It was another year for breakthroughs in 2023 for area tennis programs, and the players are back looking for more postseason success this fall.
Led by a trio of singles standouts, Madison-Grant claimed its first Madison County title while Frankton captured its second consecutive sectional championship.
Individually, Argylls top player Luke Gilman took his second straight area player of the year award while Shenandoah’s Cooper Allen and Christian Dyer advanced in the postseason doubles tournament.
Elsewhere, Lapel will look to bounce back from a rare down year while Alexandria, Pendleton Heights and Elwood hope to continue growth in their programs and challenge for championships.
Here is a look at area tennis teams with the season set to get underway in the coming days:
ALEXANDRIA
Coach: Matt DeVault (11th season); 2023: 9-12; Key losses: James Ward, Jackson Kettery, Corbin Meeks; Key returning players: Owen May, Austin Webb, Brody Sullivan; Newcomers to watch: Cale John, Blake Jones, Brody Phelps, Peyton Hill, Carter Mullanix; Potential breakout: John, Jones, Phelps
Outlook: “We are young with no seniors and seven freshmen on a 15-player roster,” DeVault said. “This might be one of the most athletic boys tennis teams I have seen at Alexandria in many years. We will rotate a great deal at (No.) 3 singles and doubles but will be anchored by all-conference players Owen May and Brody Sullivan. Owen looks to take the 1 singles spot after a great year as 2 singles last season. Austin will likely man the 2 singles spot after huge growth at 3 singles in 2023. Brody can play both singles and doubles which gives us great flexibility. That leaves a lot of spots to fill, but they will be filled with some great competitive athletes. This will be a fun year for the Tigers as we learn on the run.”
ANDERSON
Outlook: Coach David Ellis does not expect to have enough players to field a team in 2024.
ELWOOD
Coach: John Kelly (8th season); 2023: 8-12; Key losses: Owen Hinchman, Beau Brandon, Xavier Davenport, Owen Huff, Isaac Casas; Key returning players: Anthony Pan, Braxton Dailey; Newcomers to watch: Liam Cannon, Kalan Leever, Kolin Leever, Drake Quesada, Jackson Gordon, Kai Wilkey
Outlook: “We are looking forward to a very positive season with a young group of kids that appear to be excited about tennis,” Kelly said.
FRANKTON
Coach: Mark Hartley (7th season); 2023: 17-4, sectional and Eastern Hanco*ck invitational champions; Key losses: Sam Barr, Max Barr; Key returning players: Aaron Hartley, Jon Hobbs, Jackson Alexander, Ja’Von Miller, Eli Birch; Newcomers to watch: Eli Coxe, Josh Hobbs, Jack Fettig, Jack Harrison, Keagon Remington; Potential breakout: Miller, Birch, Braxton Mort
Outlook: “We have the core of our varsity team returning, so one goal is to match or improve upon our win-loss record from last year,” Coach Hartley said. “It will be extremely challenging, but we would also like to fight for the Madison County and CIC titles. A bigger goal is to repeat last year’s sectional performance and try to win it for the third consecutive time. If we are fortunate enough to once again make it to regional, a final goal would be to play our best tennis and win a regional match.”
LAPEL
Coach: Justin Coomer (15th season); 2023: 8-13; Key losses: Shyam Lewis, Caleb Pinkerton; Key returning players: Bode McClintock, Sylas Griffin, Hogan Bair, Cam Novak, Tyler Cash, Aidan Gooding, Quinn Wilkins, Bo Brown, Boston Brown, Reed Mendenhall, Caden Hood; Newcomers to watch: Kaleb Barnett, Brady Baxter, Piersen Littlefield; Potential breakout: Bair, Barnett
Outlook: “We should be much improved this year after a tough season last year,” Coomer said. “This group gained a lot of experience last year, and it should help us this season. We want to improve every day and compete for the county and the sectional titles.”
MADISON-GRANT
Coach: Tony Pitt (18th season); 2023: 20-2, CIC and Madison County champions; Key losses: Christopher Fox, Clayton Hull, Brogan Brunt, Tyler Evans, Dalton Gibson, Jacob Moore; Key returning players: Gilman, Ben Pax Newcomers to watch: Luke Nelson, Lucas Richards, Lucas Querry, Keagan Brown, Leo Hood, Eli Chastain; Potential breakout: Nelson
Outlook: “Obviously, losing as many great players to graduation as we did is going to sting a little at first,” Pitt said. “We realize there’s a target on our backs from the success we’ve had the last few seasons, and nobody is going to feel sorry for us with all the players we have lost, but we welcome the challenge.”
PENDLETON HEIGHTS
Coach: Bryant Beard (2nd season); 2023: 9-8; Key losses: Cove Ritchey, Isaac Haugh; Key returning players: Austin Perny, Owen Kean, Troy Thomson, Ivan Chen, Garett Morgan; Newcomers to watch: Wade Paul, Josiah Davis
Outlook: “Building off of improvement in Year 1, we would like to end the Madison County drought and bring a county trophy back to Pendleton Heights,” Beard said. “We also hope to improve in our conference. Mostly, I look forward to spending time with this large group of seniors after so much work in the offseason. I am so proud of this team and town.”
SHENANDOAH
Coach: John Rhodes (26th season); 2023: 17-4; Key loss: Will Abbott; Key returning players: Cayson Worrell, Colton Gift, Dyer, Allen; Newcomers to watch: Levi Copass, Grady Drysdale; Potential breakout: D.J. Glentzer, Austin Green
Outlook: “(We’re) looking to capitalize on what we did last year and more,” Rhodes said. “Instead of doubles moving on from sectionals hoping to move the whole team on.”
