Shelby boys tennis looks to continue its success
Depth will play a key factor in the Shelby boys tennis team’s success during the 2024 season.
“We have a lot of depth and good tennis players. We should be really good on the doubles side, but we do lack a dominant top-level singles player,” Shelby coach Jeff Kurtzman said.
Kurtzman will be entering his 27th and final season as boys tennis coach.
Seniors Ty Keinath, Bryson Baker, Carter Neff and junior Michael Vogt should see singles action.
Keinath was a second-team ALL-MOAC player last year and a threeyear returning letterwinner. Baker and Vogt are two-year letter winners. Neff, a returning letterwinner, has committed to playing tennis at Division 2 Tiffin University.
Ben Wilkins, Dawson Gove, and Avery Mongold were letter winners last year who will all see action in doubles play. Newcomers, Toby Randall and Ashton Hoffbauer are expected to be key contributors to the team.
“Ty, Michael, Bryson and Carter played a lot last year and will be playing a lot of singles this year”, Kurtzman said. “Ben, Avery and Dawson played both varsity and JV and we expect them to be key contributors this year. Toby and Ashton have really showed a lot of promise in practice and should really help out this year.”
Kurtzman spoke about league expectations.
“Ontario is the cream of the crop in boys tennis
David Jacobs/sdg Newspapers in the MOAC,” he said. should be a battle again “They’ll bring another this year. Galion and River great team to the league Valley bring back a couple this year.” nice players.”
“Harding will be tough,” The Whippets finished Kurtzman said. “They finished 14-4, 10-2 last year and right behind us in look to continue that success the league last year and it this year.
“We had a good year last year and with a lot of guys returning and some guys stepping up, I think we’ll be in about the same position this year. We have some good tennis players, and I hope to have a few
players advance to district play,” Kurtzman said in summary.
The Whippets begin play March 25 with a home match against Bellevue. The match is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.