Top teams, players in Oakland County
The 2021 boys tennis season is in full swing.
Oakland County once again represents some of the strongest teams and players throughout the state.
The chance for more hardware to come back to the area by season’s end is strong, and here’s a look at the teams and players that are leading the way in the county.
Division 1
• Troy: The Colts definitely have one of their strongest rosters yet and they find themselves tied atop the current MHSTeCA rankings. Senior Andrew Yang is about as good as they come in doubles and was All-State last year. This year he pairs with Nikhil Tatenini and the duo has their eyes on a state title of their own. Aryan Gupta and Srihari Ananthalwan are a strong No. 2 pair as well. It was Troy’s doubles squads that led them to a 5-4 win over Bloomfield Hills earlier this month. The Troy singles crop is led by senior Rishi Shetty, another formidable talent in the state picture. Sophomore Haresh Anand also has shown a lot of promise.
• Bloomfield Hills: The state champs in 2015, 2017 and 2018 want to add 2021 to that list. The Black Hawks certainly have the potential, as they are right there with the best. Their lone loss was the narrow defeat to Troy in which they still managed to win all four singles matches. Noah Roslin was a state semifinalist individu
ally as a junior and is competing for a state title of his own as a senior. Daniel Stojanov was another All-State honoree in singles play in 2020 and part of a deep singles roster for the Black Hawks this year, which also includes freshman Pierce Shaya and sophomore Aaron Rose. In doubles play, Toni Vasile and Merrick Chernett are the top duo for Bloomfield Hills.
• Novi: The Wildcats look to be another contender in Division 1 this fall, as they sit third in the latest D1 rankings. Their only shortcomings have come against the best of the best in the state. Senior Takuya King was HM All-State last year and is back at No. 1 singles for Novi this fall. Cole Anderson gives the Wildcats a great 1-2 punch atop their singles crop. In doubles, Krishanu Bose was also HM All-State, but in doubles, in 2020. This year he joins Vineet Kumar as the top Novi pair. Shrihan Nalamati and Anirudh Venbakkam follow up as a strong No. 2 duo.
• Birmingham Brother Rice: The Warriors will also have a say in how Division 1 plays out this year. The Warriors are ranked fifth in the current rankings. Dimitri Moriarty is their leader at No. 1 singles. He was AllState as a junior and been competitive amongst the best in the state. Patrick Cretu has been steady at No. 2 singles as well. In doubles, Jack Judge and Joe Turkot are each seniors that were HM All-State in doubles in 2020. This year Judge is with Nathan Grobbel, and Turkot is with Sam Brockhaus to form to strong doubles squads up top.
• Troy Athens: The Red Hawks sit on the edge of the D1 rankings at No. 10 right now. Their doubles teams have been leading the way thus far in 2021. Mayank Gudi and Rintaro Goda are
at No. 1 doubles while Rithwik Paladugu and Ayush Patel make up No. 2 doubles.
OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS
Clayton Anderson, Soph. Rochester; Matt Gordinier, Jr. West Bloomfield; Andrew Vincler, Fr. Stoney Creek;
Patrick Barna, Jr. Rochester Adams; Nick Maynard, Sr. Detroit Catholic Central; Alec Maynard Jr. Detroit Catholic Central; Ethan Hamlin, Sr. Royal Oak; Henry Lawrence, Sr. Royal Oak; Cooper Nugent, Jr. Rochester Adams; Ethan Eliasson, Sr. Rochester Adams; Gage Beers, Sr. Stoney Creek; Anthony Kim, Jr. Stoney Creek.
Division 2
• Birmingham Groves: The Falcons have been knocking on the door of a state championship in recent seasons and 2021 should be no different. Groves finds itself No. 5 in the latest Division 2 rankings, and the Falcons are coming off a recent win over rival Seaholm. Junior Nolen Kovan was an AllState singles player in 2020 and is back leading the Falcons this year. Senior R.J. Carrel is a great No. 2 option as well. Thus far, No. 3 singles Michael Liss is unbeaten as a freshman and showing a lot of promise. The team also includes senior Dylan Brown, who was honorable mention All-State as a doubles player last fall. He is teaming with Dylan Wolf this season.
• Birmingham Seaholm: Another team knocking on the door of a state title in D2 is Seaholm. The Maples are No. 6 in the latest Division 2 rankings.
Davis Sheppard was an All-State singles player in 2020 as a junior and showing great improvement thus far as a senior to lead the Maples.
Fellow senior Zane Chutkow was Honorable Mention All-State as a doubles player last year.
This season he is teaming with Owen O’Neill to make for a very formidable doubles team.
The Maples are very strong in doubles throughout, with Brady Wright and Aiden Wolfson forming another top duo.
Division 3
• Cranbrook-Kingswood: The Cranes won their fifth state championship in six seasons last fall. A sixth title in seven years is certainly within reach, as CK sits No. 2 in the current state rankings. Junior Owen DeMuth was individual state runner-up as a sophomore and will be pushing to get to the top of the mountain himself this fall. Senior Patrick Tiwari was also an All-State singles player for the Cranes in 2020, while George Fan is playing at No. 2 singles for the Cranes this year. Isaiah Croskey and Theo Taubman were each doubles All-State players and now joining forces in 2021 for a strong pair. Sebastian Taubman and Jacob Coburn also are a strong doubles squad to make the Cranes powerful across the board.
• Detroit Country Day: After claiming four consecutive state titles from 201114, the Yellowjackets have had to play runner-up five of the last six seasons. This year could be the year DCD gets back on top. Currently third in the D3 rankings, the Jackets are solid in every spot.
After earning All-State honors as a singles player last year, senior Alex Pollak is joining doubles All-State player, senior Petros Kalabat, this year. They are a very strong No. 1 duo.
The No. 2 squad of junior Clay Hartje and senior Aiden Khaghany join up again in 2021 after being doubles All-State in 2020. Senior Charlie Hollman was another All-State doubles player last fall.
This year he is joined by Nick Kalkanis. Senior Christian Grozev is a strong No. 1 singles player that was All-State last year as well for the Yellowjackets.