The Glenvar boys opened the 2025 high school tennis season by splitting two matches this week. The Highlanders won at Northside Monday, 7-2, but fell to Jefferson Forest in Forest Tuesday, 6-3.
“I was very happy how we played considering we haven’t hardly been able to get in a practice with a full team due to illness and other school conflicts,” said Glenvar coach Bob Haynie. “We had two start-ers out with illness(at JF) but we still competed and had control of the match late, but they came from behind to win the last two matches and pick up the team win. During this time of year it’s all about playing good competition, bigger schools, and get-ting better.”
Glenvar has five returning starters, including Alec McIlwai, who reached the singles finals in 2023 but was sidelined during regions and states last year due to injury. Connor Wilkes, Elliott McClintic and Liam Paxton are all back as well.
“All four have been close friends since elementary school and are motivated to make their final season a special one,” said Haynie. “Christian Hill, a junior, was a solid player last year for us and we are depend-ing on him again. Lincoln Boren and Cooper Ermel now have one year of experience and will be compet-ing for a spot in the starting rotation. Our only new player is 9th grader Chaitanya Gohill, who has been playing since he was young, and has the talent and ability to have a great season.”
The Highlanders are now off until April 1 when they host Salem. The girls will open this Friday at home against Northside, then travel to Salem on April 1 to play the Spartans. Both Salem-Glenvar matches are season openers for the Salem High.
