What to anticipate going into District 10's boys tennis season
Northwestern Pennsylvania’s weather cooperated enough earlier this month to permit four District 10 boys tennis teams to start their 2024 seasons.
It was March 22 when the Warren Dragons began defense of their Region 1 championship status with a 5-0 victory vs. the visiting Harbor Creek Huskies.
Erie High and Hickory, in another non-region dual three days later, struck their initial serves and volleys. The Royals prevailed 3-2 on the Hornets’ courts.
With play under way, here are district questions likely to be answered between now and Memorial Day weekend, when the PIAA’s 2024 season concludes:
What will Jonah Ng opt for come May?
Ng, a Cathedral Prep junior, showcased a level of talent as a freshman that not only left him an easy winner of the district’s 2A singles tournament, but a sincere threat to win the PIAA event.
Ng advanced to the championship semifinals at the Hershey Racquet Club. It was that round he lost to North Catholic senior Nicolas Scheller, the state’s eventual gold medalist.
However, Ng chose to entirely skip postseason singles play as a sophomore. Instead, he paired up with the now-graduated Hayden Hutchinson and vied for the PIAA 2A doubles championship.
The duo easily won districts. Again, though, Ng’s season was ended by soon-to-be state winners.
Freddie Bloom and Michael Georgelis of Lancaster Country Day defeated Prep’s duo in the quarterfinals.
Ng, the 2023 Region 2 player of the year, is one of three returning Ramblers who were voted to last year’s first or second teams. Also back are sophomore Gavin Ferretti, who won the 2A singles title vacated by Ng; senior James Casella; and juniors Cameron Grieshaber and Colin Troutman.
Who’s the district’s next Class 3A titlist?
The COVID-19 pandemic not only robbed Aaron Heinlein of his freshman season at McDowell, but in retrospect the rare chance to be a four-time winner of the district’s large-school singles tournament.
Heinlein is now a freshman year at Franciscan University, where he’s competing with the men’s tennis program at that Steubenville, Ohio, school. He won the last of his three district singles tournaments against fellow Trojan Krish Jain, who also graduate last year.
McDowell has a healthy number of players who could be Heinlein’s heir. However, Jacob Chiles is the only senior listed on its 2024 roster.
Trojans coach Andy Heinlein, Aaron’s father, does have all-district returnees in sophomores Noah Hardesty and Gridley Wright. They also welcome back Christian Neubert.
The junior, who was born without a left hand, uses a prosthetic to toss the ball when he serves.
More: McDowell freshman uses prosthetic hand, plays into lineup
Could the 3A champ emerge elsewhere?
Erie High and Meadville are the district’s only other 3A programs.
The Royals only had two players, senior Joel Lee and junior John Sinnott, listed on their preseason roster. Owen Sinnott, John’s older brother, was a 2023 all-region singles selection as a senior.
Erie High also graduated Evan Nadzam and Kyle Westfall, who were all-region, first-team honorees in doubles.
Meadville, a coed program, had 13 players come out this spring. Its seniors are Phil Pandolph, Cooper Breckenridge, Joseph Heimbrook and Zach Schepner.
Can Warren repeat in Region 1?
The Dragons, like McDowell, have a roster deep in size but shallow in veterans.
Gone from their 2023 region title team is graduate Logan Fincher. The region’s player of the year advanced to the district’s 2A singles final.
Warren, coached by Tom Pellegrino, seeks to defend with Abe Wolfe and Hugh Harrison as seniors.
Wolf is a team captain, as is Adam Strandburg. The junior is a returning all-region selection in doubles but is likely to compete in singles this season.
Warren also welcomes back junior Jack Lynds, an all-region doubles selection last spring.
2023 all-stars: Meet the Erie Times-News 2023 Boys Tennis District 10 and Region All-Stars
What’s the postseason schedule?
All district matches, as they have since 2018, are scheduled within Westwood Racquet Club.
The early rounds of its singles tournament will take place May 4, with the 2A and 3A finals back there May 6. The entire doubles tournament follows May 8 and the team competition May 10.
Opening round play for the PIAA’s team tournament also returns to Westwood on May 14. Hershey will host the remainder of that event May 17-18, plus the state’s entire singles and doubles tournaments over May 24-25.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 high school boys tennis: Five questions going into season
