The Keystone Division welcomes a pair of newcomers in Palmyra and Susquehanna Twp. this season. Despite the new blood in the division, the road to the title still looks like it will go through Chocolate Town.
Teams are previewed in order of their projected finish.
Hersheyenters the 2013 season sporting the division crown. The defending champions return almost their entire lineup from a season ago. Senior Elbert Mets will step into the number one singles spot for the departed Sebastian Callejas. While Mets will asked to be carry the load atop the roster, the Trojans biggest strength is depth.
Juniors Ben Wagner and Ben Gette will round out a solid singles lineup. Coach Mic Wallace’s group also boasts one of the area’s strongest doubles corps.
Not far behind the defending champions is an intriguing bunch at Mechanicsburg. Senior Josh Ringquist, a Mid-Penn semifinalist in 2012, returns to the top of the singles’ depth chart for the Wildcats. Coach Pat Smith’s troops will have a little extra Keystone motivation as it was the Trojans who knocked them out of the team playoffs last season.
Depth and continuity in the doubles’ slots will be key in Mechanicsburg’s quest for a division title. Seniors Joel Eisenhower, Kevin Koch and Matt Strauch will provide a strong leadership on the doubles courts.
Palmyra’s adjustment to their new surroundings will be made easier by having senior Pearce Clary in the number one singles hole.
Coach Abbie Mahaffey’s group won the Colonial Division a season ago but the Cougars lost four seniors to graduation. Seniors John Griffin and Tyler Shank are the other two starters to return from last season.
Mahaffey’s group will need their newcomers to learn on the job in order to keep pace with the upper echelon teams in the Keystone.
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One team certain to improve on their 2012 performance is Lower Dauphin. Coach Peggy Long, one of the longest tenured coaches in the mid-state, has a young team to work with this time around.
Junior Nathan Carl returns to provide the only experience in the singles lineup for the Falcons. Freshman Josh Carl and Beck Wiles will lineup at second and third singles respectively this season. LD will some experience with three juniors on the doubles courts.
Susquehanna Twp.has a bevy of experience atop their singles lineup as they look to make a smooth transition into the Keystone. Coach Riz Soulliard will be hoping that her three seniors can hold down the top three singles slots.
Jake Debross and Gabe Freedman will lead the Indians at first and second singles.
Coming off of a middle of the pack finish in 2012, Gettysburg could challenge for another .500 season this time around.
The Warriors do have some experience in the singles’ slots this time around, with three seniors looking to fill the void of last year’s number one singles player Cameron Moore.
Brady Rodgers singles lineup will be led by Cody Keifer and Jacob Schneckloth.
Led by a pair of juniors, Northern will likely be a better team in April than they will be in March. Ryan Boucher and Patrick Daggs will line up at first and second singles respectively.
The Polar Bears have good experience at the doubles spots with two seniors and two juniors.
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