Moncks Corner – There have been a few coaching legends within the athletic department at Berkeley High School over the long tradition of successes.
Though he may not have the general notoriety outside of Moncks Corner, everyone within the city that follows Stags athletics knows the important effect that coach Joe Harnage has had in the sport of tennis.
Harnage has been a fixture on the courts at Berkeley for more than two decades. With the school refurbished the tennis facility, they also named the courts after their long-time coach.
Harnage has established a competitive girls tennis program through hard work and dedication to the sport. He coached at Berkeley for five seasons during the 1990’s before taking a break. He returned as coach in 2004 and has been a mainstay since. Harnage also has coached the boys program for several seasons, off and on, including the last two seasons.
The coach feels his 2023 girls team can be a viable contender in the upcoming Class AAAAA state playoffs. Entering the last week of September, Berkeley’s lone loss came to perennial power Wando.
“We are having a great season,” Harnage said. “We have been working really hard this year and I can see improvements in all of our players.”
Berkeley’s top five singles players are returning from last fall. Hannah Giannelli, a sophomore, plays No. 1 singles. Sister Rachel Giannelli, a senior, plays No. 2 singles. A third Giannelli, eighth-grader Esther, is playing No. 5 singles. Junior Reese Watson plays No. 3 singles and Camryn McCutchen plays No. 4 singles.
Harnage says two teams are working to solidify the No. 2 doubles slot in the lineup. Senior Sofia Ferez and junior Rileigh Ballentine form one team while sophomore Kaylen Bradshaw and freshman Caroline Guerry form the other duo. Harnage says other significant contributions have come from Veda Driggers, Addison Metts, Macy Myers, Charlotte Mueller and Vedika Patel.
“We have tremendous potential on our team,” Harnage reports. “We have 25 players and almost all of our players joined the team when they were in middle school. Since we do not have a public tennis facility in Moncks Corner, many girls get started on their tennis skills when they try out as middle-schoolers.”
Harnage also credits assistant coaches Miller White, Richard Jackson, Jay Guerry and Courtney Salisbury for developing many of the younger players.
“I have been blessed with great administrators over the years that have allowed us to grow this program into something special. A major asset is that we have our own on-site courts. As far as high school facilities go, they rank pretty high.”
Another building program at Berkeley is the girls golf program, coached by fourth-year coach Jeremy Colley. The program qualified for the AAAAA state tournament last fall and have their sights set on another trip this season.
The top five performers this season include Hailey Singletary, Alyssa Archer, Emily Moon, Tori McCay and Jenna Kate Hoffman.
Rounding out the roster are Sullivan Giavelli, Taylor Wohlschlag and Emily Hodgdon.
“Our season is going very well, our girls have hit personal best scores in several matches,” Colley reports. “Our goal is to make the state tournament. We made it for the first time last season, and expect to be there again. Our main strength of our team is never being satisfied. Regardless of winning a match, or shooting a personal best, we are always looking to improve.”
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