Boys tennis preview: Avon looks to continue SWC dominance

Last season could have been a rebuilding year for most programs, but for Avon it was simply a recalibration.The Eagles lost arguably its best senior class in program history entering 2025, but instead of taking a step back, they pushed their winning streak forward after again going undefeated in the Southwestern Conference and bringing home their sixth straight league title dating back to 2019 (there was no season in 2020).The bulk of the lineup is returning. Sophomores Aarav Kishorepuria and Blake Netschke will move up one spot to first and second singles, respectively, while junior Ashton Schwanger, who played doubles last year, has solidified the third singles position."It's a huge responsibility to take the torch from those seniors who did so much for this program," Kishorepuria said. "It's insane what they did, at the level that the did it and at the consistency they produced it. But it's nice to follow in their footsteps, it definitely puts some pressure on you, but we're willing to accept the challenge and make our mark on Avon tennis."Kishorepuria went 18-8 and advanced to the third round of the singles draw at the Division I Canton sectional last year, losing to district qualifier Henry Pozefsky, Wooster's No. 1 player.Netschke is a nice complement to Kishorepuria. Where his teammate likes to construct points, Netschke likes to overpower his opponents with a strong serve and forehand. He went 17-7 at third singles as a freshman and like his teammate lost in the third round of the Canton sectional singles draw."Aarav is a great friend of mine," Netschke said. "I've known him forever. He's great at making you feel comfortable when you're playing with him. If I miss a shot, or if something goes wrong, he's there to keep everything steady as we continue with the match."Last year the pair entered a perfect situation — playing No. 2 and No. 3 singles behind four-time state qualifier and all-time wins leader A.J. Sidoti. This allowed each the time to adjust at the varsity level before being pushed into the top two spots, where the matches get more intense."It couldn't have worked any better for them both," Avon coach Eric Korey said. "Last year was the ideal situation. Not only could they play behind A.J., they could hit with A.J. in practice and learn from him. You can't find a better role model for boys high school tennis than A.J. Sidoti. They certainly benefited from everything he brought to our team. And now they're excited and they're both ready to step up, but they know it's going to be a challenge."Korey said Schwanger has taken a big step forward this offseason. Last year he went 12-12 with various doubles partners, but won the second doubles draw of the SWC tournament with partner Alex Belser, who was one of three seniors Avon graduated from last year.This offseason, however, the junior looked to get more match experience. Schwanger estimated he played at least 10 tournaments, which he cited as the catalyst for his improvement. He won a United States Tennis Association Level 7 tournament early in the offseason and that helped him find success as he entered competition at the more advanced levels throughout the season. Korey said Schwanger battled back to the finals of the back draw at another tournament later in the year."We know we've had some really good players in the past two or three years," Schwanger said. "We're definitely proud of the tradition and it gives us motivation to keep helping Avon get better and to do the best we can."Contact Chris Sweeney at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on X.NORTH COAST CONFERENCE Elyria Catholic PanthersCOACH: Judd Smerglia, 4th yearASSISTANT: April Hanlon2025 RECORD: 4-7 (1-1)PROJECTED LINEUP: Ethan Smerglia, sr., singles; Grant Szczepanski, jr.; singles; James Drumm, so., singles; Colm McGrath, sr., doubles; Andrew Shebak, sr., doubles; Jacob Bright, sr., doubles; Tyler Moore, jr., doubles.OTHERS TO WATCH: Noah Hanlon, jr., doubles; Quinn Rohwer, jr., doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: The Panthers have slowly been re-establishing themselves and once again return six starters from last season, including their top four players. Smerglia and Szczepanski will anchor the team at the top of the lineup while Drumm looks to build off a strong varsity debut last season. Elyria Catholic now has 20 players in its program.SANDUSKY BAY CONFERENCEVermilion SailorsCOACH: Terry Anders, 7th yearASSISTANTS: Jake Baker, Jack Rini 2025 RECORD: 17-3 (12-2 Bay Division)PROJECTED LINEUP: Timothy Anders, jr., singles; Sean Rini, so., singles; Elyse Myntti, so., singles; Kaden Hohla, jr., doubles; Mason McFadden, jr., doubles; Trent Johnson, jr., doubles; Caleb Drost, fr., doubles.OTHERS TO WATCH: Daniel Orear, jr., singles/doubles; Jack Demyan, jr., singles/doubles; Israel Looks, so., singles/doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: The Sailors enjoyed a record-setting year between Severin Kretchmar stringing together another top individual season — his last three seasons all topped the previous single season wins record — and the team posting the highest win total in its history. But now the team will have to replace six seniors from that team, including all three singles players.SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCEAmherst CometsCOACH: Tony Trunzo, 8th yearASSISTANTS: Matt Willard2025 RECORD: 5-2 in SWC, overall record not availablePROJECTED LINEUP: Joshua Tomlin, jr., singles; Kaitlyn Bussard, fr., singles; Marie Schneider, jr., singles/doubles; Garet Bott, sr., singles/doubles; Lucas Young, sr., doubles.OTHERS TO WATCH: A.J. Humphrey, sr., doubles; Samuel Bennett, so., doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: Tomlin enters his junior year having locked down the top spot in Amherst's lineup. The team also returns Bott and Young, who had strong seasons at second singles and first doubles, respectively. Bussard is a very talented freshman who profiles tocontribute right away while Schneider is a German exchange student who also brings a lot of skill.Avon EaglesCOACH: Eric Korey, 12th yearASSISTANTS: Kevin Walker, Kyle Hougland, Lyndsay Moro, Clyde Alexander2025 RECORD: 12-6 (7-0) PROJECTED LINEUP: Aarav Kishorepuria, so., singles; Blake Netschke, so., singles; Ashton Schwanger, jr., singles; Grant Nagy, so., doubles; Bidwat Mishra, jr., doubles; Carter Free, sr., doubles; Jaxen Springer, so., doubles.OTHERS TO WATCH: Owen Kovacs, jr., singles/doubles; Noah Grakaukas, so., singles/doubles; Connor Till, so., singles/doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: Despite having to replace arguably its best senior class ever 2025, the Eagles didn't miss a beat and won their sixth-straight league championship. While four-time state qualifier A.J. Sidoti now plays for Toledo, Kishorepuria and Netschke have already established themselves as two of the top players in the area after just one season, winning the SWC second and third singles titles, respectively.Avon Lake ShoremenCOACH: Adam Gross, 1st year2025 RECORD: 6-1 in SWC, overall record not availablePROJECTED LINEUP: Caleb Johnson, sr., singles; Jack Tobin, so., singles; Carter Athey, sr., doubles; Brody Athey, sr., doubles; Jacob Mars, sr., singles/doubles; Jack Hickey, sr., singles/doubles; Nico Laustri, singles/doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: The Shoremen will have some reloading to do after losing six seniors, including their top two players. The Athey twins should give the Shoremen one of the top doubles teams in the area. Johnson had a strong showing at the SWC tournament, taking third at third singles.Elyria PioneersCOACH: Matt Brinda, 17th yearASSISTANTS: Haley Kapalin, Kennedy Shawver 2025 RECORD: 2-12 (1-6)PROJECTED LINEUP: Ty Zigon, jr., singles; Brandon Sanabria, jr., singles/doubles; Kyle Swart, so., singles/doubles; Davis Hawke, so., singles/doubles.OTHERS TO WATCH: Anthony Reitz, sr., singles/doubles; Josh Smith, fr., singles/doubles; Jon Turner, sr., singles/doubles; Lucas Manholt, sr., singles/doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: Zigon solidified himself at the top of Elyria's lineup after going 13-12 at first singles his sophomore year. The rest of Elyria's lineup will mix and match throughout the season. Sanabria, Swart and Hawke all return after playing doubles last season while Reitz, Turner and Manholt all contributed on junior varsity. Smith is a promising freshman who looks to contribute right away.Midview MiddiesCOACH: Jill Yates, 8th yearASSISTANT: Kevin Yates, Chaz Yates2025 RECORD: 5-8 (3-4)PROJECTED LINEUP: Lila Booth, jr., singles; Evan Kneisel, sr., singles; Ryan Quinn, jr., doubles; Trenton Popek, sr., doubles; Gavin Tribby, jr., doubles.OTHERS TO WATCH: Kaiden Vonya, sr., singles/doubles; Marcus McMahon, sr., sinlges/doubles; Brayden Homoki, sr., singles/doubles; Elijah Jannesar, so., singles.SCOUTING REPORT: The Middies return just about everyone except their No. 1 player in Nick Hubbard, who finished third in the first singles draws of the SWC and LCAAA tournaments last season. Midview is still sorting how things will shake out in his absence, but will lean on its depth throughout the season to mix and match as kids settle into their new positions.North Ridgeville RangersCOACH: Chuck Grant, 4th yearASSISTANT: Jeff Szwagulak2025 RECORD: 7-8 (3-4) PROJECTED LINEUP: Daylen Byers, jr., singles/doubles; Ethan Stanulet, sr., singles/doubles. OTHERS TO WATCH: Alex Malloy, sr., singles/doubles; Brayden Crumley, jr., singles/doubles; Austin Safarz, so., singles/doubles; Reuben Sarrett, so., singles/doubles; Nate Palcic, so., singles/doubles; Nina Vicha, fr., singles/doubles; Emily Abshire, fr., singles/doubles; Alexis Dales, fr., singles/doubles; Haydinh Pham, fr., singles/doubles; Kyle Prokopius, fr., singles/doubles; Jakob Mitchell, fr., singles/doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers will need to replace five varsity players. Byers and Stanulet were the Rangers first doubles team last season, taking fifth at the league tournament.INDEPENDENTSLake Ridge RoyalsCOACH: Ethan Greenly, 1st year2025 RECORD: Not available PROJECTED LINEUP: Eric Shin, sr., singles; Jeffrey Ma, sr., singles/doubles; Logan Norton, sr., singles/doubles; Riley Kolbay, sr., singles/doubles.OTHERS TO WATCH: Anthony Barbolovici, sr., singles/doubles; Tangsultan (Tangko) Bolot, jr., singles/doubles; Nihal Patel, sr., singles/doubles; Rahil Patel, jr., singles/doubles; Jack Thompson, so., singles/doubles; Gerret Miksche, fr., singles/doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: The Royals lose three seniors from last season, but return Shin who once again will anchor first singles for the team. Ma, Norton and Kolbay all contributed at doubles last season.Oberlin PhoenixCOACH: Nina Ruiz, 3rd yearASSISTANTS: Brittnee Rourke 2025 RECORD: Not available PROJECTED LINEUP: Lilly Knijnenburg, jr., singles; Sylvia Nisky, jr., singles/doubles; Alex Hammer, jr., singles/doubles.SCOUTING REPORT: Knijnenburg will again lead Oberlin at first singles, but the lineup behind her is in flux as the team only has two other returners from last year's varsity team — Nisky and Hammer, who both played doubles. St. Ignatius WildcatsLOCALS IN LINEUP: Cody Hodge, sr., singles, from North Ridgeville; Elias Hanna, jr., singles/doubles, from Avon Lake.OTHERS TO WATCH: William Braun, so., singles/doubles, from Avon Lake.SCOUTING REPORT: Hodge and Hanna both reached the quarterfinals of the Division I Medina sectional doubles draw (with different partners), but both finished one match shy of a district qualification. Hodge will again play first singles for the Wildcats while Hanna will rotate between singles and doubles.TOP PLAYERSAarav Kishorepuria and Blake Netschke, AvonThe sophomores were the Eagles No. 2 and 3 players last season and, with all the turn in the SWC, profile to be two of the best in the league as they headline the Avon lineup.Cody Hodge, St. IgnatiusThe North Ridgeville resident once again will hold down first singles for the Wildcats. He reached the sectional quarterfinals in doubles.Joshua Tomlin, AmherstAlready established himself at the top of the Comets lineup, the junior finished fourth at first singles in the SWC tournament with the three players ahead of him all graduating.Brody and Carter Athey, Avon LakeThe defending LCAAA and SWC first doubles champions should again prove to be one of Lorain County's top duos their senior year.TOURNAMENTSState teamAdministered by the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association, the tournament seeks to determine the best team in the state. District play is scheduled to conclude by May 23 with the state semifinals and finals held May 30 at a site to be determined (likely at or near the OHSAA state tournament site in Mason). Avon and Vermilion have each entered the field.St. Edward InvitationalHeld at the Paramount Tennis Club in Westlake on March 28, the Eagles have put together a loaded field that features some of the top teams in the Northeast district, including Avon.Lorain County Athletic Administrators AssociationThe annual tournament measures the best among area tennis programs and will be held at Avon April 17-18. Avon Lake is the defending team champion, but this year there will be a change of format as the event is switching to a doubles tournament.League championshipsAvon will host the Southwestern Conference tournament on April 25 and April 27. Vermilion will participate in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division tournament on April 25 at Port Clinton. Elyria Catholic will compete in the North Coast Conference tournament on May 5 at Veterans Memorial Park in Parma.OHSAA postseasonSectional tournaments will be played the week of May 11. The top teams in the Northeast district will once again be able to choose their sectional. Lorain County's Division I teams traditionally compete at the Magnificat sectional while the Division II teams traditionally compete at the Strongsville sectional. The Northwest district has not adapted this rule, so Vermilion will once again compete at the Port Clinton sectional. District tournaments will be held the week of May 18 — Northeast teams at the Springside Athletic Club in Bath Twp. and Northwest teams at Port Clinton. The state tournament is scheduled for May 28-29 and will return to the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.— Chris Sweeney