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Three area sophs at state in Div. II tennis

Armand Nannicola remembers the feeling, sitting in his car after losing at the Division II Akron District boys tennis tournament.

The parking lot at the Springside Racquet & Fitness Club was a lonely place. It’s a place where it all began for the John F. Kennedy sophomore en route to making this year’s state tennis tournament at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, outside of Cincinnati.

“This year, I know that I can do better,” Nannicola said. “I knew if I want to make it to where I am now, I have to work 10 times harder. That’s what I did throughout the season.

“I had a lot of confidence that I had a chance to make it.”

He, Lakeview’s Jake McDivitt and Ursuline’s Greg Morgione are three sophomores representing the area at the state tournament in Division II. All three qualified for the district out of the Boardman Sectional.

“We’re all great players,” Nannicola said. “You don’t find many players like that in any section. It’s a great feeling to know, because we all know each other. It also takes off the nervous feeling going into state, knowing that we’re all there fighting for the same thing.”

Nannicola plays Cincinnati Indian Hill’s Andrew Pregel in the first round, which starts at 9 a.m. Friday. The semifinals and finals are Saturday at 9 a.m.

Pregel is a bit of an unknown for Nannicola, who is scouring the internet for any highlights of his opponent. That’ll help him devise a game plan.

The biggest part of Nannicola’s game is his kick serve, which he hopes is on this weekend. He hopes to push the opponent’s backhand and continually force the issue in matches.

“One of the highest percentage shots to hit in tennis is crosscourt,” Nannicola said. “If you know you have better shot on that side, you continually punish that side until you get your chance to attack even more.”

Not much of an unknown for McDivitt as he faces Toledo Ottawa Hills’ Matthew McGee. McDivitt said his brother and coach, Zach, knows McGee is a good player. The younger McDivitt said if he stays within himself and sticks to his game he’ll be fine.

Just showing up to state isn’t an option. Zach played at state in doubles with Aaron Paczak during Paczak’s senior season at Lakeview.

“He tells me not to be satisfied with just making it there,” Jake said. “I worked hard to get where I’m at and I’m going to make the best run that I can. I’m happy with the draw so we’ll see what happens.”

In the meanwhile, he’ll be hitting around with local teaching professional Ryan Trapp, a former Howland standout, along with a few other area players and Zach.

“I just want to maintain the rhythm I’ve had throughout the tournament,” Jake said.

Morgione will be playing with a couple of outstanding Division I players from Canfield to prepare for state.

Canfield senior Tim Cianciola, won the Division I Akron District, and sophomore Sirin Nalluri and freshman Ben Martin are the only area Division I doubles team at state.

Cianciola opens with Beavercreek’s Austin Staiger, while Nalluri and Martin start with Cincinnati Sycamore’s Sam Marcus and Nathan Zhang.

“Every day I’ll be hitting this week with local players, including the kids from Canfield who advanced to state and my coach, not to necessarily make major changes, but just to tweak some areas of my game,” Morgione said.

It was one of the best representations at state from this area, which hopefully grows in years to come.

“After playing in the (district) tournament this past weekend, you could tell that Boardman was the strongest section,” Morgione said. “I fully expect next year to have all four Boardman players advance to state.”

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