Mercury-Area Boys Tennis Season Preview

BOYERTOWN

Head coach: David Burkert, 22nd season
Last year’s record: 2-7 PAC-10, 2-7 overall.
Players to watch: Joe Corcoran (Soph.), Oren Fanok (Jr.), Owen Kulig (Jr.), Kyle Leary (Jr.), Sam Lewis (Soph.), Eric Spohn (Sr.), Erik Recke (Jr.), Nick Verma (Jr.), David Ziegler (Jr.)
Season outlook: A junior-dominated squad will lead the way, trying to fill the void left by graduated players such as David Herring, Phil Huber, and Matt Bowen. Burkett aims for the team to work hard, improve and have fun. “We are in a tough league,” he says, “so every match will be a challenge.”

DANIEL BOONE

Head coach: Garry Lucas, fifth season
Last year’s record: 3-5 Berks, 6-10 overall.
Players to watch: Griffin Adams (So.), Chris Ehlinger (Sr.), Cole Reinert (So.), Greg Blume (Jr.), Dan Schaeffer (So.), Tim Tran (Jr.), Andrew Tran (Fr.), Kenn Black (Sr.).
Season outlook: Adams is back at No. 1 singles for the Blazers, who also return singles player and team captain Ehlinger. The addition of a few newcomers has coach Lucas believing Boone can up its win total after going from five to six wins a year ago. “Our team is ready to compete,” Lucas says. “We’ve been playing since Christmas and are excited about getting full-swing into the season.” Lucas likes Ehlinger’s leadership and the team’s balance. “Because of our balance I think we can get wins from various positions. The competition level in this area is high so we’ll need to maintain our focus if we are to achieve our goals,” Lucas said. “Additionally, the chemistry on our team is good, we are positive with one another, and that strengthens our commitment to excellence. Our overall goal is to emerge from the middle of the pack.”

THE HILL SCHOOL

Head coach: Clarence Oliver, second season
Last year’s record: 1-4 MAPL, 3-7-1 overall
Players to watch: Justin Yoo (Sr.), Matt Wasserman (Jr.), Sid Domala (Jr.), Tyler Oliver (Jr.), Seon Gyoo Lee (Sr.), Raymond Guo (Sr.), Grant Lin (Sr.), Manuel Lindo (Sr.), Tyler Miles (Sr.), Lalo Martinez (Jr.)
Season outlook: As Oliver builds the program, he’s encouraged by the team’s positive attitude and energy. Previously a college coach, he likes the Blues’ “willingness to embrace all aspects of this beautiful, yet challenging game,” he said. “Before consistent winning comes being competitive and playing the game with integrity,” the coach adds.

METHACTON

Head coach: Jill Walker, fifth season
Last year’s record: 9-0 PAC-10 (league champion), 15-1 overall
Players to watch: Subhanik Purkayastha (Jr.), Matt Zhang (Jr.), Nick Simeone (Sr.), Hari Santhanam (Sr.), Debanik Purkayastha (Sr.), Alan Shen (Jr.), Krishna Suraesh (Soph.)
Season outlook: Coming off a second straight PAC-10 title, Walker and her team look forward to a competitive, fun season. “Our 2015 season will be hard to repeat but we certainly look forward to trying,” Walker said. “We have a solid string of players returning this season; however, every single person will be playing in a new position and getting a different experience.” The Warriors lost seniors Ryan Hamilton and Kevin Wichert (Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively) and second doubles partner Ajay Benno, but there is plenty of depth. Adds Walker: “We have had the strongest crew of freshmen come into the program in the five years I have been coaching.”

OWEN J. ROBERTS

Head coach: Jerry Styer, 17th season
Last year’s record: 5-4 PAC-10, 5-4 overall
Players to watch: Brandon Miller (Jr.), Devin Murray (Jr.), Peter Segona (Jr.)
Season outlook: The Wildcats lost their top three singles players from last spring. In come Miller, Murray and Segona. The first doubles team will be Emerson Odagis and Jake Leclaire. OJR went 5-4 in the league last year and is looking to improve on that, while also seeking individual improvement by season’s end.

PERKIOMEN VALLEY

Head coach: Chris Ho, ninth season
Last year’s record: 7-2 PAC-10, 8-2 overall
Players to watch: Luke Pain (Sr.) Shaan Kewalramani (Sr.), Bradley Dickerman (Jr.)
Season outlook: A very talented team features returning seniors Pain and Kewalramani at Nos. 1 and 2 singles. Also returning is junior standout Dickerman. “These three young men are playing brilliant tennis this year, and hope to make a real impression in a very competitive PAC-10 tennis conference,” Ho said. The varsity doubles are led by returnees Dylan Shoemaker, a senior, and sophomore Ryan Shayer. “PV is looking forward to testing its veteran varsity against the traditional powerhouses of the PAC-10,” Ho adds.

PHOENIXVILLE

Head coach: Ryan Curley, second season
Last year’s record: 6-3 PAC-10, 8-4 overall
Players to watch: Mike Ellis (Jr.), Aris Poloway (Sr.), Graham Light (Soph.), Christian Lehning (Jr.).
Season outlook: A large, productive 2015 graduating class – 11 seniors – leaves lots of shoes to fill. Curley is encouraged by the young nucleus looking to carry on the school’s tennis tradition. “We are excited about the new players taking on leadership roles, and we have been working hard to compete well in this league,” Curley says. “The PAC-10 gets stronger each year and this team is determined to play themselves into a contending position.”

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Head coach: Marie Delvecchio (interim)
Last year’s record: 3-6 PAC-10, 4-7 overall
Players to watch: Tommy Costello (Sr.), Adam Donmover (Sr.), Jack Donovan (Sr.), Will Keefe (Sr.)
Season outlook: Interim coach Delvecchio inherits a small roster (13 players), with about half playing organized tennis for the first time. It’s one step at a time as PJP continues to build a program and gain experience at the same time.

POTTSGROVE

Head coach: Gus Tellis, 18th season
Last year’s record: 2-7 PAC-10, 3-10 overall
Players to watch: Eric Maynard (Sr.), Noah Nodolski (Sr.), Austin Leach (Sr.), Nate Miller (Sr.)
Season outlook: Team looks to improve this year based on many returning players. Tellis thinks his squad will be especially strong in doubles. Another good sign is Pottsgrove’s increased participation level — a roster of 27 players, including many freshmen and sophomores. “Pottsgrove’s tennis future is bright,” Tellis says.

POTTSTOWN

Head coach: Ricardo Saad, fourth season
Last year’s record: 0-9 PAC-10, 0-9 overall
Players to watch: Kenny Patel (Soph), Dale Groff (Soph.), Robbie Fleming (Fr.)
Season outlook: Pottsgrove’s three players bring a lot to the courts. Groff is a serve-and-volleyer, Patel’s strength is the baseline, and Fleming is a lefty with good physicality. “With only three players, we will keep competing and getting better,” Saad said. “We strive to polish technique and improve fitness. We will keep bringing a presence in the league. The low amount of players is the only issue, but we will always bring our best in competition.”

SPRING-FORD

Head coach: John Brennan, 12th season
Last year’s record: 8-1 PAC 10, 12-3 overall, lost in the 1st round of District One AAA playoffs to Unionville
Players to watch: Patrick Pascual (Sr.), TJ Cruickshank (Jr.), Nick Griswold (Sr.), Matt Yerkes (Sr.), Eash Aggarwal (Sr.).
Season outlook: Lost some key seniors – seven in all – but return a good amount of experience, led by two-time PAC-10 Player of the Year Pascual, who is also a two-time league singles and doubles champion. Cruickshank won the ’15 conference doubles title with Pascual. “We have some guys returning at the top of our lineup, so we not only need to find who is going to fill those spots, but also determine where they will fall in our lineup,” Brennan said. “We are looking forward to a very competitive PAC 10 season along with a difficult non-league schedule. We are playing six teams that made district playoffs last year (Downingtown East, Wissahickon, Exeter, Upper Dublin, Holy Ghost Prep, and CB West).”

UPPER PERKIOMEN

Head coach: John Williamson, seventh season
Last year’s record: 1-8 PAC-10, 1-12 overall
Players to watch: Cooper Wright (Sr.), Justin Weber (Sr.), Devin Howe (Sr.), Jake Vogel (Jr.) , Freedom Coburn (Sr.)
Season outlook: It’s a smaller UP team than in recent years, but Williamson notes he has some solid players and a great group of kids.

— Compiled by Dan Dunkin