Here are the top 8 Peoria-area boys high school tennis players to watch for 2024
PEORIA — Peoria-area boys tennis had a strong presence at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A state finals last season as Dunlap, Morton Metamora and Notre Dame all finished in the top 18 in the team race.
But 2024 looks to be a rebuilding year in the area, as elite players like Bryton Short (Metamora, all-state), Scott Anderson (Notre Dame, all-state), Alexander Schroff (Metamora), Graham O'Leary (Dunlap, all-state), Matthew Choy (Dunlap, all-state) and Aashish Pentela (Dunlap, all-state) have all moved on.
The Eagles had a historic run to fourth place in Class 1A, and are reloading after losing three of their starting six lineup.
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"Going into this year it's a little bit unnerving because of the amazing players that have graduated or moved, but I couldn’t be more excited for our team and the new possibilities and opportunities for guys to shine," Dunlap coach Pat Gornik said. "I’m looking forward to seeing what this group of guys can do to leave their mark on the program."
Here's a look at top area players to watch:
Carter Kendall, Morton
The senior heads into 2024 as a top candidate for player of the year if he can continue to raise his game. The singles player was a first-team all-Mid-Illini Conference pick and finished second in the Class 1A Dunlap Sectional last season. He rolled through a 35-6 season to lead Morton to a second-place finish and 15-4 record
Kendall lost to 2023 POY Short in the second round of the state finals but played back to the fifth round of the consolation bracket to finish in the 13-16 block overall and earn second-team IHSA all-state honors.
Alex Fei, Dunlap
Fei projects as Dunlap's No. 1 singles player, but he'll have to hold off challenges from teammates Shaan Kashyap and rising Ethan McRaven. The junior took Kendall to three sets — 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 — in the semis of the Class 1A Dunlap Sectional and settled for a fourth-place finish there last season. He was a combined 18-17 in singles and doubles play in 2023, helping the team to a sectional championship and earning first-team Mid-Illini Conference honors. At state, he split four matches and exited in the second round of consolation.
Shaan Kashyap, Dunlap
Kashyap went 25-7 during the season and earned IHSA second-team all-state honors. The senior teamed with Graham O'Leary last season on one of two Dunlap doubles teams that produced 11 of the team's 18 points at state. The duo played six matches, winning their first two in the championship bracket, and their first two to make the consolation quarterfinals.
Ethan McRaven, Dunlap
The junior teamed last season with Matthew Choy for a doubles tandem that earned Mid-Illini Conference second-team honors and finished third in the Class 1A Dunlap Sectional. The duo won its first two matches at state before losing in the third round. The Dunlap tandem battled into the fifth round of the consolation bracket and ended up with IHSA second-team all-state honors. McRaven's father, Steve, was a doubles star at Richwoods, where he teamed with Matt Maris for a fourth-place state finish in 1986.
Hudson Shaw, Metamora
The senior was 36-19 last season while playing behind Journal Star Player of the Year Bryton Short. He is in a key leadership role for the Redbirds. The two-time state qualifier is all about team. Two years ago, he switched to singles when Short was injured. Last season, he played doubles with a freshman, Dane Hutchison.
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Matt Savage, Washington
The senior went 19-16 last season, including a 6-2, 6-3 loss to East Peoria's Connor Watson. He's one of five seniors returning in the six-man lineup for the Panthers.
Connor Watson, East Peoria
The junior went 22-13 last season and showed marked improvement with his command over his serves and groundstrokes. His mission this season will be to qualify for state.
Joe Campbell, Morton
The senior went 28-9 last season and teamed with Carter Kendall for some doubles matches. Campbell will be a key player on a Morton team that could challenge Dunlap for the Mid-Illini Conference title and perhaps in sectional play. The Potters continue to rise under IHSTCA 2023 Regional Coach of the Year Justin Tilford.
Others to watch
Cam Kellem, sr., Richwoods (No. 1 singles); Ian Durst, so., Peoria Christian; Dunlap seniors Timothy Liu, Noah Li and Daniel Lin, all with a chance to step up from the Eagles depth and fill three open starting spots.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA boys tennis: Top 8 players to watch in the Peoria area for 2024
