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Canfield’s young tennis duo eyes return to state
Canfield’s young doubles team hopes for Columbus trip
By STEVE WILAJ
When the young Canfield High School tennis doubles duo of Timothy Ciancola and Bobby Long reached Columbus last year, it was a short stay, but one that opened the eyes of the freshman and sophomore.
“With state last year, it was good for us because we realized we still have a lot longer to go, whereas a lot of the teams there were seniors and juniors already,” said Ciancola, who along with Long, lost in the first round at the 2015 Division I state tournament. “So it motivated us to work harder every single day in practice.”
Canfield’s 2016 season begins today when the Cardinals host Howland.
It’s a ways away, but from the get-go, Canfield’s duo is aiming for a second straight trip to the Ohio State University Outdoor Varsity Tennis Courts when the state tournament rolls around in late May.
“We’re very excited and are expecting to get to state again,” Ciancola said.
Added Long: “We’d like to go a little bit farther at state this year, hopefully get a win. But another expectation is we’d like to get our team to state as well, because our team is very good this year.”
David Hofsess will be Canfield’s senior captain, while the Cardinals are adding two new players to the roster. One is Alfredo Almoyna, an exchange student from Spain. The other is Canfield native Devon Martin, who attends Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown.
“[Martin] wanted to play last year and it just didn’t work out logistically — got out of school too late,” Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky said. “But he can get out of school this year and he’s going to play with us. He’s a nice-looking player along with Alomyna.
“So it’s exciting having that kind of talent in Bobby and Timmy coming back, plus we have some other kids coming in who are good players as well,” Pavlansky said. “So we’re looking forward to a good year hopefully. We want to be as good as we can be. The practices have been very spirited.”
The players have been inspired by Ciancola’s and Long’s newly gained vision after last season’s state tournament.
“All that experience and that competition, you really don’t get that around here,” Long said. “There, it’s like a whole different level.”
Back-to-back Bulldog?
Lakeview coach Stephanie Hickey doesn’t see any reason senior Zach Teffner shouldn’t return to the state tournament, especially with a little pacing.
Teffner made the Division II state tournament in Columbus a year ago by placing fourth in the district tournament in Canton. He was outed in the first round at state.
“The goal is definitely just to make it back to state,” Hickey said. “That would be great if he could do it. He’s really worked hard in the offseason. But the main thing I’m working on with him is keeping him healthy and injury free. But he should be fine. He has all the tools to get back there.”
If Teffner were to accomplish the goal, he would be the first Bulldogs tennis player to make back-to-back state appearances in program history.
“He didn’t have anything major,” Hickey said of Teffner’s health. “Just typical tennis stuff. So I’m gonna try to keep him healthy and maybe even put him in doubles sometimes to rest him from singles.”
Hickey said she believes she has the “most athletic “ Lakeview team that she’s had yet in the program’s 12-year history.
“I’m really excited,” said Hickey, who started the program 12 years ago. “They’re all great athletes.”
The Bulldogs went 9-6 a year ago and lost three seniors from their 2015 team.
Hickey mentioned freshmen Hunter Dickson and Blake Gould as two young players who should step in immediately, while senior Will Pinkerton also will play a vital role for Lakeview.
“The freshman play year-round and are gonna add a lot of depth to our team,” Hickey said. “We should be much improved in that area.”
The Bulldogs begin their season today when they host Austintown Fitch.