Columbus North has dominated the local boys tennis sectional the past two decades, winning 19 of the past 20 titles.
The Bull Dogs broke through last year with their first regional crown since 2014 and qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2008.
Here is a look at that North team and other area boys tennis squads heading into the start of the regular season on Monday:
Columbus North
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With all but their No. 1 singles player, The Republic Boys Tennis Player of the Year Kevin Lin, back from last year’s 14-4 team, the Bull Dogs have a good chance to make another deep postseason run.
“I think we do, but you never know what the other teams are going to come up with,” North coach Kendal Hammel said. “But I think we have the talent and the experience from last year. We have definitely some depth and strength.”
Sophomore Nathan Lin, who played No. 1 doubles, and senior Bhavey Jain, who played No. 2 singles, are battling for the No. 1 singles spot. Whichever one doesn’t win that likely will play No. 2 singles.
Senior Adam Saad, who teamed with Nathan Lin to form a No. 1 doubles team that qualified for Doubles State Finals, will be at No. 3 singles or No. 1 doubles. Sophomore Matthew Liu, who played No. 2 doubles, likely will be at No. 1 doubles this season, and his partner from last year, senior Joey Zhao, could play No. 3 singles or doubles.
“I know I have five guys playing varsity for sure, and I know we have four guys vying for the other two spots,” Hammel said.
One of those four, senior Eamon Ma, played No. 3 singles last season, and could play No. 2 doubles. He is battling for spots with senior Will King, junior Joseph Kloepfer and senior Atharva Kute.
Kloepfer also could play No. 3 singles.
“It’s just a process for us right now,” Hammel said. “We’re doing challenge matches. What I decide to do at 1 doubles is going to determine what we do at 3 singles and 2 doubles.”
Columbus East
The Olympians could be rebuilding for the second time in three years after losing five seniors from a team that went 6-10.
“We have a lot of middle to young guys who are going to be called upon to fill positions usually filled by older, more experienced players,” East coach Matt Malinsky said. “They’re all working hard.”
Junior Pranav Kumar, who played No. 3 singles last season; sophomore Derek Heideman, who mostly played doubles; and freshman Matthew Degner likely will fill the three singles spots, although the order is up in the air.
“Our singles spots are all competing at a similar level,” Malinsky said. “We don’t have any seniors in those spots, so they’re probably going to have some growing pains this year.”
Junior newcomer Daniel Murphy and senior newcomer Wyatt Romine will start the season at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Emmit Romine, senior newcomer Caleb Wettschurak and junior newcomer Bridger Wagner are battling for the No. 2 doubles sots.
“We’re all just trying to get better each day and learn and kind of improve with the competition each time,” Malinsky said. “I feel confident they can make a lot of improvement this season.”
Hauser
Stephanie Long takes over as the Jets coach following the retirement of John Pratt. Long will have help from her husband Nate, who also is the Hauser baseball coach.
Senior Ethan Wallace, who led the Jets to a 7-5 season, returns at No. 1 singles.
“Ethan has brought a lot of leadership to the team,” Stephanie Long said. “Being a senior and having the experience that he does, he’s been an asset the the younger players, not only with the skill, but how the game is played.”
Junior Caleb Hoover will move from No. 2 doubles to No. 2 singles. Sophomore Sam Miller takes over at No. 3 singles.
Senior Keagan Miller and his brother, sophomore Eli Miller, step in at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Levi Goelmer and sophomore Carson Rose will play No. 2 doubles
“We’re going to have a good team,” Stephanie Long said. “Our 1 and 2 spots are going to be pretty good. After that, we have some young players, but we’ve had some good practices and gained some ground already.”
Brown County
The Eagles made it to the sectional final last season before falling to North and finishing 9-8.
Senior Aaron McCann returns at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Josh Miller moves from No. 3 to No. 2 singles. Sophomore Eli Sichting and junior Reid Davis are battling for the No. 3 singles spot.
Juniors Aiden Burt and Nolan Patterson played No. 1 doubles last season, and juniors Noah Cochran and Spencer Blee played No. 2 doubles. Those four will fill the doubles spots again this year, although the order is up in the air.
Sophomore Austen Deckard and freshman Daylen Dees also are pushing for starting positions.
“This group of Eagles have worked extremely hard during the summer and have high expectations for the season,” Brown County coach Kevin Roush said.
Jennings County
The Panthers lost their top five players from a team that went 3-12.
Seniors Wyatt St. John and Joe Kelley, both of which played No. 2 doubles last year, are the lone varsity returners. St. John will be at No. 1 singles, and Kelley will play No. 1 doubles.
Freshman Justin Ramey takes over at No. 2 singles, and sophomore Greyson Jackson steps in at No. 3 singles. Sophomore newcomer Jacob Vogel will join Kelley at No. 1 doubles, and freshmen Alex Leach and Owen Law will play No. 2 doubles.
“Bringing two kids back from a three-win team is not a good combination,” Jennings coach Deron Brown said. “We have a lot of fresh faces. We’ll be pretty young and pretty inexperienced, but there’s talent there, so we’ll see what we can get out of them.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers will look to make a big improvement after finishing 1-15.
Senior Brayden McManaway moves from No. 2 singles to No. 1 singles. Senior Kolton Reed, who played No. 1 doubles, and sophomore Travis Jones, who played No. 3 singles, likely will play No. 2 singles and No. 3 singles.
Junior Parker Newman returns at No. 1 doubles and could team with sophomore Trevor Moon, who played No. 2 doubles. Battling for the other doubles spots are freshman Max Blandford, juniors Chase Littlejohn and Preston Smith and sophomore Cash Cunningham.
“We have experience at the singles spots,” Edinburgh coach Pete Khensouri said. “Doubles, I haven’t figured out yet. I see a lot of improvement right now, especially in Max.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars have a new coach in Bailey Baker, a 2018 Trinity graduate. After attending IUPUI last year, Baker now is going to Ivy Tech in Columbus.
Senior Jace Crockett returns at No. 1 singles from a team that went 2-9. Senior Noah Voelker moves from No. 3 to No. 2 singles, and freshman Cameron Greenwald and junior Jerry Jiang will play No. 3 singles or No. 1 doubles.
Freshman Jack VonDielingen will join Greenwald or Jiang at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Nathan Voelker and juniors Luke Pollert, Henry Hall, Davis Tracey, Ryan Kleman and Tanner Bauserman are battling for the No. 2 doubles spots.
“At the beginning of the year, they just need to stay positive and give effort,” Baker said. “If they do that, at the end of the year, they should be pretty good.”
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2019 boys tennis schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Monday;Bloomington South;5 p.m.
Thursday;at Greenwood;5 p.m.
Aug. 26;at Bedford North Lawrence;5 p.m.
Aug. 27;at Columbus North;4:15 p.m.
Aug. 29;Madison;5 p.m.
Aug. 31;Plainfield;10 a.m.
Sept. 4;Brown County;5 p.m.
Sept. 5;at Jennings County;5 p.m.
Sept. 11;at East Central;5:30 p.m.
Sept. 12;at Batesville;5 p.m.
Sept. 14;at Shelbyville;9 a.m.
Sept. 18;Greensburg;4:45 p.m.
Sept. 19;at Seymour;5 p.m.
Sept. 21;East Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 23;at Jeffersonville (HHC tourney);5 p.m.
Sept. 25;at HHC tourney;5 p.m.
Sept. 27;HHC tourney;5 p.m.
Columbus North
Friday;at Jeffersonville Tournament;6:30 p.m.
Aug. 24;at Jeffersonville Tournament;9 a.m.
Aug. 26;at Plainfield;5 p.m.
Aug. 27;Columbus East;4:15 p.m.
Aug. 29;Southport;5:30 p.m.
Aug. 31;Terre Haute North;11 a.m.
Sept. 5;at Perry Meridian;5:30 p.m.
Sept. 7;Center Grove;9 a.m.
Sept. 10;vs. Terre Haute South, at Bloomington North;5:45 p.m.
Sept. 14;Columbus North Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 17;Bloomington South;6 p.m.
Sept. 21;at Floyd Central;10 a.m.
Sept. 24;at Greenwood;5 p.m.
Sept. 26;Bloomington North;5:30 p.m.
Sept. 28;at Silver Creek;10 a.m.
Sept. 30;at Roncalli;5 p.m
Hauser
Tuesday;Shelbyville;5 p.m.
Thursday;Brown County;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 26;Milan;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 29;at Eastern Hancock;5 p.m.
Sept. 3;Southwestern (Shelby);4:30 p.m.
Sept. 4;at Edinburgh;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 5;at Indian Creek;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 10;at Triton Central;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 12;at Morristown;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 17;Waldron;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 19;at Greensburg;5 p.m.
Sept. 21;MHC tourney at Waldron;9 a.m.
Sept. 25;at Oldenburg Academy;5 p.m.
Sept. 28;Hauser Classic;9 a.m.
Oct. 1;Indianapolis Lutheran;4:30 p.m.
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