Turpin aims for top of ECC tennis
ANDERSON TWP. - Riding the wave of three consecutive Eastern Cincinnati Conference tennis championships, Turpin High School looks strong again in 2017.
The Spartans return four starters which should provide for an experienced and talented lineup from top to bottom.
Led by junior Grant Wendel, a state singles qualifier last year and district doubles finalist his freshman year, the Spartans will have a hammer at first singles again this year. Wendel was the ECC player of the year last season for coach of the year Kate Rodgers.
Also returning to starting positions, senior Will Muscatello, junior Ethan Caruso, and senior Michael Borger. Caruso, a district singles qualifier last year, will assume second singles this season. Muscatello, an ECC champ and district qualifier last season at first doubles, is competing for third singles this season.
“I like our leadership, experience and talent at the top of our lineup,” said Rodgers. “All three singles are returning upperclassmen with years of varsity experience and success under their belts. In addition to a strong singles lineup, we have a varsity returner and a few much-improved sophomores/juniors to fill those doubles team spots.”
Turpin hosts Walnut Hills on April 26, travels to Loveland on April 28, and shots Indian Hill on May 1. The ECC championships are May 2.
Anderson
Coach: Darin Hausberger, 17th season
Division: I
Record last year: 6-10, 3-3 ECC
Key players: Will Sultan, Noah Loepke, Ryan Hugenberg, Alex Rothfuss
Outlook: Just a junior, Sultan will handle the ultra-competitive first singles spot for the third straight season. Hausberger said Sultan should contend for an ECC title and sectional seed. Anderson’s doubles team of Loepke and Hugenberg finished ECC runner-up last season, so the duo has high hopes for taking the title this year.
Hausberger said, “Although we lost Jonathan Helmers from last year’s squad (he’s playing at Hanover College this year), we return both first singles and first doubles from last year.”
Sam Ray and Max Hoffman also return as second doubles partners after taking last season off.
Games to watch: April 17 at CHCA; April 18 vs. Turpin; April 19 vs. Milford; April 20 at Walnut Hills; April 25 vs. Kings
Cincinnati Country Day
Coach: Matt Dektas, sixth season
Division: II
Key players: Sr. Kevin Yu, Sr. Vishaal Nalagatla, So. Manav Nidha, So. Herschel Albert, Sr. Justin Baker, Fr. Ash Annapantula, Fr. Neil Badlani
Outlook: Winning its fourth consecutive Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Division II state team title won’t be easy, but CCD has proven always capable. Yu won the state singles title last season and Nalagatla was part of the doubles title. Although Shashank Reddy, one of CCD’s top players last season, transferred to Mason this season, the Indians still have a lineup that could bring home the title. Doubles partners Nidha and Albert were district qualifiers last season, and the addition of youngsters Badlani and Annapantula give CCD some depth across the court.
Dektas said, “We’ve got big goals. We have a lot of work to do. Wherever we are in March, we need to be in a better place in May.”
The area talent in Division II is tough again this season, Dektas pointed out that Indian Hill and Seven Hills are both strong.
Games to watch: April 13 vs. Seven Hills; April 17 at Sycamore; April 25 vs. Indian Hill; May 1 at Mason; May 2 at Seven Hills; May 3 vs. St. Xavier
Clark Montessori
Coach: Dan Furlong
Division: III
Games to watch: April 27 Coaches Classic
Mariemont
Coach: Lane Merten
Division: II
Record last year: 8-5 (2-2 CHL)
Players to watch: Jr. Cameron Stephens
Outlook: The Warriors lost five seniors to graduation who were CHL all-league in some capacity. Stephens is the veteran returner who was second team as a sophomore. He was 11-4 and 2-1 in the CHL at first singles last season.
Games to watch: April 13 vs. Indian Hill; April 17 at Wyoming; April 19 at McNicholas at Lunken Playfield.
McNicholas
Coach: Brian Combs
Division: II
Record last year: 5-8 (1-4 GCL-Coed)
Players to watch: Soph. Kyle Bolin, Sr. Eric Dill
Outlook: Bolin plays first singles for the Rockets, with Dill handling second. Senior Zane Brownrigg is playing third singles. McNicholas has five seniors on the squad.
Games to watch: April 19 vs. Mariemont; April 27-29 at Coaches Classic tournament; May 1 at Anderson
Moeller
Coach: Alex Thompson, 12th season
Division: I
Record last year: 12-4 (4-2 GCL South)
Players to watch: Sr. Max Berky, Fresh. Jacob Schwartz, Soph. Matthias Worthoff, Sr. Michael Keyser, Jr. Chase Gilbert
Outlook: Berky, Keyser and Worthoff are returning starters for the Crusaders and Greater Catholic League-South Coach of the Year Thompson. Berky was second team GCL-South in singles with Keyser making second team in doubles.
“We have great senior leadership on this team and they have pushed the others to improve their game,” Thompson said. “Needing to replace four starters from last year, the younger players are really excited for the season to start so they can show they can compete on the varsity level.”
Matches to watch: April 12 at Walnut Hills; April 25 at St. Xavier; April 27-29 at the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association tournament.
Seven Hills
Coach: Tim Drew, 28th season
Division: II
Record last year: 12-5 (4-2 MVC)
Key players: Jr. Nicholas Williams, Soph. Max Yuan, Jr. Curtis Sun, Sr. Charlie Goldsmith, Sr. Quinn Shim
Outlook: Williams, Yuan, Sun, Goldsmith and Shim were all starters for the Stingers last season. Tennis is so popular at Seven Hills that they have three teams featuring 32 players. Tim Drew says the team identity is centered around hard work and Stinger Pride. Williams returns from injuries and should be a top player in the city and state.
“Our JV teams have historically placed in the top of the city and have become a great farm club for the varsity,” Drew said. “Our depth continues to be a huge asset in Division II. We build teams around aggressive doubles and this year will prove to have the same strength. We play a very tough schedule that will get this team experience to allow them a postseason run.”
Games to watch: April 10 vs. Moeller; Aprill 11 vs. Summit Country Day; April 18 vs. Indian Hill.
Walnut Hills
Coach: Steve Levine, seventh season
Division: I
Record last year: 6-10 (4-2 ECC)
Key players: Sr. Shaheel Mitra, Sr. Torcado Vaz, Sr. Ben Hussey, Sr. Andrew Mullin, Sr. Beck Burchette, Soph. Sushruth Manchineela
Outlook: Vaz, Hussey, Mullin, Burchette and Manchineela return as starters for the Eagles. Vaz was second team ECC in singles, with Mullin/Manchineela making second team in doubles along with Burchette. Hussey was ECC honorable mention in singles.
“We have 100 percent commitment to winning together as a team,” Levine said.
Games to watch: April 12 vs. Moeller; April 26 vs. Indian Hill; May 8 at Wyoming.