Boys tennis preview: Still-loaded Highland expects to lead county teams

A banner season for the Highland boys tennis team — literally — saw it dramatically win the 2025 Suburban League American Conference Tournament and the overall championship.Luke Butcher became a two-time Gazette MVP, Ani Katta and Sawyer Sulzener established themselves as the next-best players in Medina County and Lisa Reynolds was named the Gazette Spring Sports Coach of the Year.Katta and Butcher put an exclamation point on the season by qualifying for the Division I state tournament in doubles.The Hornets lost Butcher to graduation but are aiming for a second straight SL crown with sophomore Katta taking over at first singles and junior Sulzener moving up to the second spot. Both also won individual league titles last spring.Freshman Aaron Davis earned the other singles position in the preseason, while sophomore Nikita Beylanskiy remains the lead doubles talent for the county's premier program. Highland has claimed the last five Gazette MVP awards."We are still very young," Reynolds noted. "I'm excited to see what this group can accomplish this season."Brunswick senior Tyler Berg is the most experienced singles player in the county, entering his third year atop the lineup and his fourth overall campaign. His 35-29 career record and two All-Gazette bids reflect his talent and importance to the team.Wadsworth returns six members of its lineup, all of whom won at least one match at the Akron Sectional. Junior Brandon Ball continues his hold on first singles, while senior Vincent Gambaccini shifts from doubles to second singles.Cloverleaf has an all-underclassman roster that is full of potential, featuring sophomore Camden Tinter and juniors Ashton Gray and Kellen Price. Tinter reached the third round in singles at the Akron D-II District, while Gray and Price were 18-4 at second doubles."We have one of our largest teams in recent years with many newcomers to the sport," Colts coach Mike McGee said. "What is great about them is they are athletic, willing and ready to learn."A closer look at the five county teams:BrunswickCoach: Kevin Naugle (3rd season)Last season: 9-8, 3-2 (3rd at 6-team Greater Cleveland Conference Tournament)Key letterwinner lost: Ben Kraft (HM All-Gazette)Projected lineup: Tyler Berg (All-Gazette, sr., first singles), Cotton Meade (jr., second singles), Carter Adriance (third singles), Nathan Angus (sr., first doubles), Kenny Dean (first doubles), Ben Weers (second doubles), Josh Owen (second doubles).Noteworthy: Meade primarily played first doubles as a sophomore but went 3-2 at singles. He is the Blue Devils' only returnee to win a non-doubles match at the Akron Sectional. l Brunswick won 4-of-7 matches that were decided by one court. Its most meaningful victory was a 5-0 road sweep of Medina on April 14.CloverleafCoach: Mike McGee (17th season)Last season: 15-3, 8-2 (2nd at 6-team Metro Athletic Conference Tournament)Key letterwinners lost: Taylor Hines (All-Gazette), Nathan Malikowski (All-Gazette)Projected lineup: Camden Tinter (so., first singles), Ian Shultz (jr., second singles), Drew Baltic (jr., third singles), Kellen Price (jr., first doubles), Ashton Gray (jr., first doubles), Owen Brownson (second doubles), Macaden Bohan (second doubles), Drew Firebaugh (jr., singles), Grady Porter (so., singles).Noteworthy: Tennis rookies Hines and Malikowski became the first Colts doubles team to advance to the district level. They went a county-best 18-7 at first doubles. l McGee, who is the Northeast District tennis coordinator, believes his lineup will be in flux because many of his athletes are "very close in ability."HighlandCoach: Lisa Reynolds (22nd season)Last season: 15-3, 6-1 (1st Suburban League American Conference)Key letterwinner lost: Luke Butcher (two-time Gazette MVP)Projected lineup: Ani Katta (All-Gazette, so., first singles), Sawyer Sulzener (All-Gazette, jr., second singles), Aaron Davis (fr., third singles), Nikita Beylanskiy (so., first doubles), Alex Blagrave (so., first doubles), Keaton Jones (jr., second doubles), Jared Bryan (jr., second doubles), Conlan Wright (sr., second doubles), Ryan Boucher (fr., second doubles).Noteworthy: Katta was an ironman as a rookie, winning 16-of-19 singles matches and 11-of-15 doubles contests. He had a 12-match winning streak at second singles. l Two-time All-Gazette selection Sulzener went 4-1 at first singles, including triumphs over Brunswick and Medina. His career record is 35-17.MedinaCoach: Pete Hoffmann (2nd season).Last season: 2-13, 1-4 (5th at 6-team Greater Cleveland Conference Tournament).Key letterwinner lost: Wyatt McRitchie (HM All-Gazette).Projected lineup: Noah Welsh (jr., first singles), Malachi Pimpo (fr., second singles), Josh Zapka (fr., third singles), Chase Martineau (sr., first doubles), Landon Janney (jr., first doubles), Aiden Yaworski (jr., second doubles), Stefan Mureau (jr., second doubles).Noteworthy: Welsh played 15 singles matches last season, including two at the Akron Sectional, and is far and away the most experienced player on the roster.l Martineau appeared in five varsity contests, three at third singles at two second doubles, and will anchor the top pairing this season.WadsworthCoach: John Hutchinson (4th season).Last season: 4-10, 2-5 (6th at 8-team Suburban League National Conference)Key letterwinners lost: None.Projected lineup: Brandon Ball (HM All-Gazette, jr., first singles), Vincent Gambaccini (HM All-Gazette, sr., second singles), Henry Thomas (jr., third singles), Robert Beatty (HM All-Gazette, sr., first doubles), Cameron Gorog (sr., first doubles), Jack Johnson (jr., second doubles), Luke Oliver (sr., second doubles), Ty Racin (sr., doubles), Drew Morgan (doubles).Noteworthy: Veterans Ball and Gambaccini could team up in the postseason after doing so at the 2024 SL National Tournament and 2025 Akron Sectional. l Thomas is the lone newcomer to the lineup, but logged two matches apiece at third singles and second doubles as a sophomore.Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com.