Class A boys tennis in Nebraska just got a lot more interesting with the decisions of Jackson Withrow and Anthony Del Core to skip the fall season, some coaches say.
“It will be a very exciting year,” Omaha Creighton Prep coach Mike Higgins said. “Lose the top two guys, and it’s wide open.’’
Omaha Burke’s Withrow and Prep’s Del Core are ranked in the top 10 in their respective age groups nationally and have decided to concentrate on national tournaments.
Withrow had won the past three state titles in No. 1 singles, with Del Core finishing as the runner-up twice.
“It’s sad to see them go, because they are both incredibly gifted players who had a spirited rivalry going,’’ Higgins said. “We really have lost a classic rivalry we haven’t seen the caliber of in high school tennis in the six years I’ve been coaching.’’
But there is no lack of talent across the state, coaches said.
“I think it kind of levels the playing field a little bit more,” Lincoln Southwest coach Dennis Hershberger said. “It’s kind of exciting.’’
Hershberger said the door is open for players such as Lincoln Southeast’s Grant Tesmer, who was third at state last year, or his own talented freshman, C.J. Sjulin. Higgins also mentioned Omaha Westside’s AJ Blazek.
Prep’s Matt Hagan and Connor Mulhall could also be in the mix, but they are still battling for the top spot on their own team.
The Junior Jays return eight players who competed on the varsity level last year, making them one of the favorites in the team race. Others teams expected to do well, coaches said, are Southeast, Southwest and Westside.
In Class B, Lincoln Pius X, McCook, Elkhorn Mount Michael and Omaha Skutt got the most nods from coaches. McCook returns No. 1 singles champion Connor Larson, a senior.
Higgins said his team won’t miss a step without Del Core because of the big group of veterans in his lineup. He, like most coaches, will use the next few weeks to figure out where to put everyone.
Higgins said Papillion-LaVista’s invitational Sept. 20, which draws 20 teams, will be a good barometer.
“That tournament is a very good indicator of who is shaping up pretty strong,” he said.
Contact the writer:
444-1034, marjie.ducey@owh.com
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