Scouting Fox boys tennis
The Jacobs boys tennis program under the tutelage of coach Jon Betts has certainly enjoyed plenty of success over the years.
The 2021 season was a special one for Betts and the Golden Eagles.
Jacobs was 23-3 overall, won the Fox Valley Conference championship and was second in the sectionals.
The Golden Eagles capped a historic season with a fourth-place finish in the state and Betts was named Class 2A coach of the Year.
Jacobs, which had the top result at the state all-time for a FVC team, finished behind state powers New Trier, Stevenson and Hinsdale Central at the state meet.
"It was a historic season," said Betts. "We got a lot of attention around the state. We have the top returning singles players in the state. This is a tremendously talented, dedicated and hard working group."
Senior Thomas Nelson, a 4-year varsity performer and a Marquette recruit, finished fifth in the state in singles.
Nelson defeated teammate Kyle McNally (junior) in the fifth place match and McNally was sixth.
McNally and Nelson will get plenty of help from senior returnees Justin Cunningham, Jed Sia (Division III Trine College) and Justin Brzeski.
Newcomers junior Adrian Salgado, sophomore Austin Dinh and freshmen August Nelson and Ryan Fulton seek spots in the lineup.
Huntley, Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South figure to be near the top in the FVC.
The Red Raiders, 7-1 in Fox Valley Conference dual meet action last season, tied with Jacobs for first place in the conference tournament.
Huntley, under the guidance of the 17th-year coach Barry Wells, was second in the 2A sectional and 21st at state a year ago.
"We graduated a lot of players from one of our most successful seasons," said Wells. "We return many quality players."
The top player back is senior Matt Grubbs, a state qualifier in doubles a year ago.
Joining Grubbs with experience are seniors Aaryaan Khalil and Varun Parath and juniors Ben Hein and Jonathan Stec.
Newcomers vying for playing time are senior Ani Mehra, juniors Frankie Scarpelli, Zander Mayle, Colin Stanley and Jack Coleman, and sophomore Ishaan Trevedi.
The Trojans, under 12th-year coach Amanda Schuetzle, were fourth in the FVC and fifth in the sectionals in 2021.
The veteran coach has dependable returnees including seniors Sam Kedzior, Brandon Burtschi, Dan Jauch and Tommy Fornell along with sophomore Noah Marrano.
Freshman Bryce Shectman hopes to break into the lineup.
"We lost six starters and the players back are equal in talent," said the Cary-Grove coach. "We have grown and matured on the court."
The success of the Crystal Lake South program depends on the return of senior standout Jackson Schuetzle.
Schuetzle, who suffered a stress fracture in November, has been cleared to play, but won't be active to start the season.
Schuetzle, who will play tennis next season at Division III Case Western in Cleveland on an academic scholarship, was third in the state in Class 1A singles.
The Gators hope to improve on an 11-12 overall record and 4-4 FVC mark good enough for fifth. The Gators were fourth at the South 1A sectional and 11th at state.
Crystal Lake South, guided by Rick Bailey in his third season at South and 34th overall, has 8 key returners. They include seniors Cal Schneider, Cameron Slonneger and Will Bradstreet, juniors Aaron Koh and Willem Granzin along with sophomores Jack Dacy, Alex Smith and Dan Teetah.
Newcomers in the fold are senior July Sandra, sophomore Zenn Blasczyk and freshmen Kai Slonneger and Andy Huang.
"We hope for a big season from our key returnees," said Bailey. "Our newcomers are going to have learn on the fly. They are a great group of kids who are working hard."
Dundee-Crown, coached by Yuto Tsukida, hopes to improve in the FVC with seniors Ryan Holmer and Aidan Newett.
Hampshire coach Dylan Clark has junior Tyler You and Joseph Camsing back. Newcomers sophomores Cademon Steuber and Phoenix Phelps hope to contribute.
Illinois Math and Science Academy returns junior Akshot Gupta and sophomore Charles Ludwig.
"The players and I are overjoyed at being able to have a season," said coach Jim Bernardini. "We strive for a winning season and send some players to state."
West Aurora, 7-8 overall and 2-5 in the Southwest Prairie Conference, returns four seniors.
The Blackhawks veterans are seniors Yahir Espinoza, Johnny Runge, Andrew Simmons and Emri Eshtrefi.
Newcomers to the court are juniors Tommy Martin, Gabe Escobado and Ben Fisher along with sophomore Will Hipp and freshman Josh Hartman.
"We have heavy group of upperclassmen along with a solid group of underclassmen," said coach William Stanley. "We have a good mix. We hope to stay focused and improve throughout the season."
Kaneland returns seniors Josh Brunscheen, Aden Mumm, Caleb Hwang, Sam Rebelbrugge and junior Matt Manugas.
The Knights were 2-8 a year ago and fourth in the Interstate Eight Conference.
"We hope to improve the conference record and have an individual or doubles make it to state (1A)," said Kaneland coach Larry King. "The players put the work in in the offseason and really strengthened their fundamentals."
Aurora Central Catholic returns Class 1A state qualifying doubles team Adam and Elijah Hartford along with junior Justin Cebulski and sophomore Bryan Novack.
"The kids have worked hard the last nine months," said coach Mike Cowen. "We are hoping for a deep state run. The sky is the limit."
Fox boys tennis outlook
Top teams: Jacobs, Huntley, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, Kaneland, Batavia, Geneva, Bartlett, St. Charles North, St. Charles East, Aurora Central Catholic., West Aurora.
Top players: East Aurora: Alfonso Mendoza, Sr; Illinois Math and Science Academy: Akshot Gupta, Jr; Charles Ludwig, Soph; West Aurora: Yahir Espinoza, Sr; Johnny Runge, Sr; Andrew Simmons, Sr; Emri Eshtrefi; Batavia: Jacob Arulandu, Sr; Liam Keene, Sr; Kohl Winkle, Sr; Troy Lirot, Sr; Hank McClure, Sr; Liam Cheaney, Sr; Siriam Swaminathan, Jr; Sanjay Dave, Jr; Erik Warner, So; TJ Straus, So; Stuart Marchie, Sr; Brandon Knautz, Jr; Cole Conklin, Sr; Ryan Holmer; Dundee-Crown: Aidan Newett, Sr; Crystal Lake South: Jackson Schuetzle, Sr; Cal Schneider, Sr; Aaron Koh, Jr; Cameron Slonneger, Sr; Jack Dacy, Soph; Willem Granzin, Jr; Will Bradstreet, Sr; Alex Smith, So, Dan Teetah, So; Cary-Grove: Sam Kedzior, Sr; Noah Marrano, So; Brandon Burtschi, Sr; Dan Jauch, Sr; Tommy Fornell, Sr; Jacobs: Thomas Nelson, Sr; Kyle McNally, Jr; Justin Cunningham, Sr; Jed Sia, Sr; Justin Brzeski; St. Charles East: Quincy Moss, Jr; Sam Evans, Jr; Tiernan Price, Soph; Bartlett: Ronit Nagarupu, Sr, Nathan Mork, Sr; Mandar Brahmbhatt, Sr; Tej Shah, Sr; Matt Brendel, Sr; Sahil Patel, Sr; Jacob Kolano, Sr; Zach Kolano, Sr; Ethan Kolano, Sr, Agilan Gunashaker, Sr; Geneva: Joe Adams, Sr; Ryan Cedergren, Sr; Dan Capelli, Jr; Huntley: Matt Grubbs, Sr; Aryaan Khalil, Sr; Varun Parath, Sr; Ben Hein, Jr; Jonathan Stec, Jr; Kaneland: Josh Brunscheen, Sr; Adam Mumm, Sr; Caleb Hawang, Sr; Matt Managas, Jr; Sam Rebelbrugge, Sr; St. Charles North: Noah Bajuk, Soph; Jon Spicer, Soph; Mattas Calblas, Sr; Brady Barnes, Jr; Hampshire: Tyler Yu, Joe Camsing; Aurora Central Catholic: Adam Hartford, Jr; Elijah Hartford, Jr; Justin Cebulski, Jr; Bryan Novack, Soph.
Season skinny: Batavia certainly has the size and experience to enjoy a successful 2022 campaign.
Brad Nelson, in his 10th season at the helm of the Bulldogs, has carved out a 132-33-4 mark during his tenure.
Batavia was 15-7 overall, finished fourth in the Dukane Conference, and second at the Geneva 2A sectional in 2021. The Bulldogs return 4 singles players and 9 doubles players.
The top player back is senior Kohl Winkle, a state qualifier. Joining Winkle in the singles rotation are senior Jacob Arulandu (6-foot-1), Liam Keene (6-5) and Troy Lirot.
The experienced doubles players are seniors Hank McClure (6-1), Liam Cheney (6-7), Stuart Murchie and Cole Conklin (6-1). Juniors include Siriam Swaminathan, Sanjay Dave and Brandon Knautz. Getting valuable varsity playing time as freshmen were sophomores TJ Strauss (6-2) and Erik Warner. Senior newcomer Noah Johnson hopes to break into the rotation.
"We look more like a basketball team with our size," said Nelson. "We should have big serves and reach at the net. We hope to contend for the conference and sectional titles."
Sean Masoncup's St. Charles North North Stars are led by returnees senior Mattas Cablas, junior Brady Barnes and sophomores Noah Bajuk and Jon Spicer, Freshman Cole Weddle seeks playing time.
St. Charles East, coached by Rob Livermore, is led by junior Quincy Moss, who was a state qualifier in doubles last season, junior Sam Evans and sophomore Tiernan Price. Freshman Alex Sternowski joins the mix.
Geneva coach Ryan Barbasz welcomes back seniors Joe Adams, Ryan Cedergren, Joe Black and Donovan Del Mundo and junior Dan Cappelli. Freshman Tyler Masoncup, son of St. Charles North coach Sean Masoncup, is expected to play No. 1 doubles with Cedergren.
Bartlett is experienced and primed for a run at the Upstate Eight Conference championship. The Hawks' best player back is senior Tej Shah, an all-UEC selection with an 18-3 record.
Other all-conference selections for coach Colleen Brander's group are seniors Matt Brendel, Sahil Patel, Jacob Kolano and Zach Kolano. Other seniors with experience are Ethan Kolano, Agilan Gunashankak, Nathan Mork, Mandar Brahmbhatt and Ronit Nagarupu.
East Aurora is led by senior Alfonso Mendoza.