Boys Tennis Preview: Marion County teams ready for 'wide open" MOAC chase in 2025
MARION — A new season always brings new hope, but it's especially true for Marion County's boys tennis players.
Ontario has owned the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference the last two years, going undefeated to win a pair of championships. However, graduation has a way of shaking up the standings.
"I know there were a lot of good seniors in the conference last year that graduated, possibly making big changes in the league," Pleasant coach Dane Williams said. "Harding and Ontario are always key schools in tennis, but with so much unknown going into this year, many schools will be competing for that title."
His counterpart at Marion Harding agreed.
"I think the league is wide open," Presidents coach Dustin Ellis said, pointing toward Pleasant and Shelby as possible contenders. "I don't really know about a lot of teams this year. There have been a lot of really good players in the league the past few years that are not here anymore."
Harding last won the MOAC in 2022, while Pleasant won it in 2021 when Williams was still a player.
A closer look at Pleasant
The Spartans went 2-8 in the MOAC a year ago; however, they return everyone and more for 2025.
"We are a young team and still working to develop everyone," Williams said. "Of course, having a young team isn't a bad thing as the team will grow together for several years, allowing us to focus on building up the program."
He has some enviable pieces in which to build around.
Sophomore Alex Yancey is back a No. 1 singles, while Cael Bower, a four-year player, returns for his senior year at No. 2 singles, and junior three-year player Landon Severns comes back at third singles.
Vying for doubles spots will be juniors' Ryen Wansik, Griffin Gleespen and Luke Russel and sophomores Matt Murphy and Brady Werling. Newcomers are junior Evan Sickmiller, sophomores' Adrian Olivos, Julio Tot Cu and Valdemar Salinas and freshmen Quinton Carico and Bryce Hanshaw.
"We lost no seniors last year, so at least for the start of the season we are looking at a similar lineup to the end of last year," Williams said.
The school's recently renovated Sue Parker Tennis Complex will be home to a first night match when the Spartans host rival River Valley on April 29 at 7:45 p.m.
"Our biggest goal is also to see improvement over the season both in team performance and individual player skills," Williams said.
A closer look at Marion Harding
Graduation hit the Presidents hard. Lost at first singles is Alexander Lisiecki, a two-time Division I district qualifier, plus third singles MOAC champ Cameron Williams. Doubles players Carter Rawlins, Evan Birt and Brody Cahill also moved on.
"Only two players in our lineup have completed a full season of varsity tennis," Ellis said. "I'm also worried about the uncertainty of our lineup. We have many guys battling for spots, and it is difficult to predict what our lineup will look like."
Junior Sebastian Lisiecki went 25-8 in second singles before teaming with his older brother and finishing one win away from a state berth in D-I doubles. Senior Andres Rosas was 14-14 in first doubles, while junior Reagan Tway was 10-4 in doubles. Seniors' Christian Pearson and Jack McCrery will be battling for varsity spots.
Others on the roster are senior Jordy Lopez, junior Isaac Rice, sophomores' Jesse Stamp, Landon Blackford, Deylon Toombs, Matthew Stover, Noah Birt and freshman Jeffrey Stimson.
"We have many players who have put a good amount of work into their game to try and make the varsity lineup. Our team is improving day to day in practice and hopefully that will reflect in their play," Ellis said. "Our team goals this year are to focus on things that help us to improve. We want to have professional reps at practice, great effort and a good mentality at all times."
A closer look at River Valley
Longtime RV coach Sherry Jenkins is the only holdover from a year ago as graduation took Zeke Klenzman, Chase Osborne and Mason Self in singles, plus Hayden Campbell, Andrew Karrick, Jackson McKinnis and Olivia Meddles in doubles. All of them posted winning seasons a year ago.
Jenkins said the latest crew has a willingness to learn and work hard, but their lack of experience is a concern.
She hasn't determined a lineup yet, but she will be counting on seniors Daniel Laytart and Liam Bier and juniors Jordan Buckland, Landon Bauer, Ari Osborne, Sydney Osborne, Chloe Valentine and freshman Raelynn Amerine.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Boys Tennis 2025 Preview: 'Wide open' MOAC awaits Marion County teams
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