Watch for these 10 notable players during District 10's 2024 boys tennis season
District 10’s latest boys tennis season is already unique when it comes to singles.
Not only are its 2022 and 2023 Class 2A champions still active, but each play for the same team.
That’s a contrast to the Class 3A level. The district, thanks to the cancellation of its 2020 season because of COVID-19 and the ensuing three-year title run of McDowell graduate Aaron Heinlein, will have a new large-school singles champ for the first time in five years.
Here are some of northwestern Pennsylvania’s notable varsity players who will serve and volley on area courts between now and the end of May:
James Casella, Cathedral Prep, sr.
Although Casella was listed on last season’s all-district team for singles, he also was listed as an all-Region 2 player for doubles.
It was that latter discipline in which Casella, with graduate Hayden Hutchinson on his side of the net, helped the Ramblers advance to the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class 2A team tournament.
Gavin Ferretti, Cathedral Prep, so.
Teammate Jonah Ng’s decision to bypass defense of his 2022 district 2A singles title provided the first-year Rambler an unexpected opportunity to win that tournament last spring.
Ferretti, grandson of the late Robert Ferretti who coached Strong Vincent’s boys tennis team in the late 1970s and early 1980s, made good on that opening with a 6-1, 6-1 victory vs. Warren graduate Logan Fincher in their championship match. He advanced to the state quarterfinals.
2024 season primer: What to anticipate going into District 10's boys tennis season
Cameron Grieshaber, Cathedral Prep, jr.
He joined Casella as one of three duos on the 2023 all-Region 2 team for doubles.
Noah Hardesty, McDowell, so.
Hardesty was a first-year player during Andy Heinlein’s initial season as coach of the Trojans.
Classmate Gridley Wright was his partner when they were selected to the all-Region 2 team for doubles.
Isaac Hightree, Greenville, sr.
The fourth-year player was the lone underclassmen chosen as a first-team singles player on the list of 2023 Region 1 all-stars.
Graham Louis, Fairview, sr.
Louis advanced to semifinals in last season’s district 2A singles and doubles tournaments at Westwood Racquet Club. His play in singles warranted inclusion on the all-district team.
Jonah Ng, Cathedral Prep, jr.
Ng's decision to skip 2023 postseason singles matches to play doubles with graduate Hayden Hutchinson paid off at the district level. They easily won that tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals of the PIAA 2A event at Hershey Racquet Club.
Ng was voted the district’s boys tennis player of the year based on his regular-season results in singles for Ramblers coach Pat Grab.
2023 all-stars: Meet the Erie Times-News 2023 Boys Tennis District 10 and Region All-Stars
Adam Strandburg, Warren, jr.
The Dragons were last spring’s Region 2 titlists in part from his play in doubles with Owen Strandburg, his older brother and a 2023 graduate.
Adam Strandburg is listed as team captain for the 2024 Dragons, who blanked Harbor Creek 5-0 in the teams’ March 22 season opener. He contributed to their shutout with a victory in the dual’s No. 2 singles match.
Aditya Turaga, Fairview, sr.
The fourth-year Tiger was listed as a singles player for last spring’s district and Region 2 all-star teams.
Gridley Wright, McDowell, so.
Like Hardesty, Wright was a 2023 varsity newcomer who learned the game via the Trojans' feeder program. He was an all-region doubles player with Hardesty at his side.
Last season: District 10 boys tennis singles championships
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 boys high school tennis: Notable players to follow in 2024
