Mercury-area team-by-team preview
Boyertown
Head coach
David Burkert, 25th season.
Last year’s record
2-6 PAC-10 and overall.
Players to watch
David Herring (Sr.), Phil Huber (Sr.), Matt Bowen (Sr.), Kyle Dennin (Sr.), Christian Smith (Sr.), Connor Cordero (Sr.), Derek Hukari (Sr.), Sam Fox (Sr.).
Outlook
Returning No. 1 singles player David Herring is back to lead a senior-dominated Bears lineup. “As always, my goals for this season and for the team are to work hard, improve, be gentlemen, and, most importantly, have fun,” veteran coach David Burkert said. “If we can accomplish these goals, in my mind, it will be a successful season. The league is tough and every match will be a challenge, but I have a great group of guys this year, and we can’t wait to get started.”
Daniel Boone
Head coach
Garry Lucas, 4th season.
Last year’s record
2-6 Berks, 5-12 overall.
Players to watch
Gary Jones (Sr.), Nick Hunsicker (Sr.), Shafay Munir (Sr.), Chris Ehlinger (Jr.), Brandon Pennell (Sr.), Jason Black (Sr.), Jacob Szendre (Sr.), Griffin Adams (Fr.).
Outlook
Gary Jones is back at No. 1 singles for the Blazers, who also return singles players Shafay Munir and Chris Ehlinger. The addition of a few newcomers has coach Garry Lucas believing Boone can up its win total after going from two to five wins a year ago. “Our team is ready to compete. We should be successful in many matches because we have lots of experience at key positions, and have trained hard for this year’s opportunity,” Lucas said. “Additionally, the chemistry on our team is good, we are positive with one another and that strengthens our commitment to excellence. Our goal is to emerge from the middle of the pack.”
Hill School
Head Coach
Clarence Oliver, 1st season.
Last year’s record
2-3 MAPL, 5-4 overall.
Players to watch
James Wright (Sr.).
Outlook
Hill enters the season under new coach Clarence Oliver, who was taken over both Hill tennis teams. Oliver is from South Africa and previously coached at the college level. The Blues bring back standout James Wright but must cope without No. 1 singles player Jack Barry, a postgrad selected to the All-MAPL team last year, and Miguel Ojanguren, who did not return to the Hill this year.
Methacton
Head coach
Jill Walker, 4th season.
Last year’s record
8-0 PAC-10, 12-3 overall.
Players to watch
Singles: Ryan Hamilton (Sr.), Subhanik Purkayastha (So.), Kevin Wichert (Sr.).Doubles: Nick Simeone (Jr.), Debanik Purkayastha (Jr.), Ajay Benno (Sr.), Hari Santhanam (Jr.), Kelly Donahue (Sr.).
Outlook
Doubles depth drove Methacton to the PAC-10 team title a year ago and the Warriors can be counted on for the same again while asking some of last year’s doubles players to elevate to the singles ranks in Ryan Hamilton, Subhanik Purkayastha and Kevin Wichert. They will replace a graduated trio that included former PAC-10 singles champion Justin Baman. “We are prepared to face some tough matches. Some of our doubles players from last season will be stepping up to fill in our singles positions and a few players will move up from JV to fill in our doubles teams. As long as we can stay healthy and injury-free I feel we should be able to be competitive again this season,” coach Jill Walker said.
Owen J. Roberts
Head coach
Jerry Styer, 16th season.
Last year’s record
5-7 overall.
Players to watch
Utkarsh Pandey (Sr.), Ethan Gelting (Sr.), Zachary Mahl (Sr.), Tyler McGee (Sr.), Brandon Miller (So.), Peter Sagona (So.), Zachary Fallahee (Sr.).
Outlook
While benefitting from the return of top 2 singles players Utkarsh Pandey and Ethan Gelting, coach Jerry Styer is hoping to see the Wildcats regain a winning record this season. “The 5-7 record from last year was rather disappointing, but then the league is becoming stronger with improvements to Pope John Paul, Spring-Ford and Perk Valley, etc.,” he said. “As a team, we will be competitive and hope we can improve over last year’s record.”
Perkiomen School
Head Coach
Michael Foux, 6th season
Last year’s record
8-2 overall
Players to Watch
Larry Li (Sr.), Michael Pulcini (So.), Christopher Hawk (Jr.), Andy You (Fr.), Roger Yu (Jr.), Will Wang (Jr.).
Outlook
There’s nothing wrong with a 8-2 record but the Perk School has reason to believe it can be even better this season. Larry Li (No. 2) and Michael Pulcini (No. 3) won their respective flights at the Tri-County League Championships a year ago and lead a solid Panthers squad. Perkiomen will also benefit from the addition of newcomers Roger Yu, who slotted in at No. 1 singles in their opener, as well as fellow junior Christoper Hawk. “We are expecting a very good year with six of our top 9 players from last year returning and adding four new players. The new players are expected to compete for top spots on the ladder. We have 10 players who are potential starters, so our squad is very deep this year,” coach Michael Foux said.
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach
Chris Ho, 8th season.
Last year’s record
6-2 in PAC-10.
Players to watch
Singles: Luke Pain (Jr.), Yashveer Singh (Sr.), Shaan Kewalramani (Jr.). Doubles: Alex Dove (Sr.), Danny Kershner (Sr.), Bradley Dickerman (So.), Mike Venezia (Jr.).
Outlook
The top of the lineup for the Vikings is well in order with the return of all three singles players, including PAC-10 singles tournament semifinalists Luke Pain and Yashveer Singh. “These three young men (including No. 3 Kewalramani) are playing brilliant tennis this year, and hope to make a real impression in a very competitive PAC-10 tennis conference,” coach Chris Ho said. With the added depth of top two doubles pairings Alex Dove/Danny Kershner and Bradley Dickerman/Mike Venezia, PV is optimistic about being among the league’s contenders again. “The outlook for the team this year is very bright. PV is looking forward to testing its youth against the traditional powerhouses of the PAC-10.”
Phoenixville
Head coach
Ryan Curley, 1st season.
Last year’s record
5-3 PAC-10, 6-3 overall.
Players to watch
Singles: Luke Lombardi (Sr.), Nick Vaile (Sr.), Austin Starczewski (Sr.). Doubles: Mike Pinelli (Sr.), Dave Nascari (Sr.).
Outlook
Facing Phoenixville will certainly feel different this year. Legendary coach Leo Scoda stepped down after 51 years during the offseason, making way for Ryan Curley. “I personally am excited to carry on the great tennis tradition that Coach Scoda has built over the past five decades,” Curley said. He’ll do so with the return of two-thirds of last year’s singles threesome, including Nick Vaile, who was the PAC-10 first team No. 3 singles player. “We have a young team with strong senior leadership at the top. We look to compete with the best of the PAC-10 and improve on our record from the previous year,” Curley said.
Pope John Paul II
Head coach
Robert Moran, 5th season.
Last year’s record
4-4 PAC-10, 5-4 overall.
Players to watch
Ryan Milligan (Sr.), Jack Donovan (Jr.), Kristof Marrecau (Sr.), Adam Donmoyer (Jr.), Dan Jucker (Sr.)
Outlook
The entire Golden Panthers lineup will be asked to step up – literally – this season. PJP graduated all of its top 3 singles players, elevating its returnees who are poised to fill the spots in Ryan Milligan, Jack Donovan and Kristof Marrecau. “Coming off our best season ever last year, we are excited to pick up where we left off. We’ve got a great set of senior leaders and a lot of hard workers on this team,” coach Robert Moran said.
Pottsgrove
Head coach
Gus Tellis, 16th season.
Last year’s record
1-7 PAC-10, 2-10 overall.
Players to watch
Eric Maynard, Dustin Schrieber, Scott Exley, Nate Miller, Noah Nodolski, Jared Krieger, Bert Steyaert, Austin Leach, David Dzordzorme, Will Kaiser, Dylan Marchese.
Outlook
There’s continuity for the Falcons and a sense from coach Gus Tellis that there is more success on the horizon for this year’s squad. “This year’s Pottsgrove team returns nearly the entire lineup from last season’s team, with the exception of three graduates,” Tellis said. “Experience, maturity and a good understanding of what our league’s competition level presents should make our team better prepared for this spring season.”
Pottstown
Head coach
Ricardo Saad, 3rd season.
Last year’s record
Pottstown competed in junior varsity matches only in 2014.
Players to watch
Kenny Patel, Dylan Brandt, Yusef Lee, George Adamski, Dale Groff
Outlook
Pottstown hasn’t fielded a varsity boys tennis team in well over a decade. But that changes this spring thanks to the efforts of coach Ricardo Saad, who has coached at the highest level of the sport with top ATP and WTA pros and even coached his native Argentina in the Davis Cup. The Trojans return all their top players, including Yusef Lee, who was undefeated last season while Pottstown played a junior varsity schedule. Regardless of the results, this season is a milestone moment for the Trojans.
Spring-Ford
Head coach
John Brennan, 11th season.
Last year’s record
7-1 PAC -10, 11-5 overall.
Players to watch
Singles: Patrick Pascual (Jr.), Ryan Schweitzer (Sr.), TJ Cruickshank (So.). Doubles: Michael McCabe (Sr.), Todd Unger (Sr.), John Fazzini (Sr.), Kevin Yun (Sr.), Tyler McEvoy (Sr.), Malcolm Hoffman (Sr.), Nick Griswold (Jr.), Matt Yerkes (Jr.).
Outlook
There’s little to not like from the Spring-Ford perspective entering the spring season. The Rams return top two singles players and last season’s PAC-10 singles tournament finalists Patrick Pascual, the reigning league champion, and Ryan Schweitzer. (The two later joined forces to win the PAC-10 doubles tournament). TJ Cruickshank also returns at No. 3 singles while the Rams graduated only three doubles players from last year’s lineup. Add it up and the Rams look poised to reclaim the PAC-10 team title after missing a repeat last year by the slimmest of margins (a 4-3 defeat to Methacton). Coach John Brennan isn’t one to get overconfident until a match is played though. “The PAC-10 should be a really competitive conference this year. We do have a lot of players back from last season, but with that being said that doesn’t translate to wins. This team will have to earn W’s in this league with their performance on the court,” he said.
Upper Perkiomen
Head coach
John Williamson, 6th season.
Last year’s record
0-8 PAC-10, 0-11 overall.
Players to watch
Cooper Wright (Jr.), Jim Souder (Sr.), Evan Lutz (Jr.), Justin Weber (Jr.), Devin Howe (Jr.), Josh Wolfe (Sr.), Austin Geuss (Sr.).
Outlook
Outside of No. 1 singles player Chandler Carberry, Upper Perkiomen returns the majority of its lineup. Coach John Williamson hopes another year of seasoning leads to his team closing in on the competition. “Our goals are to continue to work hard, improve throughout the season, and be competitive in matches. With most of our varsity team returning, a year of experience and maturity should make us an improved team,” he said.
