[buckeye42]

The USTA just posted their latest Midwest rankings for the top rated boys in the Midwest Section (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin) in the 16 and 18 divisions. Congratulations to all in recognition of the dedication and hard work. Tennis is different from many other high school sports in that competition is year round and all over the country. To reach these levels of excellence, if one were to check their touernament records, it would show playing tournaments from Florida to Arizona and New York to Chicago.

There are between 800 and 900 ranked boys in eash of the Boys 16 and Boys 18 Divisions. Great job by everyone.

Boys 16
#2 Chris Diaz Upper Arlington
#6 Zach Mueck Cincinnati

Boys 18
#5 Joey Fritz Cincinnati
#6 Chris Diaz Upper Arlington
#12 Ryan Bandy Cincinnati
#17 Ethan Dunbar Medina
#19 Arren Carter Powell

Joey Fritz is the defending Ohio 2009 Div. II singles champ.
I believe all of the others qualified for the states last year.

Should be a great year. Thoughts?

"Anyone, anyone ........ Buehler, Buehler" (Ben Stein)

[GAnalytics]

I'm cranking on my tennis data project. Had hoped to be finished by now but I'm still working on it. My top ten or so in the Columbus area are:

Diaz, Watterson
Metka, Worthington Kilbourne
Carter, Olentangy Liberty
Enslen, Columbus Academy
Bennoui, New Albany
Weldon, UA
Wagner, Wellington
Nakayama, Dublin Coffman
Harris, DeSales (recovering from an injury)
Cempre, Thomas Worthington
Stein, Dublin Jerome

There's a lot of depth this year. Others to watch include (in no particular order): Shivener (Gahanna), Little (UA), Toscano (St. Charles), Loudermilk (Centennial), Acomb (DeSales), Hendrix (Columbus Academy), Benalcazar (UA), Buchanan (Columbus Academy), Wareti (Bexley), Cheng (Gahanna), and Niermeyer (St. Charles).

[GAnalytics]

I somehow forgot:

Thai, Ready (definitely in the top ten)
McClarren, Hilliard Davidson

[buckeye42]

GA - great job, some big hitters there on your list.

I just kind of wondered this, from a team perspective, just for fun.

Since they all live wihin a driver / 5 iron of each other, how powerful a national team would Upper Arlington be putting on the court if Chirs Diaz, Ian Wagner and Billy Weldon were all playing simultaneously with the the rest of the big bangers on the UA team.

Probably will a preview and a good chunk of the Columbus Jr. Davis Cup for summer.