Judging by her handshake, Hope Willis should maintain her firm grip on Class 5A girls tennis this week.

The Wylie High junior returns to San Antonio with four teammates to defend her 2025 championship in singles. Though Wylie has made its mark at the 5A level since moving up in 2018, she was the first girls singles winner.

Willis rolled through District 4-5A and Region I play this spring. In Lubbock, she lost eight games in four matches to defend that title. Now, she’s after a second state gold.

“I’m happy to go back. It’s always a great experience,” she said this week. “All these good players, they make it to state, so it’s awesome.

“Everyone you’re going to play at state is going to be good. I’m going to give it my best shot and, hopefully, come out on top.”

This is her third state trip. As a freshman, she teamed with Trevor Short to qualify for the mixed doubles tourney. They won their quarterfinal match but lost in the semifinals 7-6 (4), 6-4 to eventual state champions Aaditt Rishi and Addison Rosser of Frisco Lebanon Trail.

Thus, Willis has a bronze to go with her gold.

Last year, it was an all-Region I final. The two girls from the regional meet played for first place, with Willis downing Sara Shelhammer of Amarillo High 6-4, 6-1.

This year, Shelhammer also will be back in San Antonio, but as a doubles partner. Many believe her duo will win doubles gold. She had qualified in doubles in 2024.

“She is awesome,” Willis said. They have shared a court many times.

Regardless of Shelhammer's absence from the singles field, Willis is preparing for war.

Though she went 3-0 last year at state, she took a tough 7-5, 6-4 win in the quarterfinals and a 6-4, 6-2 victory in the semis. She was challenged.

“Last year, I was pretty nervous. I wanted to live up to everyone’s expectations. I think this year I’m just going to try to have fun. I’ve done this once,” she said. “And I play best when I am loose. That’s my goal, not to play tight out there. It’s fun. It’s high school tennis.”

Many of her opponents at out-of-state tournaments do not go to high school. They are homeschooled to give them more hours to practice.

“It’s fun to play them,” Willis said. And maybe beat them as a full-time high school student.

“Yeah, coming from small-town Abilene,” she said, smiling.

There will be few unknowns for Willis at this year’s state tourney.

“I know everyone I’ll be playing,” said Willis, who has a first-round bye. She takes on the winner of the match between Syona Das of Frisco Independence and Allison Crane of San Antonio Alamo Heights on Thursday afternoon at Northside Tennis Center.

If she wins, Willis likely will face Maya Diyashever of College Station HIgh School. That, she said, could be her biggest obstacle, and it’s on her side of the bracket. She said she got a tough draw.

“That would be a really good match,” Willis said.

THIS IS IMPORTANT

Willis said she is putting her best effort into her return to San Antonio.

When she’s not playing for the purple and gold, she is traveling to play many of the best players in the nation. Playing at the state tournament is not a step down; it’s a chance to take her wealth of experience and put it to work.

Her handshake is proof. She has worked with Rick Meyers, the 1976 state champ from Abilene Cooper. Meyers teaches that a strong wrist is the key to making great shots. Willis has that; in fact, she has worked to be physically formidable on the court.

“I hit the weights and I’ve gotten stronger. I am hitting stronger,” she said. She goes to the gym three days a week, “bright and early” before school with friends and family.

Try 4:30 a.m.

She believes it’s to her advantage.

“Also my strategies and my mindset going in,” she said of the 2026 Hope Willis. “I think I have plans now when I play. Last year, I’d just go out there and play.”

She will see what shots are working now and exploit those.

“If my forehand’s on, I’ll play my forehand more. Take my shots and my opportunities,” she said. “If it’s not working, I'll try more slice and drop shots.

SING A LITTLE SONG

Willis has been playing tennis for more than 10 years. It was a cousin, Kate Wurster, who played at the collegiate level who inspired her. Her mother also played in high school. After seeing her cousin compete in Abilene, Willis told her parents she wanted to be like that. Thus began her journey in tennis that still is ascending.

“I am definitely a competitive person,” she said, asked if she thought she could be this good. She set her sights on USTA-level tennis and her goal is to play in college.

Not every day is perfect and not every opponent is a pushover. What happens when the shots don’t fall or she gets behind?

“Settle down, play your game,” she tells herself. She doesn’t like losing the second set. That refocuses her during her three-minute break. “You’re here. Have fun.”

But there is a secret. Sssshhhh, don’t tell anyone.

“I normally sing a song when I’m out there,” Willis said.”Whatever I’m feeling that day … maybe a little Rhianna, I don’t know.”

Despite her many tennis adventures and accomplishments, Willis is hyped about the state tournament. For one thing, there will be a good Wylie contingent there. Her coach, Adam Cherry, expects to have a loaded team next year and, Willis said, intends to bring players to San Antonio to witness the high level of competition and make it their goal to return in 2027.

“It should be a lot of fun with the team. Whatever happens, I’ll always have them.”

Hopefully, the song she sings Friday afternoon is “We Are the Champions.”