Area boys tennis outlook: Lex still Numero Uno, but keep an eye on Ontario

MANSFIELD — Only seven miles of Richland County real estate separate arguably the best two Division II boys tennis teams in the Northwest District.

The Ohio Tennis Coaches Association has perennial state power Lexington ranked No. 1 and upstart neighbor Ontario at No. 4.

Ottawa Hills, which usually has been the top threat to Lex’s supremacy in the district, is ranked second and Bryan is third.

Good thing the rankings aren’t carved in cement because veteran Lex coach Ron Schaub believes Ontario will prove to be the second best team in the NW.

Warriors coach Cary Carcione has to like hearing that after she and staff members Luke Webster and Evan Booker saw their squad make tremendous strides last season.

Ontario won the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference tournament and finished tied for second in the MOAC league standings (based on dual match results) behind Marion Harding.

The Warriors return almost everyone from that squad, led by district singles qualifier Pablo Sanchez Vidal. They’ve also added reinforcements in Lex transfer Joseph Litao and Sanchez Vidal’s younger brother Hector.

“We’re continuing to build with momentum from key athletes who have put in a lot of time and effort during the summer months and off-season,” Carcione said. “Their passion for the sport has leveled up everyone on the team. We are very deep and will need to rotate athletes in the lineup.”

While Lex lost three decorated seniors in two-time Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year Tommy Secrist and All-Ohio doubles partners Ryan Mecurio and Ross Drlik, the Minutemen remain one of those elite teams that opponents measure themselves against.

Lex, which has won two OTCA state titles and been runner-up twice under Schaub, tied a program high last year by sending five players to the OHSAA individual state tournament in greater Cincinnati. The Minutemen feel good about matching that number again this spring.

Juniors Ethan Remy and Karl Etzel have OHSAA state tournament experience, senior Jake Chilcote is a two-time district qualifier in singles and Dylan Catanese and Owan Gongwer got valuable experience last year as freshmen.

Remy was a sectional champ and district runner-up last year and will play No. 1 singles for Lex. Etzel won a district doubles title with Secrist and will usually fill one of the other two singles spots.

Chilcote and Catanese are Lex’s No. 1 doubles team after being a formidable duo at No. 2 last season. Schaub won’t hesitate to use either of them in singles, or Gongwer, who had a tough time cracking the starting seven last year but did win No. 2 doubles with Chilcote in the OCC tournament.

Cooper Remy, Ethan’s freshman brother, will be half of Lex’s No. 2 doubles team, most likely with junior Jake Halfhill or sophomore Trevor Mecurio.

“We have some big losses,” Schaub said, referring to the three departed seniors, “but, saying that, I think we have a pretty good team.

“We have Ethan Remy, who I think is the best player in the district. He’s been playing like crazy. Man, this kid probably played in 12 tournaments this winter. He’s traveled all over. He’s really into it.

“He’s got a big upside. He’s getting stronger and he hits a good ball.”

Schaub believes the other four returnees are strong complimentary pieces that make Lex the heavy favorite to win a fifth straight OCC title (and 16th in 19 years) and, even more impressively, make its 14th trip under Schaub to the Final Four in the OTCA state tournament at Upper Arlington High School.

That could make for a long, rewarding weekend in Columbus at the end of the year. The OHSAA state tournament is moving back to the state capital for this season only because of renovations taking place at the Lindner Tennis Center near Cincinnati. The OTCA tourney then follows on the Sunday of that same weekend.

“I’m really excited about that because (Columbus) is a better location for us,” Schaub said. “Plus, I think it’s way more crowded (with fans) in Columbus. Cincinnati’s been awesome, but it just doesn’t fit our needs (in terms of travel and fan support).”

The boys program at Ontario has never produced an OHSAA state qualifier, but this could be the year that drought ends.

Two years ago, Litao was a sectional runner-up and district quarterfinalist in singles for Lexington. After sitting out last spring, he slides into the No. 1 spot for his senior year at Ontario. Pablo Sanchez Vidal bumps down to No. 2 after winning No. 1 singles in the MOAC tournament.

Third singles and both doubles will probably feature a rotation of seniors Eli Selser, Brody Phillips, Lance Phillips and Hunter Petit, along with junior Alex Ellis, sophomore Matt Bayes and freshman Hector Sanchez Vidal.

“We have strong returning lettermen,” Carcione said. “They have not only improved their skills, but have better chemistry off the court as well.”

Two dates local tennis fans will want to circle on their calendar:

On April 13, Ontario hosts Marion Harding in an MOAC showdown between last year’s top two teams at Marshall Park.

Then on April 29, Lex hosts its own invite as defending champ. The field will include some of the best programs in Ohio in Columbus Academy and Columbus Bexley (ranked No. 1 and 2 among DII schools in the Central District), Toledo St. Francis (ranked No. 1 among DI schools in the Northwest District) and other state-ranked DI or II schools in Centerville, Perrysburg, Walsh Jesuit and Dublin Coffman.

There’s no scheduled dual between Lex and Ontario, but barring unforeseen circumstances they will meet in the district semifinals of the OTCA team tournament, with the Warriors as host.

Here’s a look at three other area teams that responded to a News Journal request for information:

Ashland

Cooper Glazier is the only senior on the roster for fifth-year coach Taylor Long, with the Arrows looking to improve on last year’s third place finish in the OCC.

Ashland returns all three of its singles players and its second doubles team. In all there are five other lettermen joining Glazier as roster veterans: Ben Sinchok, Reid Wash, Landon Davis, Drew Freisen and Joel Harlan.

Glazier and Sinchok have district tournament experience.

“Now that these returning players have some experience under their belt, I’m hoping they;ll get off to a hot start,” Long said. “The younger players have talent as well, so I’m excited to see what ways they’ll contribute to the team.”

Other players competing for starting spots are Mark Cyders, Jack Ebert, JJ Ellenwood, Charles Hovey, Grant Koleno, Ian Owens, Elliott Shenberger, Grant White, Jack Yeaste and Eric Zhang.

“Cooper’s leadership will really help the younger players on the team,” Long said. “It’ll be a goal of mine all year to develop these young players and put them in positions where they can succeed.”

Galion

The Tigers were 10-6 in duals last year, making them one of the top squads eighth-year coach Tom Pawsey has had at the school.

He welcomes back seven lettermen in seniors Nathan Barre, Caden Jutz, Hayden Kaple, Nick McMullen and Jaxon Oehler, junior Luke Tinnermeier and sophomore Jack Johnson.

New players are juniors Cooper Kent and Ben Rinehart, sophomores Jack Rinehart and Ezekiel Manuel and freshman Logan Estep.

“Our strengths are high athletic ability, a positive team spirit and a continual desire to learn more about tennis,” Pawsey said. “This year we hope to win a majority of our dual matches.”

Clear Fork

No. 1 singles player Griffin Blakely will provide senior leadership for fifth-year coach Justin LaPlante, along with No. 2 singles player Zachery Hotz and Josiah Bailey, who will team with junior Elaina Gandee at No. 1 doubles.

“Blakely has been training independently, which is always a good sign for a coach when predicting performance,” LaPlante said. “He plays aggressive, and we’re rooting for him.”

Promising newcomers include junior Evan Picchioni (No. 2 doubles), sophomores Nicolas Allen (No. 3 singles) and Fisher McLaughlin (No. 2 doubles) and freshman Michael Tokar (No. 2 doubles).

LaPlante is predicting a finish somewhere in the middle of the MOAC pack.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Area boys tennis outlook: Lex still No. 1, but keep an eye on Ontario