2024 MIAA Tennis Preview

by Nelson Coffin

While Calvert Hall garnered much of the MIAA tennis attention by snapping Gilman’s eight-year stranglehold on the A Conference tennis title, two-time defending B Conference champ Boys’ Latin and three-peating Key also made waves last spring.

The Cardinals not only topped the Greyhounds in the finals on their home court in Towson, they won the battle in Roland Park during the regular season as well. 

This season, Calvert Hall will probably have to weather some growing pains, considering that what coach David Mast calls “a ton of jayvee call-ups” to round out a squad led by senior Aaron Holdswortrh (No. 1 singles), sophomore Andrew LaComb and freshman David Susko.

“On paper, it might look like we’re not as strong (as last year),” Mast said. “But we definitely think we’ll be in a position to have a shot by the end of the year. We just have to keep building the program.”

Gilman has plenty of talent at its disposal to use on a quest to start a new championship streak.

Starting with reigning No. 1 singles champ Andrew Hannan (Virginia), the Greyhounds also feature Lleyton Cathell (Boston College), Nick Sun, Andrea Bovio and Tarvis Dutton. 

Junior Alex Nabit is likely to be the No. 2 singles player on a team that coach Steve Krulevitz said will have the strongest schedule in school history, including an early-April trip to the 67-year-old Chattanooga Rotary Tournament at McCallie School in Tennessee.

According to Krulevitz, Gilman has claimed 28 MIAA and Maryland Scholastic Association crowns since 1958.

“I’ve just been, basically, a small part of that,” he said. “But there is a great tradition of tennis at the school.”

Although Krulevitz said that having a senior-laden team is usually a formula for success, he added that “every year is different. But this team has good spirit and no egos. We don’t talk about winning championships. We dod our talking on the court.

Senior captain and All-Conference standout Daniel McNair has been playing varsity tennis since his freshman year for Severn and will hold down the No. 1 singles spot for the Admirals.

Freshman Hunter Gilroy (No. 2 singles) and senior Charlie Friedrich (No. 3 singles) give Severn a formidable threesome at the top of the lineup. 

Severn coach Bill Gilroy said that Friedrich has gotten stronger and more proficient with each year and is a talented player.  

“Our doubles teams are still developing and the competition for spots on those teams has been close,” the coach said.  

Senior Jagan Som is being challenged by junior Jackson Burke and sophomore Connor Griffith for the right to play No. 1 doubles.

Senior Jack Shenk and freshman Ryan Forgione, are also viable doubles’ candidates.  

“Both Jack and Ryan are working hard, which makes the competition for spots on the two doubles teams most interesting,” Gilroy said. “Looking forward to the beginning of the conference season, we anticipate that we have the ability to improve on last year’s record.  We are excited about the challenge before us, and look forward to the competition. Every team in the MIAA A Conference has the potential to post a winning record, so every match is a battle worth seeing."

Coach Rich Zielaskiewicz said that Boys’ Latin recently returned from its annual spring break trip to the Van Der Meer Tennis Academy in Hilton Head, S.C.

Back in Baltimore, the Lakers’ first two scrimmages will be against Loyola Blakefield and Calvert Hall in preparation for a showdown against archival St. Paul’s on March 27.

When the B Conference slate opens in April, BL should be well prepared to take a swing at a three-peat with senior James London and junior Eli Holder leading the way.

“We’ve got a talented one-two punch for singles play,” Zielaskiewicz aid. “The team is very excited to defend our 2023 B Conference Championship.”

With six varsity returnees, Archbishop Spalding is one player shy of having an experienced B Conference contingent this season.

“We are going to be competitive at every spot, except possibly No. 2 doubles, where an inexperienced player will be playing.” Spalding coach Jon Jacobson said.  

Senior Michael Lonegran and his sophomore brother Moe won the No. 1 doubles title last season without losing a set, but one or both may be playing singles,” Jacobson added. 

Senior Joe Boretti was part of the No. 2  doubles tandem that dropped only one set all season. The tri-captain (with Michael Lonegran and junior Nate Winn) will try his hand at singles this spring. 

Winn and his sophomore sibling Cody could both play singles or doubles while sophomore Alex Fatula, who played No. 3 singles last year and has greatly improved will be in the mix.

“It will be an interesting season with a bunch of close matches,” Jocobson said. 

A rebuilding year is probably in store for Annapolis Area Christian School in the C Conference.

“We graduated six of our seven varsity players this past spring,” AACS coach Bill Bloomquist said. 

The Eagles will be led by senior Kate Anderson (No. 1 singles) the only eturning varsity player, sophomore  Ben Watson (No. 2 singles) and junior Griffin Pilkcher (No. 3 singles.  

Freshman Elijah Tanious will lead the No 1 doubles team and will be a vital anchor of this and following seasons, Bloomquist said.  

“We will grow stronger throughout the season as our players gain varsity experience and believe that we can be a playoff team in our conference,” he concluded.

St. Mary’s is in a similar situation to AACS, in that it will be a rebuilding year, St. Mary’s coach Diane Williams said.

Even though the Saints will have only one returning player, senior Kevin Feldtmose (No. 1 singles), Williams said, “I look forward to working with our players to build their skills and successes throughout the season.”

Sophomore Luke Feldtmose (No. 2 singles) and unior Jon Jones (No. 3 singles) are next in line.

Sophomore Gabe Batstone and freshman Demond Scott will handle No. 1 doubles’ chores while senior Bella Brianas and sophomore Grady White will be the No. 2 doubles' performers.

Among its three early losses, Archbishop Curley has dropped two close decisions in the C Conference this spring before topping St. Mary’s, 4-1.  

The Friars will compete this season with seven solid players, including junior Nathen Woods, who “kept showing incredible improvement” as “an impressively resilient player who does not give up,” according to coach Annie Bartomioli.

In addition, senior Luke Walz, she said “is a well-rounded and dedicated athlete who is a great addition to our team.”

While Jack Fountain decided to switch from doubles to single this year “and likes the challenge,” fellow senior and fourth-year player Julian Kuszewski decided to switch to doubles to team with freshman Josh Rutherford. 

Junior Cam Jones is also making an impact in doubles, joining senior Shawn Wilhelm to go undefeated so far this season.