Most of Wayne County’s boys tennis players will see new opponents across the net this fall, and some old trophies will get new owners in what shapes up as a season of change in 2026.
The Tri-Eastern Conference is guaranteed a new winner. Two-time defending champion and longtime power Centerville is off to the Eastern Crossroads Conference, along with Northeastern. Hagerstown, the TEC runner-up last season, and Lincoln hope to keep the TEC trophy in Wayne County.
Centerville and Northeastern will take part in a one-day ECC event Sept. 19 at New Castle. The ECC teams are not required to play each other during the regular season.
Richmond was the North Central Conference runner-up last season and returns reigning IHSAA No. 1 singles sectional champion Xander Harrick.
All five Wayne County teams come together for the sectional, where Centerville is the two-time defending champion.
A team-by-team look in alphabetical order of the area boys tennis scene:
Centerville
The Bulldogs join their new league with several players back from an all-underclass varsity lineup that swept through the school’s last TEC campaign. Eli Walther, a senior, won a dozen No. 1 singles matches. Noah Wandersee, a junior, was 16-4 and conference champion at No. 2. Ethan Rankin (18-8 individual record), a senior, and junior Brayden Hartman (16-10) were conference champions at No. 2 doubles.
Ben Anderson, a junior, played nine varsity matches. Jack Duke, another junior, gained experience on the junior varsity. Gavin Robertson and A.J. Owens return to the tennis courts for their senior seasons. Evan Anderson represents the freshman class.
“I told the kids on the first day, let’s have fun,” said longtime coach Randy Ecker. “We’re entering a new conference. Things are going to be unknown. Let’s go in, do the best we can, try to have fun, and get better every day.”
Hagerstown
Alex Tinkle accomplished the rare feat of winning the TEC No. 1 singles title as a freshman for the 12-6 Tigers. Tinkle (20-3, individual sectional runner-up) is one of four varsity returnees. Collin Werking, a senior, played No. 3 singles. Carter Sullivan, another sophomore, played No. 1 doubles. Braylin Tinkle, a junior, played No. 2 doubles.
“The coaching staff has been focused on physical fitness and proper stroke technique,” said coach Chris Robertson. “Challenge matches to fill the remaining varsity spots have been very competitive. The coaching staff will have very tough decisions.”
Players taking part in those challenge matches are senior Dawson Brown, sophomores Hayden White, Patrick Mohr and Owen Williams, and freshmen Iker Sanchez, Madyx Jarrett and Cameron Lanum.
Lincoln
The Golden Eagles (8-8, fourth place TEC) return four varsity regulars, but must replace their top two singles players.
“More than anything, we are focused on seeing what kids step up and fill the void of the two graduated seniors who led our team last year,” said coach Tyler Klein. “Finding someone to replace them will be a challenge, but that is what we need — we have to find our leaders.”
Klein’s current seniors were varsity performers. Anthony Moistner played No. 3 singles. Logan Gambill was a regular at No. 1 doubles. Dustin Irwin partnered with Gambill for several matches.
Jaxyn Hunt, a junior, played some No. 2 doubles matches. Kaanan Moistner, a sophomore, and junior newcomer Sawyer Sullivan contend for varsity roles.
Northeastern
Paige Reed is one of the county’s two new coaches. Reed inherited five players who helped the Knights to a 16-7 season. Rylan Frazier, a senior, and junior Jimmie Summers were regulars on the varsity. The sophomore class includes Hunter Parker, Ian Gross and Cooper Geis.
Four freshmen joined the program: Brayden Lee, Brantley Morris, Landon McCurdy and Dallas Brookshear.
“The goals are to work hard, have fun and grow our program,” Reed said. “Our theme is to ‘Outwork, Outlast.’ This will help keep us mentally strong in matches.”
Richmond
Richmond (6-11 overall last season) returns its entire varsity lineup, including Harrick, who seeks an encore to a fantastic freshman season. Harrick (23-2) was one of the last 10 players remaining in Indiana’s No. 1 singles state tournament and earned all-district and honorable mention all-state honors.
No. 2 singles Baltazar Torres-Mejia, now a senior, was second-team all-NCC. No. 3 singles Tej Patel, a sophomore, was 11-9 (4-1 NCC). Miguel Mira-Galeano, a senior, and junior Mason Wetzel won seven matches at No. 1 doubles. Seniors Gavin Mitchell and James Scherer teamed up at No. 2 doubles.
The only new face is first-year coach Scott Hess, but Hess is a familiar face to the players after serving as an assistant last season.
“We had a solid season, especially in NCC matches, and we’re hoping to build on it with all our varsity starters returning,” Hess said. “A big team goal is to try and win sectionals, which Richmond boys tennis hasn’t won since fall 2021.”
A version of this article appeared in the August 12 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
