SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO South Williamsport’s Wyatt Robbins returns for South Williamsport as the Mounties look to build off last season’s success.

Hannah Summerson took over Montgomery’s girls tennis team as its coach not too long ago, and in the process got her first taste of being a head coach. Last year, she was an assistant with the Williamsport boys team and now, Summerson is leading the team as the Millionaires’ coach.

Having been an assistant last year is something Summerson feels will be beneficial entering this spring season.

“I think that knowing how most of the varsity boys play already will help me to coach them this season. Even though we graduated a couple of key players last year, I am confident that the boys will step up to the plate this season,” Summerson said. “We are looking strong and I am excited to see how they perform come match day.”

The Millionaires return a few players who had experience last year, including Evan Beiter and Owen Kaar.

“What is great about this group of boys is that they all have different strengths and are great competition for each other. Each boy stands out for different reasons,” Summerson said. “In particular I am excited to see how Owen Kaar does this season. Kaar played No. 2 doubles last year and will now be competing in singles. He has improved a lot last year.”

Summerson noted his ground strokes are looking clean and his natural athleticism “allows him to pull out some scrappy shots when needed.”

The Millionaires have a few new players on the roster, and have a freshman in Albert Campbell.

“I was happy to know that we have quite a few new faces joining the team this season. We are waiting to see which of the younger players will be able to fulfill our last varsity spot available,” Summerson said. “I am confident that there will be a few players able to step up to the plate when thrown into a varsity match.”

While Summerson is in her first year at the helm at Williamsport, Kent Young enters his 37th year of coaching and has a team coming off an 11-5 mark last year.

“Expectations for this year are to qualify for team districts and get our Nos. 1 and 2 singles into the district singles (tournament),” Young said. “Hopefully continue to build on last year’s success which may be challenging after graduating nine seniors off a 15-player roster. Bottom line, we want to see every player on our roster improve over the course of the season.”

Kade Sanford is back this year as the team’s lone senior. The team also has a few juniors in Owen Bird, Jack Reid, Matthew Reid, Landyn Gephart, Luke Sanford and Derick Canlas on the roster.

Young sees sophomore Wyatt Robbins and Kade Sanford competing for the top singles position.

“Both are having good early-season practices and the competition between them will only make them better,” Young said.

The Mounties coach also noted that Luke Sanford, Bower, Jack Reid and Matthew Reid are all vying for varsity spots.

“All six are returning from last year’s squad. The new players we have added are ahead of our expectations and will add to the competition of vying for a spot in doubles,” Young said.

Central Mountain brings back District 6 and PIAA Class AAA champion David Lindsay, the first Wildcat to ever win an individual state title. He was a sophomore last year and is showing a lot of improvement to be even better.

“David has worked hard in the offseason,” Central Mountain coach Jeff Brinker said, taking over the program from Pete Wert. “I believe he is excited to get back out on the courts and make another run at the state title.”

The Wildcats have a 17-man roster and return five letterwinners in Lindsay, Asher Talbot, Joseph Caimi, Nick Piergallini and Nathan Brinker, who is coming off an ACL surgery.

“A good nucleus of returning letterman who have varsity experience are back out for the team this year with some promising freshmen who will be pushing them to see varsity time on the courts,” Brinker said.

Brinker noted the Wildcats hope to compete again for the HAC title and make a run at the District 6 team championship.

“Williamsport will once again be a tough opponent in the PHAC. Altoona and Hollidaysburg will be challenging non-conference teams we will see throughout the year,” Brinker said. “The goal is to improve each day and by competing against these challenging teams throughout the year, it will help us prepare for the District 6 team, doubles and individual tournaments.”

Kristine Rosario takes over at Muncy and the Indians have a lot of players who saw time last year returning, including Rowan Revata, Zach Slamka, Kohen Meyer and Alex Messenger.

“Rowan and Zach have a strong singles game and consistent strokes. Kohen and Alex may prove to be valuable assets in doubles as well. At this point though, with so many new players, our ladder is far from being settled at this point,” Rosario said. “Jim (Nuss) and I have been very pleased at how the team has clicked even in our preseason. We have a great group of student athletes with the desire to improve their game and work as a team.”

Muncy went 5-7 last year and have 13 players on its roster. A good amount are new players, and Rosario is glad to see them picking up the game quickly.

“We have had several players join that are rather new to tennis, but they’ve shown to pick up the game quickly and most have experience in other sports,” Rosario said. “Our hope is that each player improves individually and our record tops last years.”

Montoursville graduated 13 players from last season, but coach Shawn Gardner is more than optimistic for the year to build off last season’s successes.

“I believe that I have some upcoming talented players that will take us into the district tournament even though they have limited varsity experience,” Gardner said. “No one on the team this season was a regular starter last year, but the returners have a lot of ambition and enthusiasm.”

The Warriors fell to Central Columbia each of the last two years in the team district final. The Warriors have four freshmen on the roster in Giovanni Catino, Cullen Pauling, Teli Bobotas and Rain Snyder, and Gardner sees them each competing for playing time in the lineup.

“I have four freshmen that have some previous tennis experience and I know that some will likely make it into the starting lineup, including Gio Catino,” Gardner said. “I think we should have a good season.”

Hughesville finished last year with a 12-5 mark and coach Josh Fry expects his team to build off that success again in 2023.

“For the team this year, the team hopes to have the same record as last year, if not better. We also have a bunch of younger guys that came out to the program this year, so we hope they continue to work and get better for the future of the program,” Fry said.

The Spartans have a 19-man roster, but only two return from last year’s seven varsity players.

“So luckily, we have some guys that have stepped up and worked hard to help fill these gaps,” Fry said. “On a positive note, we only have one senior on the team this year, so hopefully there will not be as many gaps to fill next season.”

Fry also noted John Finnegan, Josh Myers and Jake Buck as players he can see stepping up and making an impact with the Spartans.

“These guys have been working in the offseason and has certainly paid off for them,” Fry noted.

Loyalsock has a small roster with just eight players on the team, but the Lancers have talent on the team and an ability to compete. Loyalsock opened the season by sweeping Mifflinburg, 5-0, this past week. The Lancers also return Jett Pulizzi, a senior with a lot of experience. In total, Loyalsock has three seniors on the team in Pulizzi, Austin Schwarzer and Ian Allen.

Lewisburg brings back plenty to its roster, including Will Cecchini, Eddie Monaco, Greyson Azeredo, Sarthak Vishwakarma and Alexey Rosenberg.

“The Green Dragons have modest expectations as we prepare for the first match of our season and representing District 4 to the highest degree. The coaches and players have put emphasis on constructing a ‘One Team, One Unit’ mentality to foster sportsmanship and leadership, both on and off the courts,” Lewisburg coach Evan Lepovetsky said. “Lewisburg men’s tennis will be utilizing data and statistics to properly develop and strengthen a student athlete’s fundamentals and tennis IQ. This is all necessary as we want to build a program that propagates self-discipline, motivation and citizenship.”

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN

Coach: Jeff Brinker

Assistants: (not available)

Last year: (not available)

Roster: David Lindsay, Asher Talbot, Joe McCloskey, Jackson Proctor, Nic kVerrelli, Nick Piergallini, Tim Brinker, Wyatt Gallagher, Joe Caimi.

HUGHESVILLE

Coach: Josh Fry

Assistants Jeff Bower, April Brown, Beth Myers.

Last year: 12-5

Roster: Seniors: Austin McKeon. Juniors: Sean Budman, Tanner Bunce, John Finnegan, Michael Finnegan, Aidan McGinley, Quinn Modispaw, Mason Thomas, Brayden Walters. Sophomores: Jake Buck, Ithel Miley, Joshua Myers, Shawn Rupert, Kevin Bobak, Matthew Palmeter, Wes Harvey. Freshmen: Michael Swales, Luke Vermeire, Hunter Betz.

JERSEY SHORE

Coach: Ann-Marie Dincher

Assistants: Tim Dershem

Last year: 9-9

Roster: Seniors: Eli Bower, Brennan Smith, Gannon Bruno, Luke Springman, Dierk Stetts, Jared Palski, Chase Hensler, Chris Wilson. Juniors: Matt Fravel, Cooper Lauer. Freshmen: Ryder Fink.

LEWISBURG

Coach: Evan Leopovetsky

Assistants: Edward Monaco III

Last year: (not available)

Roster: Greyon Azeredo, Naafay Bajwa, Will Cecchini, Ryan Chen, James Conner, Kieran Davis, Carter Featherstone, Christian Gaul, Aidan Gross, Aiden Marchiori, Eddie Monaco IV, Tyson Nicholls, Ethan Pilling, Daniel Ren, Alexey Rosenberg, Grant Rowe, Mark Snyder, Canyon Swartzentruber, Sarthak Vishwakarma.

LOYALSOCK

Coach: Kaitlyn Winton

Assistants: (not available)

Last year: (not available)

Roster: Seniors: Ian Allen, Jett Pulizzi, Austin Schwarzer. Juniors: Logan Hammond, Ryan Cao. Sophomores: Benjamin Cappel, Aadi Patel, Colby Peters.

MONTOURSVILLE

Coach: Shawn Gardner

Assistants: Ryan Baxter

Last year: 16-2 (lost to Central Columbia in District 4 team tournament final)

Roster: Seniors: Brendon Shaffer. Juniors: James Kuhrer, Tyler Lauchle, Myken Barnes, Josh Wentzler, Wyatt Fry. Sophomores; Mason Morrow, Sam Kutay. Freshmen: Giovanni Catino, Cullen Pauling, Teli Bobotas, Rain Snyder.

MUNCY

Coach: Kristine Rosario

Assistants: Jim Nuss

Last year: 5-7

Roster (not available)

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT

Coach: Kent Young

Assistants: Theresa Summerson

Last year: 11-5

Roster: Seniors: Kade Sanford. Juniors: Owen Bird, Jack Reid, Matthew Reid, Landyn Gephart, Luke Sanford, Derick Canlas. Sophomores: Wyatt Robbins, Lucas Bower. Freshmen: Sawyer Fry, Dylan Webb.

WILLIAMSPORT

Coach: Hannah Summerson

Assistants: None.

Last year: (not available)

Roster: Seniors: Malcolm Ayers, Evan Beiter, Noah Dunlap, John Compton, Owen Kaar, Benjamin Manetta, Noah McKenzie, Isaac Young. Juniors: Damontray Taylor, Spencer Sponhouse, Shreshth Singh, Smauel Radulski, Dayne Freese. Sophomores: Marcus Domino. Freshmen: Albert Campbell.