Long before Bella Filippi reached a championship level, she was a child simply playing tennis once a week for fun. She would keep herself busy on the courts by participating in clinics at Liberty.
Around seventh grade, her family encouraged her to “play tennis more competitively.”
“That is when I started doing private [lessons] and clinics,” Filippi said. “That’s what made me become more of a [competitive] tennis player.”
Less than two years later, Filippi was trying out for varsity tennis at Century. The Knights were in for quite the treat with her arrival. She produced once of the best rookie seasons in recent memory in Carroll County sports. She went undefeated in the regular season — including many 6-0, 6-0 sweeps — and claimed the girls singles tournament championship by beating defending champion Daphnee Whitmore in an intense nail-biter, 6-4, 6-2, 10-7.
Along with county champion, Filippi now carries the title of Carroll County 2024 girls tennis Player of the Year.
So what was the key factor to Filippi’s success? Yes, her training in private lessons and off the court contributed. However, according to her, she simply played her game and her style. That’s how she approached the season and her tooth-and-nail duel with Whitmore, whom she knew she would have to eventually face during the season.
“I figured out a way how to play my way instead of how other people play and adapting to them,” she said, “so I played more of my game instead of their games which helped me a lot.”
As she reflects on her performance during her Player of the Year season, she is simply “happy and grateful.”
“I know I did good in the season, but I was really glad I got the opportunity to get the award,” she said. “[It’s] something that I’m proud of.”
Filippi was pleased with her performance and her scores, but she says that the main thing that helped her have such a memorable season was the fact that she was in such a great team environment at Century.
“What made the season better was my friends and how positive the environment was,” Filippi said. “Everyone was so kind and encouraging.”
“She’d comfort me and be like, ‘Look at this point right now and where you are at, so there is no need to stress out,’” Filippi said. “She is very positive and kind, and she always knew how to calm me down when I was stressed during a tight match.”
The pressure of sports and competition can take a big toll on an athlete and it can be easy for an individual to fall under stress and play out of their own style. Filippi had a big support system this past season and is a big advocate of self-positivity in competition.
“There’s times where I lose my own mentality and I’ll be lost in a game,” Filippi said. “[But] keep fighting and you’ll end up winning. In the county tournament, I was very nervous about that game and I was getting stressed out while playing. Then, we reached the third set for a tiebreaker and that’s where I had to really stay positive, stay calm and play my game. When I play stressed out and upset, I won’t play good.
“I just thought positively of myself. I knew I could win. I’ve been trained and I knew that I was capable of winning.”
All eyes will certainly be on Filippi next season as she hopes to duplicate or possibly even surpass her initial success in her sophomore season. She will continue to train, but she knows she already has an advantage now with a year of experience under her belt and the knowledge of the league and her opponents.
“At least now I know I’m prepared because I know what the season is like and how the other players play,” she said. “[I just need to] be smart when I play.”
At the end of the day, Filippi’s own determination, self-belief and self-positivity will be what drives her to success on the court. With an MVP-caliber season in the books, there is no one who believes in themselves more than Filippi.
All-County first team
Grace Maerten, Liberty, senior
Maerten split the year between playing No. 1 singles and doubles for the Lions. In the postseason, she was part of the county mixed doubles championship team with Louis Major.
Sydney Mossman, South Carroll, junior
Mossman had a lot of success as the Cavaliers’ No. 2 singles player, but went to greater heights playing mixed doubles with Michael Mooney. They pair finished as runners-up in the county, but then stormed through the postseason finishing as 1A state champions.
Katy Resh, Manchester Valley, senior
Resh was the top girls singles player for the county co-champion Mavericks and placed third at the county tournament, rallying to beat South Carroll’s Iryna Kovalenko in three sets.
Daphnee Whitmore, Westminster, senior
Whitmore, the 2023 Girls Tennis Player of the Year, finished as girls singles runner-up at the county tournament, losing in three sets to Filippi, who also handed Whitmore her only regular-season county loss.
Caroline Aliftiras and Audrey Lillycrop, South Carroll
Aliftiras and Lillycrop were unbeaten in the regular season before a slip in the county tournament finals. It turned out to be only a minor speed bump to greater things, as the pair ran through the playoffs, not losing a set at the regional or state tournament, ending as Class 1A state champions.
Madison McGregor and Talula Castanzo, Manchester Valley
McGregor and Castanzo were the only team in Maryland to put a blemish on Aliftiras and Lillycrop’s record this season, winning the county doubles tournament finals, 7-6, 6-3. They went 3-0 at the 2A West Region I tournament to win the title and earn a trip to states.
