2021 HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ TENNIS PREVIEW CAPSULES
ECC Division I
East Lyme
Coach: Susan Welshock (12th season)
Key returnees: Guillem Colom, Sujesh Kurumbail, David Lee, Aditya Kabra.
Top newcomers: Daniel Sapoznikov, Rohan Purohit, Jiarui Peng, Benjamin Tan.
Outlook: Prior to last season's cancellation, the Vikings had just completed their third successive unbeaten season in 2019. Can they continue that streak? Welshock and co-coach Mike Abate think its possible despite graduating ECC singles champion Finn Power, No. 2 singles player Eric Gu and Jonathan Tan, who was part of the 2019 ECC doubles championship team. Doubles specialists Colom and Kurumbail return and Welshock is confident East Lyme will field a strong singles lineup.
Fitch
Coach: Andrew Small (5th season)
Key returnees: Sr. Ian Straub, Jr. Charlie Cartier, Sr. Camden Celtruda, Jr. Calvin Lupo, Jr. Tim Lynch, Sr. Aidan McLean, Sr. Jacob Peil, Sr. Kyle Conley.
Top newcomers: Sr. Owen Ash, Jr. Douglas Cardona, Fr. Emanual Cruz-Gonzalez, Fr. Morgan Fisher, So. Michael McBride, So. Ryan Mignosa, So. Andre Nickerson, Fr. Andres Sardar, Fr. Nicholas Sousa, Fr. Mason Woodhams.
Outlook: The Falcons may have been forced to take last season off, but they still return the bulk of their lineup from 2019. Mix in a large group of newcomers and Fitch has a deep and talented lineup to draw from in 2021. "Our expectations include staying safe (from COVID-19)," Higgins said, "continue to improve as a team ... and finish as one of the top teams in the division."
Ledyard
Coach: Nik Pellegrino (1st season)
Key returnees: Jr. Julian Mileski, Jr. Matthew Bourguignon, Jr. Damion DePaul, Jr. Reese Yaras. Top newcomers: Fr. Andrew Bailey, Fr. Sebastian Fieldsend, So. Ronan Allison, So. Benjamin Fieldsend, So. Noah Freeman, So. Justin Grenger.
Outlook: Pellegrino's first team at Ledyard features no seniors but a good blend of youth and experience. "We will feature a balanced group that looks to improve and compete for an opportunity to win in the division," Pellegrino said.
New London
Coach: Roger Desir (6th season)
Key returnees: Sr. Wesly Paulo, Sr. Sebastien Jean Michel, Sr. Emmanuel Marin.
Top newcomers: Jr. Jahari Nance, Jr. Alexis Vitorino, So. Emmanuel Silva, Fr. Jonathan Silva.
Outlook: Paulo is the most experienced of the returning players and should occupy the No. 1 singles spot. Desir's overall focus will be on skill development, but adds, "the team is looking forward to competing this spring."
NFA
Coach: Jay Berard (4th year)
Key returnees: Jr. Jack Lacey.
Outlook: Lacey played No. 1 singles for the Wildcats as a freshman, so despite not playing in 2020 Berard said Lacey will be back in the top singles role again for a young team. "We have a few underclassmen just starting off who are eager to learn," Berard said. "We're focused on getting better and setting a good foundation for the future."
Stonington
Coach: John Adriano (6th season)
Top newcomers: Sr. Chase Williams, So. Jackson Conlon, So. Owen Grant, So. Joshua Lord, So. Marshall Thibodeau, So. Conrad Tobiassen, Fr. Tucker Callahan, Fr. Peter Previty, Fr. Matthew Turrisi.
Outlook: It's rare to begin a season with no returning varsity players, but between missing a year due to the pandemic and a 2019 class that featured so many seniors, the Bears are starting from scratch. "None of the newcomers have ever played in a varsity or JV match," said Adriano, "but are working hard and looking forward to the season."
Waterford
Coach: Brent Bell (1st season)
Key returnees: Jr. Enzo Guarnieri, Jr. Gabriel Parent.
Top newcomers: Fr. Ian Balfour, Jr. Quinlin Haglund, Fr. Noah Westkott.
Outlook: The Lancers graduated five seniors, so this will be somewhat of a rebuilding year with underclassmen playing prominent roles. "We have many new members this year with tremendous potential and strong camaraderie," Bell said. "We look forward to an exciting season with this young team."
ECC Division II
Lyman Memorial
Coach: Zachary Johnson (3rd season)
Key returnees: Sr. Kyle Miller, Sr. Delton Wentworth, Jr. Coen Laibrandt.
Top newcomers: Sr. Kyle McElroy, So. Ryan Miller, Sr. Adam Martel.
Outlook: Miller and Wentworth move up to the top two singles spots after the Bulldogs graduated their top three singles players. Johnson is disappointed because he thought Lyman was ready for a breakthrough season in 2020 in the ECC with an experienced group, but he loves the "determination" of this team and says the entire program is just happy to play tennis again.
Montville
Coach: Meg Fournier (3rd season) Key returnees: David Baukus, A.J. Hintz, Ethan Thomas, Jae Seung Kim, Jason Zhong, Aiden Meislitzer.
Top newcomers: Brendan Duhamel, Jack Giurleo, Matt Malbaurn, Bradley Dyson, Gabe Vogt, Adam Smith.
Outlook: Fournier's excited to get back to business this spring, especially since the Indians have a nice balance of talent with the returning players and new cast. Fournier said things have been competitive in the preseason and she's "looking forward to another great season."
St. Bernard
Coach: Joe Strafaci (1st season)
Key returnees: Gage Goodwin, Liam Peters.
Top newcomers: Matt Bottaro, Will Hamburger.
Outlook: Strafaci was pleased to see such a strong turnout as the Saints return to the courts after missing out in 2020. There is a nice combination of experience and youth, too. "With the leadership of upperclassmen Goodwin and Peters," Strafaci said, "we should be a strong, well-rounded team."
Others
Old Lyme
Coach: Andrew Tyrol (1st season)
Key returnees: Sr. George Danes, Sr. Regan Kaye, Sr. Tim O'Brien, Sr. Pat Dagher.
Top newcomers: So. Charles Hinckley, Fr. Griffen McGlinchey, So. Will Danes.
Outlook: Tyrol, whose first season as head coach never got off the ground due to the cancellation of the 2020 season, is anxious to get started ... and who can blame him? The Wildcats are small in numbers but not in talent, led by Danes, the 2019 Shoreline Conference champion and The Day's All-Area Player of the Year. "Our veteran leadership from a core senior crew will hopefully lead us to a deep run (in the conference)," Tyrol said.