Presenting 2018 All-Main Line boys’ tennis teams
Main Line high school tennis perpetually produces top-notch teams and players, and this past spring was no exception.
Lower Merion (17-3) finished second in the PIAA 3A District 1 tournament to eventual state champion Unionville, and advanced to the PIAA 3A state semifinals.
Conestoga (16-3) placed fifth in the PIAA 3A District 1 tournament, and advanced to the PIAA 3A state quarterfinals before falling to Lower Merion.
Radnor (13-5) was sixth in the PIAA 3A District 1 tournament, barely missing qualifying for a berth in the PIAA 3A state tourney.
Harriton (12-4 overall, 8-3) was another strong Central League squad, advancing to the PIAA 3A District 1 tournament before falling to Conestoga.
Haverford School (9-3 overall, 5-0 Inter-Ac) placed 15th at the 2018 National High School Tennis All-American Boys Invitational Team Tournament in Newport Beach, Calif., a tourney which features some of the nation’s best high school tennis teams. One game behind the Fords in the Inter-Ac race was Episcopal Academy (13-3 overall, 4-1 Inter-Ac).
In the Friends’ School League, Shipley (9-2 overall) enjoyed a strong campaign.
The All-Main Line high school boys’ tennis teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.
What follows are the 2018 All-Main Line high school boys’ tennis teams:
FIRST TEAM (singles)
James Tang, Episcopal Academy – Senior captain posted a 12-3 record at first singles, and is considered one of the all-time greats at EA. An All-Inter-Ac player, he was recipient of the Inter-Ac sportsmanship award.
Aantorik Ganguly, Episcopal Academy – Junior posted a 12-3 record, was All-Inter-Ac and enjoyed a strong season at second singles. Noted for his outstanding leadership.
John Walsh, Haverford School – Senior was the Fords’ top player, posting a 7-2 record at No. 1 singles and making the all-tournament team at the prestigious National High School Tennis All-American Boys Invitational Team Tournament in Newport Beach, Calif., winning three out of four matches.
Nick Chakraborty, Haverford School – Junior, an All-Inter-Ac player, posted a strong record at second singles for the undefeated Inter-Ac champions.
Grayson Potter, Haverford School – Senior, an All-Inter-Ac player, was a strong competitor for the undefeated Inter-Ac champions at third singles, and was recepient of the coach’s award for leadership.
Sean Attebery, Lower Merion – Senior co-captain, a repeat selection to All-Main Line first team singles, was Aces’ Most Valuable Player, posting a 12-2 record this spring and earning first team All-Central League singles honors.
Justin Minerva, Lower Merion – Freshman was Central League singles champion, and posted a 12-4 overall singles record. Was first team All-Central League singles player.
Max Safanov, Radnor – Sophomore, a repeat first team All-Main Line selection, posted an 11-3 record at first singles and received first team All-Central League honors for the second year in a row.
Max Homans, Shipley – Junior captain posted an undefeated 11-0 mark at third singles for a strong Gator squad that enjoyed a 9-2 overall record.
FIRST TEAM (doubles)
Matt Walton and Peter Auslander, Conestoga – Walton, a sophomore, and Auslander, a freshman, posted a 17-2 record at first doubles for a Conestoga team that went 16-3 and advanced to the PIAA 3A state quarterfinals.
Henry Danon and Nishanth Kopri, Conestoga – Sophomore duo posted 19-0 record at doubles, playing a key role in the Pioneers’ regular-season success and drive to the PIAA 3A state quarterfinals.
Bruce Sacchetta and Mattieu Benoit-Cattin, Harriton – Sachetta, a senior, went 13-2 at first doubles while Benoit, Cattin, a sophomore, went 12-2 at the same spot. Both received first team All-Central League doubles honors.
Emilio Fink and Julius Golz, Haverford School – This high-performing senior duo posted an excellent record at first doubles and received all-league honors. Fink was recipent of the coach’s award for resilience, Golz the recipient of the coach’s award for discipline.
Jared Robinson and Vikas Miller, Lower Merion – Robinson, a senior co-captain, was 16-1 at first doubles, and Miller, a freshman, also posted a strong record at the top doubles spot. The pair received first team All-Central League doubles honors.
SECOND TEAM
Archbishop Carroll – Tommy Anderson, sophomore first singles.
Conestoga – Carson Lortz, third singles; Ahmed Aboseada, junior singles; Rodrigo Lorencin, senior second singles.
Devon Prep – Ben Kilroy, senior first singles.
Episcopal Academy – Sebastian Garrubbo, senior first doubles; Justin Chen, sophomore third singles.
Harriton – Samarth Gowda, senior first singles; Andrew Kofksy, senior second singles; Jay Ramaswamy, sophomore third singles.
Haverford High – Connor Rose, junior third singles; Sammy Ortiz, junior first doubles; Scott Kaplan, junior first doubles.
Lower Merion – Omosesan Adebamgbe, senior singles/doubles; Harrison Axelrod, senior; Aseda Adebamgbe, junior.
Radnor – Alex Weiss, sophomore third singles; Garrett Spillerman, freshman second singles; Robert Frigerio, senior second doubles; Ethan Lee, junior first doubles; Colton Markowitz, second doubles; Luigi Giaccomucci, first doubles.
Shipley – Samson Sands, junior second singles; Parker Kim, senior first singles; Sebastian Fras, freshman first doubles; Jacob Israeli, junior first doubles.
HONORABLE MENTION
Shipley – Zach Bradlow, senior second doubles; Dillon Howard, senior second doubles.
– Barrack Hebrew Academy did not submit a completed All-Main Line boys’ tennis ballot.
