Following are the 2023 H.S. boys’ tennis preview capsules.

ECC DIVISION I

East Lyme

Head coach: Susan Welshock (15th season)

Key returnees: Jr. Jiarui Peng, Sr. Rohan Purohit, Sr. Rohun Raj Veerappa-Boopathy, So. Ajay Rana.

Outlook: The Vikings, who went 15-1 in 2022, winning the Division I title before losing to New Canaan in the Class L semifinals find themselves in a bit of the rebuilding mode after losing a strong senior class, including ECC doubles finalists Matthew Brady and Riley Walsh, and singles semifinalist Daniel Sapozhnikov. “This will be a good chance to get a lot of new players playing time,” Welshock said.

Fitch

Head coach: Andrew Small (6th season)

Key returnees: So. Will Albrikes (singles), Jr. Andres Sardar (singles), Jr. Morgan Fisher (singles), Sr. Ryan Mignosa (doubles), Sr. Michael McBride (doubles), Jr. Nick Sousa (doubles), Jr. Mason Woodhams (doubles), Sr. Owin Parfitt (doubles), Sr. Andre Nickerson (doubles), Jr. Emanuel Cruz Gonzalez (doubles).

Top newcomers: Fr. Charlie Gempp (singles), So. Evan Whitten (singles, doubles), Fr. Michael Petropolous (doubles), Sr. Shiv Patel (doubles), Fr. Jason Green (singles, doubles).

Outlook: After finishing second to East Lyme in the division, the Falcons swept the ECC tournament titles with Albrikes winning the singles championship as a freshman and Tim Lynch-Douglas Cardona capturing doubles. Lynch and Cardona have graduated, but Albrikes and the bulk of the roster returns. “The success experienced last year has only set the expectations and goals higher for the 2023 season,” Small said.

Stonington

Head coach: John Adriano (8th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Conrad Tobiassen Sr. Joshua Lord, Sr. Jackson Conlon, Sr. Owen Grant, Jr. Matthew Turrisi, Jr. Tucker Callahan, So. Peter Schoenecker, Jr. Peter Previty, So. Sam Lund, So. Chase Donnarummo, Sr. Brett Caron, Jr. Ben Mahoney.

Top newcomer: Fr. Brady O'Neil.

Outlook: Callahan, a two-time ECC singles finalists, is among a group of experienced players to return for the Bears, who went 13-5 last season and gave eventual Class S champion Granby its toughest match, losing 4-3 in the second round. “We have a number of returning players who have two years of varsity matches,” Adriano said. “Hopefully this experience will provide us with a quick start and carry us through the year.”

Waterford

Head coach: Brent Bell (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Senior Peter Colonis (singles), Jr. Ian Balfour (singles), Jr. Noah Westkott (singles), Jr. Louis Dhervilly (doubles), Jr. Quinn LeBelle (doubles), Jr. Alistair Haglund (doubles), So. Andrew Bertrand (doubles).

Top newcomers: Christos Matsas (singles), Colton Murch (doubles), Adam Balfour (doubles), Arthur Dhervilly (doubles), Kaden Casteel (doubles), Michael Gialpis (doubles).

Outlook: The Lancers have 19 athletes in the program, including 10 freshmen, so there will be some growing pains this spring. “We have talented returners able to help transition our younger players towards becoming keys in our program,” Bell said.

ECC DIVISION II

Ledyard

Head coach: Ding Ding (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Ronan Allison, Sr Ben Fieldsend, So. Malloch Allison, Sr. Tyler Howard, Sr. Noah Freeman, Sr. Justin Grenger.

Top newcomers: Fr. Ben Wolford.

Outlook: The Colonels won the Division II title in 2022, but graduated their top two singles players (Julian Mileski and Matt Bourguignon). ECC doubles semifinalists Allison and Fieldsend return and Ledyard should remain competitive within the division. “We have plenty of enthusiastic players in all grades with varying skills and experience,” Ding said. “We look forward to an exciting season.”

New London

Head coach: John DelVento (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. Wilbur Mack, So. Alexander Churis, So. Benny Fernandez, Jr. Sergio Garcia, Jr. Jonathan Silva.

Top newcomer: Jr. Andelis Torres, So. Kevin Tenesaca, So. Jamal Charles, Juan Colon Orti, Jr. Yamyl Zapata Gonzalez.

Outlook: DelVento takes over the program and reports that numbers are up. He hopes to work on developing skills and growth with the current players and increasing the team’s winning percentage.

NFA

Head coach: Jay Berard (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Aydin Chowdury (singles), Sr. Liam Thurman (singles), So. Ben August (singles).

Top newcomer: Fr. Tyler Fields (doubles).

Outlook: The Wildcats must replace No. 1 singles player Jack Lacey, but return plenty of experienced players this spring. “We have no one standout, but balanced ability throughout the middle of the lineup,” Berard said. “We hope to build on last year.”

Note: Division II includes Woodstock Academy.

ECC DIVISION III

Lyman Memorial

Head coach: Zachary Johnson (5th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Maxwell Ponte (singles), Sr. Ryan Miller (singles), Sr. Joey Michele (singles).

Outlook: Miller, an ECC all-star in doubles last season, moves to singles this spring as the Bulldogs continue to rebuild as a program. “With many new additions to the team I am excited for the prospect of options within our roster,” Johnson said.

Montville

Head coach: Nathan Holmes (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. Brendan Duhamel, Sr. Andrew Giurleo, Sr. Mathew Malbaurn.

Outlook: Holmes takes over a Montville program which won the Division III title in 2022 and returns ECC all-star singles players Duhamel and Giurleo. “With our returning seniors and experienced players,” Holmes said, “this looks to be a great season.”

St. Bernard/Wheeler

Head coach: Ben Hayes (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. Zachary Kobyluck, So. Wyatt Hayes, So. Sam Cunningham, Sr. Nathaniel Dobley, Sr. Sam Gannotti, So. Andrew Coronado, So. Christian Agreda.

Top newcomers: Sr. Evan Browne, Fr. Angel Agreda.

Outlook: The cooperative program went 7-5 last season and return ECC all-stars Hayes (Wheeler) and Cunningham (St. Bernard). Hayes is still mixing and matching a lineup that will include experienced players and newcomers, but the Saints should be competitive within the division.

Note: Division III includes Killingly.

OTHERS

Old Lyme

Head coach: Andrew Tyrol (3rd season)

Key returnees: Jr. Griffin McGlinchey (singles), Sr. Charles Hinckley (singles), Sr. Will Danes (singles/doubles), Sr. Aidan Kerrigan (doubles), Jr. Leland Hine (doubles), Jr. Alis Bicic (doubles), So. Micah Bass (doubles), So. Andy Sicuranza (singles/doubles).

Top newcomer: Sr. Senior Cooper Munson.

Outlook: The Wildcats returning a veteran cast from a 13-5 team and have added Munson, who has spent the last three years playing at USTA competion. “Our players are excited to see what they can do and how they can improve throughout the year,” said Tyrol, who believes Old Lyme can make a deep Class S tournament run.

Williams School

Head coach: Monique Foster (6th season)

Key returnees: Fr. Lilian Chandler, Sr. Campbell Gray, Sr. Jack Suprenant, Fr. Anne Shay, 8th grader Jonathan Patton.

Top newcomers: Fr. Alexa Legein.

Outlook: The co-ed program continues to rebuild and will feature a number of young players this spring. “We look forward to continue building on the growth of last year's group,” Foster said.