Section V boys tennis: 19 of Section V's best players
Thanks to last year's strong contingent of youth, local boys tennis fans should be in for a treat as many of the Section V's best players return in 2023.
Take Geneva's Drew Fishback for instance. He is a sophomore now, but he was voted All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year as a freshman in 2022.
In fact, Fishback is also a two-time Section V champion, and he's twice been selected to AGR already as he enters his 10th-grade tennis season. He's the only local returner to have advanced to the second round of the state singles tournament.
The latest of his family to excel at tennis, Drew Fishback won every set of his first 20 matches, and ended the season 20-1. He went 18-0 against against Section V opponents and won two matches at states.
Fishback's 11.16 Universal Tennis Rating is by far the best score from a Section V player, but he isn't the only promising returner.
Section V's top returning boys tennis players
This list features submissions from Section V coaches, returning All-Greater Rochester players, and the Universal Tennis Rating system.
Andrew Balsamo, Fairport: Has a 6.91 UTR score.
Dylan Bhatia, Pittsford Sutherland: The sophomore made All-Greater Rochester 2022 at third singles; 6.06 UTR.
Dan Dancuta, McQuaid: The senior plays first singles for the Knights and has made AGR the previous two seasons; 7.58 UTR.
Eitan Fay, Brighton: The junior made AGR after winning a Section V doubles title; 6.85 UTR.
Orion Lama, Batavia: The junior and three-year varsity player will play first singles for the Blue Devils.
Trevor McLaughlin, Pittsford Mendon: The sophomore is a returning AGR selection. He went undefeated throughout the 2022 regular season; 7.58 UTR.
Damien Mesh, Hilton: Has a 5.86 UTR score; 5.86 UTR.
Griffin Monrad, Webster Schroeder: The senior and fifth-year varsity player is the latest Monrad sibling to play first singles for the Warriors. His tough serves has made him a repeat all-county pick.
Kevin Mortimer, Pittsford Mendon: The senior played singles and doubles for the Vikings on his way to an AGR selection. He placed second in the state-qualifying doubles tournament; 7.12 UTR.
Gregory Pepin, Fairport: Has a 6.74 UTR score.
Alan Ratner, Penfield: Has a 6.21 UTR score.
Elliot Raynor, Brighton: Now a senior, Raynor was an AGR selection after winning a state tournament doubles match; 7.33 UTR.
Imad Shaheed, Pittsford Mendon: The senior starred on Mendon's first doubles tandem that made a state tournament appearance on his way to AGR honors.
Jaeuk Shin (Harley Allendale Columbia): Has a 6.48 UTR score.
Alexander Smeulders, Pittsford Mendon: Has a 6.93 UTR score.
Cormac Sullivan (Pittsford Sutherland): Has a 5.83 UTR score.
Jake Sullivan, McQuaid: Has a 5.92 UTR score.
Charlie Thyroff, Pittsford Sutherland: Starred as a singles and doubles player for the Knights and was an AGR pick. His second singles win clinched the Section V Class A2 title; 7.38 UTR.
Joseph Xi, Harley Allendale Columbia: Has a 7.05 UTR score.
Reigning Section V champions
Brighton (Class A1), Pittsford Sutherland (A2), LeRoy (B1), Honeoye Falls-Lima (B2), Oakfield-Alabama (B3), Naples (B4).
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Youth movement: Geneva sophomore one of Section V's best returning boys tennis players
