Boys Tennis | Local players ready to tackle district tourney challenge for the first time

Four of the area tennis players who will hit the courts on Friday will be making their debut at districts. Even more impressive, three of those four didn't even play tennis a year ago, but now are central to their team's hope of advancing onward.

The duos Carson Hutzell and Garrett Hillyer (Chippewa) and Drew Fisher and Adrian Lehman (Central Christian) feature at least one player who wasn't playing high school tennis in 2021. Hutzell hasn't played tennis since his freshman year and Hillyer and Fisher were both playing baseball last season.

While McAllister isn't as new to high school tennis, he'll be playing in his first district tournament after falling in sectionals a year ago. He'll be joined by teammate, and now two-time district qualifier, Paul Self.

"When you look at the area, all these kids are getting better coaching and it's huge," said Titans coach Jason Self. "With (Orrville coach) Kent Smith as the Director of Tennis at Aspen Racquet Club, he has done a great job of setting up classes, communicating with the kids and we haven't had a tennis professional like Justin Csepe. It's been a huge benefit to all."

Hutzell and Hillyer, a 3-seed, will open up their district action against Hawken's Praveen Kumar and Berend Diderich (2-seed). Fisher and Lehman, a 4-seed, will match up against another doubles team from Hawken in top-seeded Zach Forte and Axel Neeley.

The fourth-seeded McAllister, will take on Ben Pomeranets from Orange in his opening round match. Self opens against Chika Nwaozuzu from Orange, who was part of last year's double championship team.

McAllister, who has had a tough road to get to districts, hasn't surprised his coach, who has never had a doubt. With a narrow 6-4, 7-6 win over Nathan Smith (St. Vincent-St. Mary), McAllister turned and defeated Central Christian's No. 1 singles player Nathan Stjernholm, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0. He then defeated Orrville's Vinny Chiofallo 6-3, 6-0 before becoming the only player in the sectional to take any games from Ben McKnight in a 6-2, 6-3 loss.

"McAllister lost in the NET Tournament, but that taught him a lot and he has applied it," said Self. "It taught him to just let it go, play without fear, play in the moment and not worry about what happens next. We always knew how good he was and how good he could be. It was just a matter of showcasing that and he did it."

"Paul is ready to go this year," said Jason Self. "He was surprised last year, but this year he knows what he is getting into. It's been great to see him make it his own and he is better than I ever was. He has his own style, his own play and really enjoys the puzzle of figuring out a new strategy for each opponent."

For Hillyer and Hutzell, it's been improvement throughout the season and in their respective games. In the regular season, they played as the first and second singles, before joining forces for the tournament.

"They really improved in different parts of their game throughout the season," said Chipps coach John Galehouse. "Hutzell's serve and forehand both came on as the season wore on, Hillyer really improved his serve, he is a hustler, get all over the court and can get to anything, and they both volley well."

Their styles of play have proven to be the perfect recipe for success as they punched their ticket to districts. Now, they will step on the tennis court as the first Chippewa district players since 2015.

"They get along really well and they each have their own strengths," said Galehouse. "That plays into it too, Hillyer is a little more aggressive, puts more pressure on the opponent, Hutzell is strong serving, and they both really complement each other well. We have had a fun week preparing them and I think they are ready."

For the Comets, Fisher has looked the part as he has thrived in his second sport per Lehman, who talked about how Fisher played tennis in open tennis in the years past.

Now he is one half of Central Christian's doubles team to qualify to district and gives the Comets a district qualifier for the second year in a row. The other half of the combination for Central Christian is Adrian Lehman, a sophomore.

"They have improved so much and they are an actual doubles team," said Comet's coach Gene Lehman. "They talk and work well together, they have upgraded their skills from the beginning of the year tremendously, and they are a true first doubles team."

So on Friday, when that first serve goes up, that first rocket gets smashed across the net, most of these area tennis players may just be making their debut. It's clear though, they have already sent a strong statement of the state of local boys tennis.

Div. II East District

Hiland's Garret Shoup and West Holmes' doubles team of James Barr and Brody Schaad are set to compete in this weekend's Div. II East District Tournament at Ohio University in Athens.

Shoup goes in as one of the favorites to make it to state after winning the sectional, while Barr and Schaad enter district play as the 4-seed.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Boys Tennis: inexperience no problem for local district qualifiers