Graduations will make next season a tough one
Three captains will not be returning next year
Thanks to players like Jonathan Um, the Bees were able to make a comeback in their conference tournament this year. Photo by BRUCE BILLOW
The beauty of tournament play is that it provides a chance for redemption.
Medina’s boys tennis team made the most of its chance.
After slogging through a minefield of a regular season bereft of many highlights that led to a 1-10 record and a 1-5 mark in the Greater Cleveland Conference, the Bees stormed back in their conference tourney, thanks to players such as Kyle Alexander, Dawson Huffaker and Jonathan Um.
“Our biggest pride was definitely our conference tournament,” Medina coach Alison Snook said. “We ended up taking third place and tied for third in our league. Our doubles team of Kyle and Dawson played their hearts out and beat Strongsville to end up third. Jonathan Um also had his best day of the season ending up third and getting a key win over Brunswick.”
That those three players ended their season on a high note was definitely good news for Medina.
The bad news?
There will be no encore performance from any of the trio because of graduation, and according to Snook, they will not be easily replaced.
“They were captains and key leaders for the guys,” Snook said. “They were helpful in keeping the teams spirits during a tough season. I have some underclassmen working on their games and taking our summer clinic that will try and fill their shoes.”
One positive is the return of Maxim Smith, the Bees’ first singles player. Assuming the position after playing at third singles as a freshman, Smith was eliminated in the first round of the Akron/Medina Division I Sectional tourney.
According to Snook, Smith’s record might not show it, but he has made great strides and will only improve over the next two seasons. The performance was enough for Snook to consider him the team’s MVP.
“Maxim is a great up and coming player,” Snook said. “He gave his all to every first singles match, hanging with some of the best players in the state.”
One player who did succeed at sectionals was Shane Cook, Medina’s only singles player to win a match there. He dispatched Stow’s Zach Dotson in straight sets before running into the buzz saw that is Brecksville’s top-seeded Aaron Yeh, who ended up advancing to state.
In doubles, Jacob Danszczak and Jonathan Dexheimer won a three-set match in the first round over a team from Akron North before falling in the second round to a duo from Copley who advanced to districts.
Alexander and Huffaker, who received a first-round bye, won their match in straight sets before falling in the third round to third-seeded Conner Evans and David Kendrick of Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit.
“Kyle and Dawson were both the biggest improvement and surprise playing doubles together,” Snook said. “They really learned the game and were competitive in every match beating Shaker Heights, Ashland and Strongsville late in the season. Those were huge wins and awesome for the team.”
It will take hard work and perseverance to overcome the Bees’ inability to attain consistent play, and Snook welcomes the challenge.
“We had a lot of very competitive matches, but we just couldn’t string together three wins in a match,” Snook said. “We will work on consistent play and strategy in tough situations.”
Medina’s boys tennis team made the most of its chance.
After slogging through a minefield of a regular season bereft of many highlights that led to a 1-10 record and a 1-5 mark in the Greater Cleveland Conference, the Bees stormed back in their conference tourney, thanks to players such as Kyle Alexander, Dawson Huffaker and Jonathan Um.
“Our biggest pride was definitely our conference tournament,” Medina coach Alison Snook said. “We ended up taking third place and tied for third in our league. Our doubles team of Kyle and Dawson played their hearts out and beat Strongsville to end up third. Jonathan Um also had his best day of the season ending up third and getting a key win over Brunswick.”
That those three players ended their season on a high note was definitely good news for Medina.
The bad news?
There will be no encore performance from any of the trio because of graduation, and according to Snook, they will not be easily replaced.
“They were captains and key leaders for the guys,” Snook said. “They were helpful in keeping the teams spirits during a tough season. I have some underclassmen working on their games and taking our summer clinic that will try and fill their shoes.”
One positive is the return of Maxim Smith, the Bees’ first singles player. Assuming the position after playing at third singles as a freshman, Smith was eliminated in the first round of the Akron/Medina Division I Sectional tourney.
According to Snook, Smith’s record might not show it, but he has made great strides and will only improve over the next two seasons. The performance was enough for Snook to consider him the team’s MVP.
“Maxim is a great up and coming player,” Snook said. “He gave his all to every first singles match, hanging with some of the best players in the state.”
One player who did succeed at sectionals was Shane Cook, Medina’s only singles player to win a match there. He dispatched Stow’s Zach Dotson in straight sets before running into the buzz saw that is Brecksville’s top-seeded Aaron Yeh, who ended up advancing to state.
In doubles, Jacob Danszczak and Jonathan Dexheimer won a three-set match in the first round over a team from Akron North before falling in the second round to a duo from Copley who advanced to districts.
Alexander and Huffaker, who received a first-round bye, won their match in straight sets before falling in the third round to third-seeded Conner Evans and David Kendrick of Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit.
“Kyle and Dawson were both the biggest improvement and surprise playing doubles together,” Snook said. “They really learned the game and were competitive in every match beating Shaker Heights, Ashland and Strongsville late in the season. Those were huge wins and awesome for the team.”
It will take hard work and perseverance to overcome the Bees’ inability to attain consistent play, and Snook welcomes the challenge.
“We had a lot of very competitive matches, but we just couldn’t string together three wins in a match,” Snook said. “We will work on consistent play and strategy in tough situations.”