LebCo Boys Tennis Season Outlook: 2023

The tennis season is already underway.  Be sure to check our Scholastic Scoreboard for all of the latest.

     Annville-Cleona Dutchmen 

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3

Head Coach: Michael Hall, 2^nd season

Key Returning Players: Samuel Domencic (Jr.); Alec Verhagen (Sr.); Jared Hostetter (Sr.); Henry Waldhausen (Sr.)

Key Losses: Simon Domencic

Outlook:  Last season was Coach Hall’s first at the helm of the Annville-Cleona Boys Tennis program. The Dutchmen competed hard throughout, while being matched up against some of the best teams in District 3 (with Lancaster Country Day finishing 2^nd in the State).  The biggest bright spot was the play of the Domencic brothers (Simon and Samuel) who lost in the second round of the District 3 doubles competition in three sets to a the eventual winners, a pairing from Lancaster Catholic.  Simon Domencic, who is now graduated, finished 4^th in the L-L among all #1s last season.  Despite losing their top player, there is much hope that the Dutchmen will continue to build upon what they did last year, as the players proved to their new Coach that they have potential and the drive to compete.  It helps that they have four returning starters who worked hard during the off-season and they are looking forward to the challenge of again facing some top tier talent throughout the regular season.

     Cedar Crest Falcons 

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1

Head Coach: Phil Rader, 1^st season*

Key Returning Players: Ryan Glover (Sr.); Charlie Robbins (Sr.); Rocco Shkreli (Sr.); Benjamin Sheffield (Jr.); Austin Heibel (So.); Viseth Meng (So.); Jozef Shkreli (So.); Isaac Wolfe (So.)

Key Losses: Garrett Muraika, Sam Malay, Micah Zeisloft

Outlook:  This is going to be a season of change for the Falcons, as Coach Mike Rohrbach is not returning after having years of success that culminated with his 200^th win last season.  However, with six of the seven players returning from the Crest team that placed 2^nd in the Lancaster Lebanon League and 3^rd in District 3, most people will not notice that there was a coaching change. Among the returning players are: Rocco Shkreli – LL League All-Star, LL doubles champion and 3^rd in singles last season; Viseth Meng – Section 1 all-star, ’22 LL semifinalist in singles and doubles; Charlie Robbins– Section 1 all-star. In addition to the top three, the Falcons boast a deep bench of talented players who will be competing for key roles on the team. Additionally, Coach Rader is in his first year on the boys’ side, yet he is not a stranger to the head coaching ranks, having previously coached the girls’ team for four seasons.  Look for Cedar Crest to continue its winning ways this season.

    ELCO Raiders  

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3

     Lebanon Cedars

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2

Head Coach:  John Shott, 1^st season

Key Returning Players: Antonio Scarmuzzino (Sr.); Braulio Reyes (Sr.); Cohen Meyer (Sr.); Dominic Folmer (Sr.); Oscar Barrios (So.)

Key Losses: Kameron Uffner, Luke Collins, Adrian Cruz, Giovanni Lugo

Outlook:  In 2022, the Cedars finished the season with a respectable 6-8 record.  They return to the courts in 2023, having lost a lot of talent and senior leadership to graduation.  However, the group that will replace that group does have a high level of talent and a desire to compete hard.  The one issue with which they will have to deal is the lack of match experience.  If they can close that gap, this group will be a tough match-up, much like they were a season ago.

     Northern Lebanon Vikings

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3

   Palmyra Cougars

Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division

Head Coach: Abbie Mahaffey, 12^th season

Key Returning Players: Aidan Mahaffey (Jr.); Tyler Mahaffey (Jr.)

Key Losses: Aidan Mark, Nolan Ciesielka, Cole Heisey, Othello Vida

Outlook: The Palmyra Cougars had a very memorable 2022 campaign, one which the team finished the regular season undefeated before winning the Mid Penn Championship and then going on to finishing 2^nd in District 3 and making it to the State semifinals where they lost to the eventual champion, Lower Merion.  In addition to the success of the team as a whole, it was twins Aidan and Tyler Mahaffey who stole the show throughout the season.  The talented pairing put together a postseason run that ended with them being crowned as PIAA State Doubles Champions.  As individuals, Aidan was the Mid Penn Singles Champion, beating Tyler in the finals.  Both brothers are back, ready to repeat the success they had during their sophomore seasons.  Beyond the State Champs, the Cougars are returning Casey Heisey (Jr.) and Mitchell Wise (Sr.), who both played varsity last season.  While they need to replace several key players from last year and are facing some early season growing pains, there is a feeling that this year could witness a similar level of success as ‘22 to an extent.

If you are looking to provide feedback or are a business or individual interested in providing sponsorship to aid our mission at LebCoSports, you are asked to contact Dan by emailing dan@lebcosports.com.