Geneva, Saint John end tennis season in district tournament

Saint John and Geneva closed out the boys tennis season Friday in the Division II district tournament.

The Heralds’ Kenton Zheng and Christian Barbian played in singles and the Eagles’ LJ Stark and Myles Colgan and Logan Willsey and Isaiah Rose were in doubles competition at Springside Athletic Club in Akron.

In the first round, Zheng fell to Boardman’s Maximus Marino 7-5, 6-2, while Barbian dropped a 6-4, 7-6 decision to Canton South’s Blayten Young.

Zheng is a freshman and Barbian a junior.

“Both were two-hour matches,” Heralds coach Todd Nassief said. “The kids played great. It was a great chance to see the next level of tennis. I’m excited for their continued improvement. Hopefully, we get another opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Stark and Colgan opened with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Beachwood’s Ido Rub and David Hong in the first round.

But the Geneva duo’s season ended with a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Orange’s Sam Tokmazeysky and Atreya Bhatt.

Rose and Willey dropped a 6-1, 7-6 decision to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s Lincoln Gates and Andrew Van Hala in the first round.

“Overall, we had a great season,” Geneva coach Michael Rose said. “The team set themselves some big targets and worked hard to keep improving every time they were on the court.”

Rose was proud of the group’s strength of character.

“They learned from losses and celebrated victories,” he said. “We ask a lot of Geneva Tennis players as they carry the legacy on their shoulders, and this year’s team carried that tradition with excellence.”

The four Eagles’ players were all seniors.