BETHLEHEM – A new normal?

Norb Lienhard wouldn’t mind.

The Jim Thorpe girls’ tennis team enjoyed its finest season under Lienhard this fall.

• A school-record 13 wins.

• A district quarterfinalist in Leanne Van Essendelft.

• A spot in the district team tournament.

The Olympians head coach got to enjoy another milestone on Tuesday, as three of his teams qualified for the District 11 Class 2A doubles tournament.

“It’s just nice to finish it off that way,” said Lienhard.

Jim Thorpe’s No. 1 doubles team of Evelyn Flores and Angelica Uzar advanced to the second round, knocking off Notre Dame East Stroudsburg’s Bailey Riley and Gwen Strasser 6-1, 6-3 in their opening match.

Uzar and Flores fell 6-4, 6-2 to No. 5 seed Jess Davis and Emma Sweterlitsch of Allentown Central Catholic in the second round.

The teams also played each other last week in the District 11 Class 2A team tournament, with Davis and Sweterlitsch coming out on top 6-0, 6-3.

Uzar and Flores were ready for the rematch.

“They said they really didn’t mind playing them,” said Lienhard. “They were familiar with them, and they liked playing against them, they really did.

“I think they knew what they were up against, so it was a little more comfortable for them.”

The familiarity helped, and it showed in the closer score.

“I think we played really well today,” said Flores, a junior. “We knew going into the Allentown Central Catholic match that it would be hard. But we just wanted to make it as close as we could, and that’s what we did.

“We wanted to win more games than what we did in our district match with them, and we did that today.”

Flores and Uzar have thrived playing together, building a relationship both on and off the court.

“We have great chemistry,” said Uzar, a senior. “This is our second year playing together. Last year, we didn’t have such a good record like we do this year. This year, we’ve just kind of clicked.

“We know, OK, she’s there, I’m here; I’m here to back her up.”

The Olympians other doubles teams in the tournament – Leanne Van Essendelft and Christy McLean, and Chloe Getz and Trista Gehris – bowed out to the top seeds in their first round matches.

Van Essendelft and McLean, Jim Thorpe’s top two singles players this season, lost 6-0, 6-0 to No. 1 seed Logan Lencheski and Keiran Lencheski of Notre Dame Green Pond, while Getz and Gehris suffered a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Bethlehem Catholic’s Belen Blasco and Jessica Marks, the second seed.

“They never quit,” said Lienhard. “No matter what the score was, they would always give it all they had. Nobody ever quit on me all season long, no matter what the score was.”

The 2018 season brought unprecedented success for Jim Thorpe.

But Lienhard wants 2019 to be even better.

“We already talked to the kids that are coming back next year, and said, ‘OK, we had something special this year, so now you know what it takes. You’ve got to continue that,’” he said.

“We feel like we should be able to make it as a team in districts against next year, because our cupboard isn’t empty after this.”

Tamaqua’s Brooke Williams and Miranda Chinchar suffered a 6-3, 6-0 loss to Allentown Central Catholic’s Sabrina Yurconic and Kara Wang in the opening round.

“I loved playing together,” said Williams, the Blue Raiders’ No. 1 singles player. “I wish we had more time to play together; it’s kind of tough, going from singles all year to doubles … but we still gave it our all.”

Chinchar relished the opportunity to take the court at districts for the first time, and to do so with Williams by her side.

“It was great,” said Chinchar. “It was my first time ever playing a doubles match, so it was nice to play with my best friend for my first time at districts and her last.”

NEXT … The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held today starting at 1:30 p.m. at Saucon Valley High School. The finals are scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. at Lehigh.

BOUNCED … Only one seeded team in Class 2A got knocked out on the first day of the tournament. Bethlehem Catholic’s Cecile Szollus and Kaitlyn Hartman eliminated No. 6 seed Julia Hernandez and Megan Gatchel of Saucon Valley 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in the second round.