Conrad Weiser senior Emma Perkins wins silver in PIAA Class 2A girls tennis singles

Nov. 4—HERSHEY — Despite not achieving the desired outcome, Conrad Weiser senior Emma Perkins reflects on her groundbreaking career with the Scouts’ girls tennis program with no regrets.

In the PIAA Class 2A girls singles final on Saturday, Perkins was defeated by defending champion Ilana Rosenthal of Wyoming Seminary with a score of 6-1, 6-0. However, Perkins maintains a positive outlook and focuses on her incredibly successful four-year journey.

“It was an incredible ride,” she expressed. “It meant the world to me and I’m truly delighted with the outcome. No regrets. My high school tennis experience has been everything to me. I never realized the magnitude of high school tennis until my first states competition, and I realized that it’s a significant event where people truly care. I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”

The match between Rosenthal and Perkins featured several intense rallies, and Perkins acknowledges that allowing Rosenthal to dictate the game’s flow made a difference.

“In hindsight, I should have been more aggressive, approached the net, and played to my strengths,” Perkins admitted. “Instead, I adapted to her style of play, which wasn’t the best approach, but overall, I’m content with my performance.”

Perkins, who previously earned three PIAA medals in doubles, competed in the PIAA girls singles tournament for the first time. She secured the gold medal in 2020 with Alex Pancu and earned silver medals in 2021 with Michelle Timothy and last year with Victoria Waltz.

For Perkins, the gold medal triumph with Pancu during her freshman year remains a cherished memory, along with her highly successful senior season.

“Undoubtedly, winning states with Alex my freshman year was an incredible feat,” Perkins shared about her favorite moment. “And I would say this year’s finals were also memorable because I believe I played my best tennis ever.”

Earlier in the season, Perkins defeated Mia Gassert of Hamburg 6-1, 6-3, joining Martha Blakely (2004-07) from Wyomissing and Cara Wirth (2008-11) from Wilson as the only four-time Flight 1 girls singles champions in Berks girls history.

Additionally, Perkins claimed the District 3 Class 2A singles title by defeating Sienna Castelli from Lancaster Country Day, the second seed and defending champion, with a score of 6-0, 6-0. This victory added to her three district doubles titles. She is only the third player in Berks history to win four District 3 championships, combining both singles and doubles.

Conrad Weiser owes much of its winning culture to Perkins. With Perkins on the team, the Scouts reached the Berks final in all four years, winning the title during her freshman and sophomore years.

“There are no words that can adequately describe what Emma has meant to our program, school, and community,” stated Conrad Weiser coach Ryan Knarr. “Her recent performance over the past few weeks is another unforgettable moment in an exceptional career that will be remembered not only in the history books but also in our hearts and minds. She is one of the greatest players to ever grace the tennis courts in Berks County.

“She will forever be an integral part of our program. She and her partner, Alex Pancu, are two players who have defined a generation and initiated a remarkable tennis dynasty for Conrad Weiser. They have set the standard for years to come.”

Looking ahead, Perkins plans to continue her tennis journey but has yet to make a decision about her post-graduation plans. Regardless of her choice, tennis will undoubtedly remain a constant presence, and Knarr is confident in her ability to continue shining.

“I will definitely be playing tennis in college; I just need to figure out where,” Perkins affirmed. “Tennis will always be a fundamental part of my life.”

“We always emphasize the importance of the process in our program, and it’s no different when it comes to Emma and her future goals,” Knarr added. “Her best tennis is still ahead of her. She has so much more to accomplish in college and beyond, and we are all thrilled to witness and support her journey. She will always be a part of who we are and what we represent as the Conrad Weiser tennis family.”