The Pioneer boys tennis team is pictured from left, front row, Levi Honigford, Grant Welsch, Austin Heiss, Jamie Phinney, Reed VanKirk, Trevor Cox, Trey Whisner and Phil Scott; second row, Owen Hecht, Noah Kuck, Dominic Dellapina, Jacob Zang, Seth Dickman, Brandon Gargac, Gideon Sullivan, Drew Corbitt and Parker Taylor; third row, assistant coach Bryan Deeken, Joshua Weakley, James Ratliff, Isaac Banks, Matthew Quinones, Cade Baker, Garrett Ferguson and head coach Ryan Swinehart. (Photo submitted)
Jonathan Alder’s boys tennis program returned in big fashion a year ago.
After sitting out the 2020 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Pioneers came back in a super way in 2021.
Alder went through the season with a 16-1 record and won the Central Buckeye Conference championship.
The Pioneers ran the table in the conference with a 12-0 record.
Alder claimed the CBC title by three matches over Bellefontaine and Northwestern, which both posted 9-3 records within the conference.
Don’t look now, but Jonathan Alder is expecting another big spring in 2022.
“We have a lot of seniors this year and should be very strong,” said head coach Ryan Swinehart. “Our seniors have worked very hard for four years and their time is finally here.”
Jacob Zang will handle the chores at first singles.
Reed VanKirk and Grant Welsch will respectively do the same at second and third singles.
Zang played third singles during the 2021 season and won all 11 of his matches.
Owen Hecht is another veteran.
He will play first doubles with Levi Honigford.
Honigford is moving to first doubles from third singles, where he posted a 2-0 record a year ago.
Trevor Cox and Austin Heiss will play second doubles.
Dominic Dellapina is the team’s eighth man.
“Dominic can fill in anywhere with his versatility,” said Swinehart.