The upcoming 2024 Boys Tennis season is anticipated to be another thrilling one for the LebCo teams following their remarkable performance in 2023. Cedar Crest and Palmyra are expected to lead the pack once again as they aim to add more championships to their list of achievements. Although some teams are in the process of rebuilding, they are still expected to offer formidable competition, especially as younger players continue to hone their skills.
Apart from the team competition, all eyes will be on Palmyra’s Mahaffey twins, Aidan and Tyler, to see if they can clinch their third consecutive PIAA State Championship in Doubles.
To give you a peek at what lies ahead this season, we have compiled a team-by-team preview for you.
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Annville-Cleona Dutchmen
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Michael Hall – 3rd season
Key Returning Players: Max Liedtka (Sr.)
Key Newcomers: Travis Hostetter (So.); Augustus Giurintano (So.); Elijah Martin (So.)
Key Losses: Jared Hostetter (LVC); Alec Verhagen (Alvernia); Matej Hrncir (exchange); Samuel Domencic (injury)
2023 Record: 8-4
Outlook: In 2023, Annville-Cleona was a tough opponent throughout their Section 3 schedule. Unfortunately, the talented Dutchmen lost several tight matches that kept them out of postseason action as a team. Since then, they graduated some key pieces, including Jared Hostetter and Alec Verhagen, both currently playing at the collegiate level. All in all, they lost all but two starters from last year’s squad, and to make things more of a challenge, #1 player Samuel Domencic will likely miss the entirety of his senior year on account of injury. Though sidelined, Domencic will continue to be around this to help senior Max Liedtka as the pair works to provide veteran leadership to the next wave of players who have limited varsity experience. Among the players that Coach Hall is excited about to step up are sophomores Travis Hostetter, Augustus Giurintano, and Elijah Martin. While no one can guess how quickly the younger players might develop, the one certainty is that the Dutchmen will be working hard to improve every day.
Cedar Crest Falcons
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Phil Rader – 2nd season
Key Returning Players: Ben Sheffield (Sr.); Viseth Meng (Jr.); Joe Shkreli (Jr.); Isaac Wolfe (Jr.)
Key Newcomers: Finn Royer (Sr.); and Ted Doane (Fr.)
Key Losses: Charlie Robbins (Catholic University of America); Ryan Glover; Rocco Shkreli
2023 Record: 18-3, Section 1 Champions & PIAA Qualifier
Outlook: Cedar Crest Tennis is in the midst of a successful run, winning Section 1 in three of the last four seasons. This included a 2023 season that saw the Falcons dominate in League play on their way to qualifying for the PIAA State Tournament. While Coach Rader’s squad has lost several talented athletes from last year’s team, they will also be returning several players who were vital to the success of last year’s team. After earning Section 1 All-Star honors last season, junior Viseth Meng is back with an additional year of experience. He will be joined by fellow junior Joe Shkreli, one of the team’s featured Singles players in 2023. Additionally, senior Ben Sheffield and junior Isaac Wolfe will remain key contributors as they are called upon to take on increased responsibilities. The depth of this team will be aided by sophomore Nathan Meng and junior Keygan Paquette, who both saw limited varsity action last season. They will be joined by senior Finn Royer and freshman Ted Doane, both new to the varsity line-up. If all goes to plan, look for the Falcons to soar again in 2024.
ELCO Raiders
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Chris Gyorke – 2nd season
Key Returning Players: Tate Lovell (Jr.)
Key Newcomers: Dallas George (Sr.); Logan Kless (Sr.); Camden Marquette (Sr.); Brady Keath (Jr.); Brett Wenger (So.); James Dolan (Fr.); Brady Habecker (Fr.)
Key Losses: Ashton Beck, Chandler Ehrhart, Anthony Long
2023 Record: 7-8
Outlook: The Raiders finished 2023 just one match under .500 but featured three seniors who did much of the heavy lifting. The lone returning varsity player from last season is junior Tate Lovell. Spending most of his time last year as ELCO’s #4 Singles player, Lovell has put the work in and is now ready to move the team into the next chapter as its top player. In what on paper looks like a rebuild, Lovell will get help from the team’s youth, with sophomore Brett Wenger, along with freshmen James Dolan and Brady Habecker, who are each showing early promise. Beyond that, one twist occurred when practice started, as several members of ELCO’s athletic senior class decided to pull double duty in their final high school season. Camden Marquette and Logan Kless will be competing in Tennis in addition to Track & Field, while Dallas George will join them when a hectic Baseball schedule allows it. All in all, look for the Raiders to show a balance of veteran leadership and youth that should accelerate the development of every player.
Lebanon Cedars
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2
Head Coach: Tim Donley – 1st season
Key Returning Players: Mason Bender (Sr.); Oscar Berrios (Jr.)
Key Newcomers: Jack Herr (Sr.); William Figueroa (Sr.); Colin Johnsen (Sr.); Mohamed Marai (Sr.); Reda Mimmis (Jr.); Moaz Nassar (Jr.); Abdalla Abdelfattah (Jr.); Jordiel Kilgore (So.); Eric Thalen (Fr.)
Key Losses: Braulio Reyes, Antonio Scaramuzzino
2023 Record: 2-10
Outlook: Last season, the Cedars were led by seniors Antonio Scaramuzzino and Braulio Reyes. Under new head coach Tim Donley, the Cedars will rebuild with junior Oscar Berrios returning as the team’s top player after showing some promise last season. While many of the squad’s young men are new to tennis, the group is full of athletes, many of whom have played soccer or football. Early on, they are willing to learn, translating into immediate improvement. The season will show just how much progress they can make individually, but it will be important that this group works to lay a foundation for future success. That said, even more of a high priority is that they enjoy themselves throughout the journe
2023 Boys Tennis Regular Season Recap
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Matt Berdinka – 14th season
Key Returning Players: Hudson Brown (Sr.); Gavin Bush (Sr.); Zane Smoker (Jr.); Hayden Umberger (Jr.)
Key Newcomers: Jojo Escobales (Sr.); Garret Bohn (Jr.)
Key Losses: Austin Brown, Lucas Novack, Grady Stichler, Collin Wall
2023 Record: 5-7
Outlook: Last season, the Vikings played to a 5-7 record overall. While they lost much of their depth to graduation, Northern Lebanon is returning junior Zane Smoker, who served in the #2 Singles role last season. In addition to Smoker, Coach Berdinka will have senior Hudson Brown, who often came up clutch in tipping matches in their favor last year. Senior Gavin Bush and junior Hayden Umberger also bring with them varsity experience to the lineup. While depth issues will limit the team’s ability to win many matches outright, look for the Vikings to battle hard and let very few teams walk away with an easy victory.
Palmyra Cougars
Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division
Head Coach: Abbie Mahaffey – 13th season
Key Returning Players: Aidan Mahaffey (Sr.); Tyler Mahaffey (Sr.); Andrew Bauer (Sr.); Casey Heisey (Sr.); Caleb Sitler (Sr.) Nolan Wasilefski (Sr.)
Key Newcomers: Jacob Cote (Jr.)
Key Losses: Mitchell Wise
2023 Record: 10-5, Keystone Division Champions
Outlook: Palmyra has had monumental success in recent years, highlighted by back-to-back State Doubles Championships won by twin brothers Aidan and Tyler Mahaffey, now seniors committed to Lafayette College. While the Mahaffeys are the main attraction, this year’s group of Cougars is mainly comprised of senior, multi-sport athletes who were instrumental in helping Palmyra win the Keystone the last two seasons. Casey Heisey, Caleb Sitler, and Andrew Bauer will be looking to continue their improvement, while Nolan Wasilefski will make his return after missing most of last season with an injury. One newcomer worth mentioning is junior Jacob Cote, who will add depth as Palmyra looks for its third straight Keystone title.
Something to note is that the strong senior class was in kindergarten when Coach Abbie Mahaffey took over the program. In her 13th season, this year will be bittersweet as she will watch her sons play for the orange and black one last time, but not before they make a run at another State gold medal.
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