What's happening in central Ohio high school boys tennis? Here are 5 storylines
Entering the final month of the high school boys tennis season, some of the usual central Ohio powers are in position to have strong postseasons both team-wise and individually, and other teams continue making names for themselves.
Here are five storylines at the midpoint of the regular season:
1. Senior-laden Jonathan Alder sustains success
With more than half of their varsity lineup back from a season ago and the singles portion intact, the Pioneers (11-0, 9-0 Central Buckeye Conference) are getting expected solid performances on every court.
Senior Josh Weakley won his first 11 matches at third singles. Classmate Isaac Banks (first singles, 7-4), junior Gideon Sullivan (second singles, 10-1) and the senior doubles tandems of Connor Boggs and Drew Corbitt (first, 9-2) and Seth Dickman and Noah Kuck (second, 7-4) enjoyed strong starts of their own.
“Our depth at singles and strength at first doubles have been a huge catalyst,” coach Ryan Swinehart said. “We have some difficult matchups coming up. Our league requires 14 league matches, which has really hurt our ability to play non-conference matches against other teams in the Central District.”
Other than Jonathan Alder, London and North Union, the CBC consists of Southwest District teams.
The Pioneers, who are 55-9 in the regular season since the start of 2021, are seeking their first singles district qualifier since that year. A doubles team advanced in 2022.
2. Franklin Heights continues growth
Falcons coach Jim Wassmuth might have pinched himself in excitement within the first three days of the season, when his team matched its win total from 2022 (3-11).
The core group that has been with him since then has continued the program’s ascension, and after Franklin Heights posted its first winning season since 1999 last year (10 wins), the Falcons (5-5, 2-4 OCC-Capital) are setting their sights on matching the 13-win team from 1995.
“Most of the current players were either ninth or 10th graders (in 2022) and honestly, only one player joining the team (then) had any tennis experience,” Wassmuth said. “The rest learned as they went and the hard work they've been putting in has been showing. …
“They are hungry. They want to win, and they have seen the fruits of their labors paying off.”
Juniors Vaughn Chum (first singles) and Noah Mitchell (third) flank senior Eric Martinez in the singles lineup. Seniors Nathan Long, Montana Runser and Nathaniel Wimbley and junior Arturo Amarillas anchor doubles.
3. Hand takes reins for Olentangy Liberty
After making the Division I district tournament in doubles last year with his older brother, Liberty sophomore Shane Hand has moved to first singles and, as far as coach Adrian Tolentino is concerned, could be poised for an even deeper postseason run.
Hand is 4-4, having faced some of the state’s top singles players including Columbus Academy’s Nason Lo and Dublin Coffman’s Nik Shough.
“He’s always had that drive where you know he is going to thrive at whatever position,” Tolentino said. “He could have played (Nos.) 1, 2 or 3 (singles) last year, we just had a lot of talent up top.
“Mentally, he very well could be the toughest kid around. You typically don’t see the drive he has as a sophomore. It’s something special. We’re both on the same page with vision and our outlook. The sky is the limit for him.”
Liam Hand, who is now a senior, remains at doubles for the Patriots (4-4, 3-0 OCC-Central).
4. Youthful Big Walnut takes early league lead
It is not lost on the Golden Eagles (9-1, 5-0 OCC-Capital) or coach Ryan Balaz that the boys program has yet to win a league championship, compared to three for the girls team, and they think they might have the roster in place to break through.
Senior Jeevan Konduru, the only varsity returnee from 2023, is 8-0 at first singles and recently teamed with classmate Garrett Hartsook to win a doubles invitational at Watkins Memorial.
Hartsook is one of four seniors who previously played at the junior varsity level, along with Julian Humbert, Garrett Irvine and Luke Medley.
“They bring a wealth of experience and maturity,” Balaz said. “Over the past several summers we have had tremendous participation at summer practices. Many of our players have committed to playing in clinics or taking lessons indoors during the winter months.”
Sophomore Noah McCorkle and freshmen Owen Davis and Suhaas Katta round out the roster.
Big Walnut’s title hopes might come down to a May 3 match at Delaware, which also is undefeated in the league.
5. OTCA tournament continues
The Ohio Tennis Coaches Association district tournament has reached the semifinal stage for some teams and quarterfinals for others.
Defending Division I district champion Olentangy Orange will play Dublin Jerome or Upper Arlington in a semifinal. Quarterfinals will pit Liberty against OCC-Central rival Hilliard Davidson on Monday and New Albany against Dublin Coffman on May 4.
Division II semifinals feature defending district champion Columbus Academy against Wellington and Bexley against Marietta. The latter is scheduled for May 3.
The state tournament is May 25 at the College of Wooster.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 storylines in central Ohio high school boys tennis
