Richland 25: No. 2 Lexington boys tennis expected to be among best in the state

LEXINGTON — Anytime a team finishes in the top four Top 4 at the state championship level, you know it is a special year.

But for Lexington boys tennis, it is an expectation.

The No. 2 team in the Richland 25 may have lost some historic players, but the program is built to reload year after year, and that is exactly what the Minutemen expect to do. Let's check out the No. 2 team in the Richland 25.

2. Lexington Boys Tennis

First and foremost, kudos has to be given to the three seniors for the 2022 Minutemen. Tommy Secrist, Ryan Mecurio and Ross Drlik took the program to new heights after the canceled 2020 season and helped the Minutemen finish in the top four of the team state tournament in each of the last two years. Needless to say, they left the program better than they found it.

Now, it is time for a new crop of players to come in and keep the tradition going.

That all starts with junior Ethan Remy. An individual state qualifier in the spring, Remy won a sectional championship, took runner-up honors in the district tournament and competed in a state match, falling 6-0, 6-1 in the opening round. He was consistent all year and helped the Minutemen win their 15th Ohio Cardinal Conference championship since 2004. He was the second singles champion at the OCC tournament.

Then comes junior Karl Etzel, who qualified for the state doubles tournament alongside Secrist. The duo won a district championship but fell 7-5, 6-2 in their first match of the state tournament 7-5, 6-2. Etzel and Remy could be a deadly doubles team when the postseason rolls around. Etzel was the third singles champion at the OCC tournament, where Lex swept every single title.

Senior Jake Chilcote will be the veteran on the team. He was a second doubles OCC champion and could be one of the top singles players for Lex in the spring.

But the No. 1 singles spot might be reserved for sophomore Dylan Catanese, who had a breakout freshman season and carries extremely high expectations for the remainder of his career.

Lex also brings back Owan Gongwer, who teamed with Chilcote to win the second doubles championship at the OCC tournament.

And that rounds out the returning players who saw varsity action last year. But Lexington head coach and tennis guru Ron Schaub is always known for bringing along young talent and getting the most out of his players. There is certain to be an incoming freshman or a sophomore who had to wait his turn who will break out in 2023, and that will not shock anyone.

Especially at a program like Lexington boys tennis where excellence is the expectation.

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

2022 Richland 25

• 25. Mansfield Christian Girls Soccer

• 24. Clear Fork Football

• 23. Lexington Boys Golf

• 22. Ontario Boys Soccer

• 21. Shelby Boys Basketball

• 20. Lexington Boys Basketball

• 19. Madison Softball

• 18. Mansfield Senior Girls Basketball

• 17. Crestview Wrestling

• 16. Shelby Girls Cross Country

• 15. Clear Fork Softball

• 14. Lexington Boys Cross Country

• 13. Ontario Wrestling

• 12. Shelby Boys Cross Country

• 11. Clear Fork Girls Basketball

• 10. Shelby Girls Basketball

• 9. Ontario Girls Soccer

• 8. Lucas Boys Basketball

• 7. Ontario Softball

• 6. Mansfield Senior Football

• 5. Lucas Football

• 4. Lexington Girls Cross Country

• 3. Lexington Boys Soccer

• 2. Lexington Boys Tennis

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland 25: Lexington Minutemen boys tennis is No. 2 team