Lexington Tennis Journey
In Wooster, a familiar face in Lexington’s tennis community reflected on the school’s journey in the doubles tournament. Dylan Catanese, who played a pivotal role in securing Lexington’s inaugural state doubles championship last year, recently witnessed fellow players Philip Etzel and Cooper Remy take significant strides toward continuing that legacy. Even though the pair didn’t advance beyond the quarterfinals in the boys’ state tennis tournament, their performance earned them second-team All-Ohio recognition after a solid run to the Division II quarterfinals.
Quarterfinal Match Overview
They faced the seasoned duo of Lucas Xue and Rowen Lo from Columbus Academy and, despite leading early in both sets, fell short with scores of 6-4, 6-4.
Etzel and Remy demonstrated promise as they triumphed over Cincinnati’s Zander Chan and Julian Guitron in the first round, winning decisively 6-2, 6-3. Throughout their quarterfinal match, they maintained a strong presence, holding a 4-2 lead in the first set and 3-1 in the second, yet could not capitalize on those advantages against their experienced opponents.
Coach Ron Schaub noted that their resilience in facing a top team bODES well for their future, especially since many of the other district champions will be losing key players, while Xue and Lo, both seniors, will be moving on.
“It felt within reach for us,” Schaub remarked regarding their match. “We had opportunities, but we struggled with our serve against a high-quality team.”
Dylan Catanese’s Experience
For Catanese, who opted to pursue singles competition this postseason, the experience was a different kind of challenge after winning last year’s doubles title alongside Remy’s older brother, Ethan. After suffering a hyperextended knee late in the regular season, Schaub offered Catanese the option to switch back to doubles, knowing it would be less strenuous. However, Catanese chose to embrace the singles format, despite the mobility demands that came with it.
“I wanted to test myself in a different way,” Catanese reflected, emphasizing that he never used his injury as an excuse despite his defeats at the district semi-finals and again at the state tournament against a formidable freshman from Pepper Pike, Vivaan Moghekar.
Looking Ahead
While Catanese admitted the recent performances had been tough, he still felt grateful for his journey, recognizing his accomplishments throughout high school. He is looking ahead to the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association team tournament, scheduled for this Saturday at Wooster, where Lexington will compete against Pepper Pike Orange in the semifinals.
This year marks Lexington’s 17th Final Four appearance under Schaub’s coaching, a feat that Catanese takes great pride in as a senior captain. As he approaches the next chapter of his life at Ohio Northern University, he finds comfort in the presence of future teammates who attended the tournament. Catanese also reminisced about the invaluable support from his parents, acknowledging their role in his development as a player.
In reflecting on his high school tenure, Catanese expressed gratitude not only for the accolades but also for the relationships built through the sport, stating, “Being here four times has been an incredible experience. I owe a lot to my family for their unwavering support. It’s been quite a journey.”
This story was sourced from the Mansfield News Journal and highlights the promising future of Lexington’s tennis program, coupled with an appreciation for the experiences that shape a young athlete’s career.
