielle Wei) at the No. 1 doubles spot for Class 3A state champion. Is 52-10 overall in her high school career.

Claire Mitchell, Creekside, Fr.

Excellent debut season and positioned as a rising star in the area. Unbeaten at No. 2 singles and only loss at No. 1 came to player of the year, Danielle Wei. Went 27-5 overall and reached Class 4A state meet with Caroline Cooper.

Rafa Neel, Bolles, Jr.

Three-time All-News4JAX selection. Went 14-4 overall in regular season. Reached Class 2A state tournament as an individual and in doubles with Juliana Graham.

Danielle Wei, Nease, Sr.

Led Panthers to back-to-back team state championships. Third player of the year from the Panthers since 2021. Only regular season loss came in Spruce Creek Invitational. Finished 25-3 overall in dominant season.

Second team

Player, school, class, notable

Stephanie Axne, Fleming Island, Fr.

Reached Class 3A state tournament in her first season. Finished 18-2 overall.

Addie Grek, Episcopal, Jr.

Second team selection last year. Very strong season, with just one singles loss to a local opponent (first-teamer Rafa Neel). Finished 20-8 and helped take Eagles to Class 1A state tournament.

Kaylee Munson, Fletcher, Jr.

Went 15-5 at No. 1 singles and doubles, building off 8-3 season as a sophomore. Honorable mention selection last year.

Blair Murray, Nease, Sr.

Fixture at the No. 2 doubles spot for Class 3A team state champions. Went 25-4 overall in final season. Second team selection last year.

Portland Murray, Nease, Fr.

Finished 24-2 overall for Class 3A state champs, including 12-1 mark at No. 2 doubles spot. Should move up in lineup next season.

Eimy O’Brien, Bishop Kenny, Sr.

Went 14-5 overall for Crusaders, including 8-3 at the No. 1 singles spot. Second-teamer in back-to-back years.

Honorable mention

Player, school, class

Emma Abernathy, Wolfson, So.

Rachel Alvarez, Nease, Jr.

Cora Anderson, Episcopal, Jr.

Natalie Bachman, Beachside, Sr.

Calli Berrang, St. Johns Country Day, Sr.

Berkeley Burkhart, Fernandina Beach, So.

Abigail Capuzzo, Oakleaf, So.

Alana Griffin, Bartram Trail, Sr.

Alexis Henninger, Fleming Island, Sr.

Rosie Jones, Ponte Vedra, So.

Maya Kovalcik, Fernandina Beach, Fr.

Ines Lahbabi, Bolles, Fr.

Tatiana Leontyeve, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.

Brooke Mitchell, Creekside, So.

Grace Mitchell, Episcopal, Jr.

Lauren Parker, Nease, Fr.

Anabelle Rockwell, Episcopal, Sr.

Lauren Siari, St. Augustine, Fr.

Ruby Walker, Yulee, Sr.