LEXINGTON — When you are fresh off winning a sixth consecutive league championship and a 17th since 2004, the expectations couldn't be higher for your program.
That is what Lexington coach Ron Schaub deals with year in and year out and yet, he produces tennis talent that is unmatched in Richland County and sometimes (OK, most times), beyond.
With the talent the Lexington Minutemen have coming back, it is no surprise that they take four of the Top 5 spots of top returning Richland County boys tennis players in 2025. They bring back kids with loads of postseason experience and nearly all of them have never lost an Ohio Cardinal Conference match.
And one has state gold hanging around his neck.
Let's take a look at the tennis talent we all should keep an eye on in 2025 with this edition of Jake's List.
5. Matt Bayes, Ontario
Bayes joined then-senior Alex Ellis as a Division II district qualifying doubles team as they dropped their opening match of the tournament. Still, Bayes earned some valuable experience during the 2024 season which he can then take into 2025 and lead the Warriors to some special things in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and beyond.
4. Tony Palmer, Lexington
Palmer is going to be a name that many will learn this season. A junior, Palmer has plenty of experience playing in tournaments as a regular in the nine-decade-old News Journal Tennis Tournament and has played extremely well usually falling to an eventual champ (who also came from Lexington). He will get plenty of chances to showcase his skills after two-time state qualifier Owan Gongwer decided to not play his senior senior year. Palmer will flourish.
3. Philip Etzel, Lexington
As a freshman, Etzel was a Division II district qualifier in singles and even won a match during the district tournament before falling in the quarterfinals. Back for his sophomore season, Etzel will have an even bigger role in 2025 and could see some doubles success if he can crack into a team.
2. Cooper Remy, Lexington
Remy was a state qualifier in Division II as a sophomore so that just speaks to the talent this young man has. He dropped his first match at state but gaining that experience will be incredibly valuable for him in 2025. He might team up with another top-notch singles player to form a doubles team capable of competing for a state title when the postseason comes around. Remy was the Division II district runner-up dominating his way to the finals.
1. Dylan Catanese, Lexington
It isn't every day you can welcome back a state champion to your team, but Lexington head coach Ron Schaub has that luxury in 2025. Last year, Catanese teamed up with Ethan Remy to win the Division II doubles state championship, cruising in the finals, 6-2, 7-5. Catanese will have to find a new teammate in 2025 if he hopes to end his career with two state championships and he might just find one inside the same family of last year's partner. Catanese was a Division II district and sectional champion in the doubles competitions.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal:
