Boys Tennis Preview: Wissahickon one to watch on court

Coming off a 6-1 Suburban One American record last season, the Wissahickon boys’ tennis team finds themselves ready to take the next step in 2016.

“We have perhaps one of the strongest 1-2 singles line-up in the area (almost comparable to the 2015 State Champs Lower Merion),” Wissahickon head coach Mark Daniels said. Andrew Tran at No. 1 and Ben Wolfe at No. 2 lead the Trojans this season.

“They are both highly ranked tournament players in the USTA junior circuit,” Daniels said about his single’s stars. “However, we need to be better this year in match play throughout our doubles line-up… (we) face a very challenging schedule ahead.”

The Trojans will face 7 of the 8 top teams in District I from last year in Council Rock North, Lower Merion, Conestoga, Radnor, Abington, Pennsbury, and Methacton. They’ll also have to navigate league-rival Upper Dublin.

“We’ve had a great first two weeks and have found optimum partners that we feel will give us our strongest line-up all through all 4 doubles positions,” Daniels said. Wissahickon opened its season with a victory at the Spring-Ford Tournament thanks to victories over Spring-Ford, Downingtown East, and Manheim Central en route to a 3-0 record.

“Most of the guys have worked hard during the off season after setting their sites on making a run for the PIAA state team playoffs this year,” Daniels said. “If the team continues to have the focus they’ve had thus far, this team may very well achieve that goal.”

Another team looking to be in contention for a league title is Methacton from the Pac-10.

“Our 2015 season will be hard to repeat but we certainly look forward to trying,” head coach Jill Walker said.
The Warriors were 9-0 in the league last season, and finished 15-1 overall.

“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.” Methacton lost seniors Ryan Hamilton and Kevin Wichert (Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively) and a second doubles partner in Ajay Benno, but there is plenty of depth.

“We have had the strongest crew of freshmen come into the program in the five years I have been coaching,” added Walker.

Abington
Returning starters: Zach Kurin (Sr.), Ian O’Donnell (Sr.), Ethan Randazzo (Sr.), Andrew Weinstein (Jr.), Jordan Denish (Soph.), Andrew Garrett (Soph.), Paul Perumali (Soph.)
Top newcomers: Issac Rockwer (Fr.), Alec Yarnoff (Fr.)
Outlook: The Ghosts will hope to lean on their senior leadership to have success in 2016.

Archbishop Wood
Last year’s record: 6-5
Returning starters: Peter Nessell (Sr.), Matt Bonomo (Jr.), David Benson, Jon Kuitsky, Jake Curran
Outlook: “I expect a better (than) .500 season,” head coach Bob Salembier.

Central Bucks West
Last year’s record: 9-4 (SOL Continental Champs)
Returning starters: Reid Moncada (Sr.), Brendan Warren (Sr.), Dale Johnson (Jr.), Brad Johnson (Jr.), Pat Matthews (Soph.), Colin Schmidt (Soph.)
Top newcomers: Jason Chen (Fr.), James Kong (Fr.)
Outlook: The Bucks are looking to pick up where they left off in 2015. West will be bringing back almost all last year’s SOL Continental Champion varsity squad, two of them are the returning No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, Brad and Dale Johnson. The Johnson brothers finished 3rd in the District 1 doubles tournament and got their first taste of PIAA tournament action. The remainder of the 2016 Bucks squad will be made up from a bunch of players with District 1 playoff experience. The Bucks dropped their 1st round District 1 matchup with Council Rock North and are looking to build off of that experience this season.

Cheltenham
Last year’s record: 6-8
Returning starters: Joshua Victor, Tarik Dashields, Noah Jessie, Javion Norman, Max Lempert, Spencer Margerum, Connor Haupert.
Top newcomers: Ben Chester Smith, Justin Huong, Tzvi Waxman, Max Wright
Outlook: With strong senior leaders at singles and talented returners and newcomers at Doubles, the CHS Boys Tennis Team looks to compete in the highly competitive Suburban One American Conference.

Christopher Dock
Last year’s record: 1-12
Returning starters: Chris Sagiuliano (Sr.), Sergey Curtis (Sr.), Darren Souder (Sr.)
Outlook: Dock will not be very deep this season, but the players they do have are talented. The Mennonites go into 2016 with a lot of match experience.

Hatboro Horsham
Last year’s record: 5-9
Returning starters: Tyler Abraham (Sr.), Ben Kron (Sr.), Quinn Comber (Jr.), Mike O’Neill (Jr.)
Top newcomers: Josh Fuller (Fr.), Max Lubinski (Fr.), Akhil Aguapalli (Soph.)
Outlook: “We lost several key members to graduation but look to compete up and down the lineup,” said coach Kyle McGrath. “Our senior leadership will help the younger players throughout the season.”

LaSalle
Last year’s record: 11-4 (Philadelphia Catholic League champions)
Returning starters: Jaren Bunch (Sr.), Luke DeAngelis (Sr.), Michael DeAngelis (Sr.), Andrew Lutschaunig (Soph)
Top newcomers: Russell Newell (Sr.), Hugh Farris (Sr.), John Denny (Sr.), Matt Bahr (Sr.)
Outlook: The La Salle Explorers will look to defend their PCL and City Championships this year with a number of new starters.

Methacton
Last year’s record: 15-1 (PAC-10 champions)
Returning starters: Nick Simeone (Sr.), Hari Santhanam (Sr.), Debanik Purkayastha (Sr.), Subhanik Purkayastha (Jr.), Matt Zhang (Jr.), Alan Shen (Jr.), Krishna Suraesh (Soph.)
Outlook: Coming off a second straight PAC-10 title, head coach Jill Walker and her team look forward to a competitive, fun season.

North Penn
Last year’s record: 6-6
Returning starters: Neil Goh (Sr.), Tyler Matyszczak (Sr.), Jason Wherry (Sr.), Noah Kwortnik (Jr.), Andrew Pei (Jr.), Brijal Varma (Jr.), Frank Yanni (Soph)
Outlook: North Penn looks for another competitive season under legendary coach Toby Watton.

Upper Dublin
Last year’s record: 12-2 (SOL American champions)
Returning starters: Evan Britchkow (Sr.), Kyle Grahn (Sr.), Brian Hampton (Sr.), Josh Helzner (Sr.), Bryan Szayna (Jr.), Josh Berkowitz (Jr.), Ben Cohen (Jr.), Noah Grossman (Jr.), Mingu Jang (Jr.), Danny Katz (Soph.), Jason Swartz (Soph.)
Top newcomers: Andrew Duan (Fr.), Jason Won (Fr.)
Outlook: “With the increased competition in our schedule, the focus remains one match at a time,” Upper Dublin coach Lora Ball. “Our goal is to capture our 4th consecutive conference title and advance further within the district tournament.”

Upper Moreland
Returning starters: Chris Delaney (Jr), John Choi (Jr.) Adam Fineman (Soph.)
Outlook: “(I’m) looking forward to a great season and to improve lasts year’s wins in the Suburban One League,” said first-year head coach Kristin Summers.

William Tennent
Last year’s record: 4-10
Returning starters: Dave Archut (Sr.), Trevor Dillon (Sr.), Tyler Goldsman (Sr.), Aditya Master (Sr.), John Starr (Sr.), Ian Doherty (Jr.), Spencer Fairall (Jr.), Aaron Levin (Jr.), David Luvish (Jr.), Jason Woeger (Jr.)
Top newcomers: Jash Patel (Fr.)
Outlook: “After gaining valuable experience last year, we are looking to improve our record,” said head coach John Senske.

Wissahickon
Last year’s record: 7-5
Returning starters: Ben Wolfe, Nimay Godbole, David Weiss, Sam Langman, Zane Peng, Greg Welsh, Thomas O’Farrell, Suhaas Adiraju
Top newcomers: Andrew Tran (Fr.), Vidit Makwana (Fr.), Connor Laux (Fr.), Anthony Lee (Fr.), David Huang (Jr.)
Outlook: “With this combination of a nucleus of returning veterans and an outstanding group of talented 9th graders, this team is one to watch,” said head coach Mark Daniels. “This is a very formidable singles lineup that can go head-to head with any top District 1 team. The doubles line-up is also vastly stronger from last year’s squad.”