Maple Leafs tennis going for a NIB 12 Fantastic Four-peat
On the tennis court, finding the right plan of attack is a big key to victory.
Seeing how things fit together will be an ongoing process for Maple Leafs’ Coach Kevin Reed this season.
Geneseo will be without a state qualifier returning this season after losing its top doubles team of Ben Rowley and Trace Johnson to graduation.
However, Geneseo returns a majority of its varsity lineup from a year ago as they seek a fourth consecutive Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference title.
Last season’s No. 2 doubles team of AJ Miller and Will Chaney return ready to take the next step, and the Leafs’ top singles player Avery Dunker will be ready to roll again.
The Maple Leafs’ Ethan Pullman and Mick Haverland are another doubles duo
looking to take a step up, and Geneseo’s team of Brandon Gallagher and Dylan Hart won the NIB 12 No. 2 doubles title at the frosh/soph tournament.
Reed thinks the Maple Leafs’ core of players with doubles experience will be a major key to them winning a fourth consecutive NIB 12 crown.
“I have told the guys we are going to put you with a partner and see how you do,” Reed said. “Then we can start changing some things. Then the next week, we can change things again and figure things out as we go.”
Ben Ford is another player who distinguished himself at the JV level last season, and Reed said the team has several seniors ready to step up if given the opportunity.
While Geneseo is returning a majority of its varsity lineup, Ottawa, Yorkville and LaSalle-Peru have a majority of their varsity lineup back as well.
The Maple Leafs will face another wrinkle with a two class system being implemented into the postseason starting this year.
Reed isn’t sure what the change will mean for the Maple Leafs, but the Lady Leafs had an even more challenging path than previous years in the new system.
On the girls’ side, Geneseo ran into players from Alleman who finish third as a team at the state tournament last fall.
2017 Geneseo tennis roster
Seniors
Christos Andrios
Will Chaney
Bryan Dellett
Tristan DeSplinter
Avery Dunker
Dylan Hodge
AJ Miller
Adam Neuwohner
Ethan Pullman
Logan Ricketts
Logan Stein
Dylan Vavrosky
Alex Williams
Josh Yoder
Juniors
Reed Adams
Nathan Curran
Ben Ford
Brandon Gallagher
Dylan Hart
Mick Haverland
Scott Miller
Jack Roberts
Patrick Turpin
Sophomores
Elijah Anzaldua-Maas
Josh Beeth
Luke Chaney
Blake Laingen
Griffin Tracey
Freshmen
Danny Ford
Dillon Goethals
Timothy Lehman
Ryan Morgan
Hayes Murphy
Kyle State
Carter Stephenson
Caleb Swearingen
Noah Thompson
Coach: Kevin Reed. Assistant coaches: Nate Fonck and Cody Miles.
2017 Geneseo tennis schedule
March 25 Geneseo at Rock Island Gold Invite Rock Island HS 8:30 a.m.
March 28 Geneseo at Rock Island High School Rock Island HS 4:30 p.m.
April 4 Geneseo at DeKalb HS DeKalb HS 4:30 p.m.
April 5 United Township at Geneseo Richmond Hill 4:30 p.m.
April 6 Geneseo at Ottawa Ottawa HS 4:30 p.m.
April 11 Rochelle at Geneseo Richmond Hill 4:30 p.m.
April 15 Geneseo at LaSalle-Peru F/S Invite LP Sports Complex 8:30 a.m.
April 17 Geneseo at Galesburg Galesburg HS 4:30 p.m.
April 19 Dixon High at Geneseo Richmond Hill 4:30 p.m.
April 20 Morris at Geneseo Richmond Hill 4:30 p.m.
April 22 Geneseo at Pleasant Valley Invitational Pleasant Valley HS 9 a.m.
April 25 Geneseo at Sterling Sterling HS 4:30 p.m.
April 27 Yorkville at Geneseo Richmond Hill 4:30 p.m.
May 1 Geneseo at Princeton Prather Field Courts 4:30 p.m.
May 5 Geneseo at Moline Invite Moline High School 4 p.m.
May 6 Geneseo at Moline Invite Moline High School 8:30 a.m.
May 6 Geneseo at NIB 12 F/S Conference at Rochelle HS 9 a.m.
May 9 Alleman at Geneseo Richmond Hill 4:30 p.m.
May 10 Geneseo at LaSalle-Peru LP Sports Complex 4:30 p.m.
May 13 Geneseo at NIB 12 Conference Rochlle HS 8 a.m.