LebCo Boys Tennis Season Outlook: 2026

The 2026 Boys Tennis season is underway, and Lebanon County’s teams each enter the spring with a different set of goals. Annville-Cleona and ELCO bring back experienced lineups with hopes of staying competitive, Cedar Crest opens a new chapter under a first-year coach, and Lebanon, Northern Lebanon, and Palmyra continue working to build depth and develop younger players. From proven returning singles players to programs focused on long-term growth, there are plenty of storylines to watch as the season gets started.

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Annville-Cleona Dutchmen 

Lancaster Lebanon League

Section 3

Head Coach: Mike Hall – 4th season

Key Returners: Travis Hostetter (Sr.), Augustus Giurintano (Sr.), Brent Meyer (Jr.)

Rising Contributors: Isaac Hostetter (Fr.), Emilio Fuentes Garcia (Fr.)

2025 Record: 6-6

Season Outlook

Annville-Cleona brings back plenty of experience and proven production, led by one of the county’s top returning players in Travis Hostetter. A two-time Section 3 All-Star, Hostetter was the 2025 Lancaster-Lebanon League singles runner-up, part of the league doubles runner-up team, a District 3 singles quarterfinalist, a district doubles qualifier, and the Lebanon County Tournament singles runner-up.

Augustus Giurintano also returns after helping earn league doubles runner-up honors and a district doubles berth, giving the Dutchmen a strong core at the top of the lineup. Brent Meyer is back as another returning piece, and Annville-Cleona is also hoping freshmen Isaac Hostetter and Emilio Fuentes Garcia can make an immediate impact.

The Dutchmen know the schedule will be tough again, but the focus remains on growth, competitiveness, and matching the program’s standard. If Annville-Cleona can continue to develop while playing the blue-collar style it prides itself on, the Dutchmen should be in position to compete at a high level. One individual milestone to watch is Travis Hostetter’s chase to become just the second boys player in school history to reach 50 career wins.

Cedar Crest Falcons 

Lancaster-Lebanon League

Section 1

Head Coach: Josh Sprecher – 1st season

Key Returners: Nathan Meng (Sr.), Ted Doane (Jr.), Sammy Zeisloft (Jr.), Elliot Laster (So.)

Rising Contributors: Sammy Zeisloft (Jr.), Elliot Laster (So.)

2025 Record: 9-4, reached the 2nd round of the District 3 Championship Playoffs

Season Outlook

A new coach takes over a team with a solid returning foundation at Cedar Crest, where Josh Sprecher steps in after the Falcons put together a 9-4 season and reached the second round of the District 3 Championship Playoffs last spring.

Nathan Meng and Ted Doane give Cedar Crest two experienced singles players to build around, and both should provide stability near the top of the lineup. The Falcons are also looking to continue developing Sammy Zeisloft and Elliot Laster, two younger players who could become important pieces for the future.

After finishing eighth in last year’s power rankings and making a postseason run, Cedar Crest will be aiming to at least match that level and possibly take a step forward. With experienced players back and a new voice leading the program, consistency and continued growth will be the key themes this spring.

ELCO Raiders  

Lancaster Lebanon League

Section 3

Head Coach: Chris Gyorke – 4th season

Key Returners: Brett Wenger (Sr.), James Dolan (Jr.), Brady Habecker (Jr.), Jevan Marquette (So.), Reagan Grumbine (So.)

Key Losses: Tate Lovell

2025 Record: 8-5, District 3 qualifier

Season Outlook

ELCO brings back a veteran core and plenty of continuity heading into the new season. The Raiders went 8-5 last year and qualified for the District 3 team tournament, and much of that lineup returns.

Three of ELCO’s top four varsity singles players are back, and all three doubles teams return as well. That experience should give the Raiders a strong starting point, and with another year of development, both the confidence and overall level of play should be stronger.

After qualifying for districts last season, ELCO’s goal is to get back there and build on that success. With proven players returning throughout the lineup, the Raiders look like a team capable of being competitive again and putting together another solid season.

Lebanon Cedars

LancasterLebanon League

Section 1

Head Coach: Tim Donley – 3rd season

Key Returners: Christopher Bedolla (So.)

Rising Contributors: Jesse Lewis (Jr.), Bryan Gonzalez (So.), Ryan Eachus-Larkin (So.), Ivan Montas (So.), Edison Sanchez Cabrera (So.), Andrew Walizer (Fr.)

Key Losses: Oscar Barrios, Owen Itzen, Reda Mimmis, Aiden Schlegel

2025 Record: 0-10

Season Outlook

For Lebanon, the 2026 season will be centered on growth as the Cedars continue trying to build the program. Christopher Bedolla is the team’s lone returning player, with the rest of the roster made up largely of newcomers still learning the sport.

Coach Tim Donley’s emphasis will be on development, match experience, and helping players gain confidence on the court. That makes this a season where improvement may matter more than results in the standings.

There is also reason for optimism in the roster makeup. Only one newcomer is a senior, which gives Lebanon a chance to keep building toward the future, and 10 players on the roster are multi-sport athletes, including several soccer players and wrestlers. For the Cedars, the biggest goals this spring are teaching the game, growing appreciation for tennis, and continuing to attract athletes to the sport.

Northern Lebanon Vikings

Lancaster-Lebanon League

Section 3

Head Coach: Matt Berdinka – 16th season

Rising Contributors: Young roster looking to develop

Key Losses: Garret Bohn, Zane Smoker, Hayden Umberger

2025 Record: 2-5

Season Outlook

Northern Lebanon enters the season in a rebuilding spot as the Vikings work to replace key losses and put together enough numbers to fill out the lineup. The roster will be young and largely inexperienced, with several players still learning the sport and gaining match experience.

That makes development the clear priority this spring. The Vikings are hoping this season can serve as a foundation-building year while younger players get acclimated to the demands of varsity tennis.

Long term, Northern Lebanon is also hoping its new middle school tennis club can help grow interest and strengthen the program’s base. That may not fully pay off right away, but it gives the Vikings a direction as they continue working to build for the future.

Palmyra Cougars

Mid-Penn Conference

Keystone Division

Head Coach: Andrew English – 2nd season

Key Returners: Alfred Nazeeri (Sr.), Jack Wilson (Sr.)

Rising Contributors: Toby Fackler (So.), Bodhen Gingrich (Fr.)

2025 Record: 5-10

Season Outlook

Palmyra enters the season with a group of players who gained valuable experience last year and have continued working to improve heading into the spring. Alfred Nazeeri and Jack Wilson return as contributors, giving the Cougars senior leadership in the lineup.

The Cougars are also excited about younger players Toby Fackler and Bodhen Gingrich, who earned the top two spots in the lineup and could be important pieces both now and in the future.

Palmyra is still a relatively young team overall, but there is confidence in the character of the group and its ability to keep improving together. The focus this season will be on daily growth, both in skill and character, while continuing to build strong team chemistry.