The Varsity A boys tennis team finished last season (2015-16) as the champions in the state of Ohio and with the year-end number one ranking.

On Fri. Feb. 24, the new preseason rankings list came out on OhioTennisZone.com, and it had SHS ranked fifth, behind Mason High School and New Albany High School (both teams SHS beat last season).

“I believe we’re gonna set the rankings straight once the season starts. We just have more heart than other teams and we usually, especially for the past few years, have found ways to win big matches,” said Noah Stern, captain, 12.

The major factor behind the team’s slip down to number five is the fact that SHS lost three key players due to graduation: Rohan D’Souza, Ajay Qi, and Alex Taylor, while other teams have gained highly ranked freshmen.

“I don’t really pay much attention to the rankings, especially since the season hasn’t even started yet and we haven’t had a chance to prove ourselves,” Stern said.

Mason High School is ranked number three and is seen as a major threat to finally dethrone SHS, however you can never count out the team.

“Last year we heard a lot about how we weren’t the same team from the 2014-2015 year and how we were not seen as favorites at all to win state and that was everywhere: on social media and even in articles in the newspaper. So yeah, we’re pretty used to the trash talk,” Stern said.

Tryouts for the boys tennis team will begin on Mon. March 6 and last until March 11.