Eight are finalists for player of the year
Here are The Arizona Republic's eight finalists for Boys Tennis Player of the Year, who comprise the All-Arizona team.
Neil Bhardwaja, Chandler Hamilton
Two-time defending Division I state doubles champion and this season's top seed who defeated No. 2 seed Brophy Prep in the Division I state doubles final. The senior Bhardwaja was also part of two state runner-up teams before his junior year.
Oliver Boleratzky, Glendale Deer Valley
Two-time defending Division II singles champion who was the only player to repeat his title among all three divisions. The junior was the third-seeded player who beat the fourth seed Rush Williams in the singles final, the only person who took Boleratzky to his only tiebreaker in the tournament.
Morgan Donovan, Notre Dame Prep
Entered the Division II state singles tournament as the top seed and lost in the semifinals to runner-up Rush Williams. Donovan helped lead No. 2 Notre Dame Prep to the state team championship match. He ended the season 11-0 in singles and 10-0 in doubles in team play.
Zach Fernandez, Phoenix Sunnyslope
The Division I state singles tournament's No. 3 seed who lost to the championship runner-up and second-seeded Luke Urlaub in the semifinals.
Ashton Kroeger, Phoenix Country Day
Division III boys tennis singles champion was the only freshman among all three divisions in the state single tournament who beat every opponent in straight sets. Kroeger had 9-1 for regular season singles and doubles, 2-2 and 4-0 for team playoff singles and doubles, respectively.
Ethan Lee, Tucson Rincon/University
Division I single champion who went undefeat- ed at 11-0 and was the 2018 singles final runner-up. Lee also won the High School Invitational during the preseason.
Brendan Perry, Tucson Catalina Foothills
Junior who led the defending champion Catalina Foothills to its sixth consecutive state title and helped continue its Division II dynasty on a 106-match win streak. Perry was the No. 2 seed in the singles state tournament who lost to repeat champion Oliver Boleratzky in the semifinals and had an 11-1 season record between 8-0 duals and 3-1 in tournament play.
Luke Urlaub, Phoenix Desert Vista The No. 2 seed and senior who played in an epic Division I state singles tournament final that lasted two hours, 50 minutes against eventual champion Ethan Lee.
Honorable Mention
Harry Carrozza, Cactus Shadows; Ryan Hildebrand, Cactus Shadows; Jonny Auh, Desert Mountain; Garrett Metzler, Brophy Prep; Drew Postillion, Brophy Prep; Rush Williams, Arcadia; Austreberto Carlon, Desert Vista; Wilder Cooke, The Gregory School
Coach of the Year
Jerry Keever, Phoenix Country Day One of the longest-tenured coaches in state history after 25 years at Phoenix Country Day. Keever led the sixth-seeded Phoenix Country Day to the Division III team championship round before losing to No. 1 Scottsdale Prep, 5-2. Keever coached Ashton Kroeger to win the singles title and has won nine state titles, 27 regional championship and a 681-90 career record.
"I love the sport, I love to coach," Keever said. "I love to see those guys out there and my job is just to give them a little bit of guidance."