Three local schools — Greenfield High School, Turners Falls High School and Mohawk Trail Regional School — will field boys’ tennis teams this spring sports season.
The Green Wave and Indians return to compete in the Tri-County League, while the Warriors will continue with an indepedent schedule.
Below is a closer look at each of the programs and their outlooks for 2016:
Greenfield
The Green Wave comes into the season with a squad stacked with seniors and is defending league champion.
In 2015, the Wave sported a 17-1 record, which included a 17-0 regular-season mark, a 10-0 record in league play, and the top seed in the Western Massachusetts Division III Boys’ Tennis Tournament. A stunning 3-2 loss to No. 4 seed Belchertown High School in the semifinals of the tournament was the lone blemish on an otherwise great season.
While one of the team’s strengths is senior experience, head coach Rick Miner, who will be retiring at the end of the season after 23 years at the helm, said that this year’s team may not be quite as deep as last year’s.
“We are very senior heavy but lost both our No. 3 and 4 players from last season,” said Miner. Those players are Ben Westerman, the lone 2015 graduate, and Brayten Stack, who has other commitments this spring.
Last year’s top singles slot was George Felogloy’s, and he is being strongly challenged for that spot by fellow senior Stefan Walker. With the two top spots settled, seniors Elijah Xeno and Ethan Joseph are in a battle for No. 3, with whomever is not chosen moving to first doubles.
Also competing for time in doubles are seniors Josh Cady and Andrew McIntosh, junior Fahrah Day, along with freshmen Victor Ivancev, Brandon Siow, Aaron Do and Connor Pedigree.
Miner said that he has liked what he’s seen so far and that his entire roster, including freshmen, could be ready to go if needed.
“They’re coming along nicely,” said the coach.
As far as his decision to call it a career at the end of the season, Miner said, “It just feels like it’s time, just a feeling I have that this is it.”
Miner also said the timing works well because six years ago, he got permission for some sixth-graders to practice with the team, and that Felogloy and Joseph are among those players. Now they will go out together.
“I hope that I left all the kids I’ve coached with the enjoyment of the game of tennis, and I hope they’ll all play for the rest of their lives.”
The Wave gets rolling Thursday when it travels to Blunt Park in Springfield to take on Springfield High School of Science & Technology at 4 p.m.
Turners Falls
The Indians embark on their 2016 campaign with a new head coach, Steve Touloumtzis, who takes the reins from former mentor David Bulley.
Touloumtzis takes over a program in transition but has high hopes to have a competitive year in the league and qualify for the Division III Tournament, which the team narrowly missed last year.
“I can’t say much about last year because I wasn’t here, but I’m looking forward to seeing what our returning players can do, and we have some newcomers who might be in the mix as well,” said Touloumtzis.
Competing for the first and second singles spots are returning sophomores Avery Palmer and Jimmy Vaughn, the order of which is still to be determined. Returning junior Ricky Craver will move from a spot on first doubles and play in the third singles spot.
The doubles teams have yet to be determined, with ladder challenge matches still being conducted. The team at press time had only met for six practices.
Competing for spots were returning players sophomore Mason Whiteman, as well as Great Falls Middle School eighth-graders Brian Poirier, Joseph Kochan and Josh Gaulin.
Newcomers in the mix include junior Nick Morin, along with three freshman, Jovanni Ruggiano, Jeremiah Russell and Will Turn.
Although the team is young, Touloumtzis believes his team can be competitive and is looking forward to building the program for both this season and the future.
The Indians open their season Tuesday, hosting Westfield at 4 p.m.
Mohawk
The Warriors will remain an independent and play a handful of matches as they continue to build the fledgling program.
Jeff Johansmeyer wasn’t named head coach until after preseason practice began, but he already has a good idea on how things will line up.
The top returning player is senior Zach Arfa, who played No. 1 singles last season and will fill that role again. Classmate Alex Purington and junior Isaac Paige are slated to be the second and third singles players, though the order has not yet been determined.
Freshmen Sam Nelson and Triston LaCross look to compete in the first doubles slot, followed by senior Josh Paige and freshman Andy Robertson at second doubles.
Other athletes out for the team include junior Max Carr, sophomore Avery Miraglia and freshman Adam Benjamin.
Despite the lateness of Johansmeyer’s hiring, he will greatly benefit from a 12-player roster, most of whom played in matches last year.
“I am excited to work with these guys and enjoy some good tennis,” said Johansmeyer. “We are already working hard to improve our games and to have some fun at the same time.”
Mohawk is scheduled to travel to Greenfield on April 11 at 3:30 for its opener.