The Talawanda High School’s boys tennis team is gearing up for a new season that promises changes, challenges and opportunity. Heading into the spring, adjustments have been made regarding the roster, coaching staff, and conference.
Brave 2024 Roster
Since 2002, Nate Silberstein has been involved with coaching tennis at Talawanda, initially serving as the junior varsity coach. Following Pete Thomas’s departure in 2023, Silberstein took over as varsity head coach. Although it may be Silberstein’s first season leading the varsity boys team, he gained experience working with the girls team last fall where he led the Brave to the Southwest Ohio Conference (SWOC) championship and won conference coach of the year.
Junior varsity coach Scott Sander and assistant coach Max Wissman will be joining Silberstein this spring.
In 2023, the team finished third out of the four conference teams (1-2 SWOC), 4-14 overall. Junior Milo Flaspoler will return as team captain and play number one singles. The roster is predominantly composed of younger players, with just three upperclassmen, indicating a season focused on rebuilding and development.
“I think it’s definitely a positive,” Silberstein said. “…it will help us more in the future than it will this year…Harrison’s going to be our biggest competitor and I’m hoping we can hang with them.”
Alongside Flaspoler, sophomore Ari Delvecchio should give the Brave some strength to take on challenging competition. Silberstein is happy to see Delvecchio return after he finished with a 1-1 conference record playing second singles in 2023.
“We don’t always get players at Talawanda that have had past tennis experience,” Silberstein said. “We draw a lot on multi-sport athletes…I’ll get guys that are like ‘I played wide receiver in the fall and hockey in the winter’ or whatever.”
Ryan Hohn also excites Silberstein due to his toughness and “crafty tennis IQ,” according to Silberstein. The senior went 2-0 in SWOC play (5-7 overall) at third singles in 2023.
Stronger mindsets, motivation and confidence are critical and will be keys to success in 2024, according to Flaspoler.
“Just don’t give up no matter who you’re playing and no matter what you’re doing,” Flaspohler said.
Silberstein acknowledges a lack of tennis-specific training can present additional challenges.
“A lot of guys as soon as the season ends, the rackets drop.” Silberstein said. “The reality is that a lot of these kids that are coming out on March 4…just haven’t even touched a racket.”
League Dynamics and What’s Ahead
The Brave will take the court for its first match of the season April 2 at home against Ross. The home opener against its former SWOC rival will mark the first of 22 total matches throughout the 2024 season.
Conference competition will look different this season after Ross departed the SWOC, leaving only Harrison and Northwest on the schedule.
“The two main goals are to be competitive in the league, and the kids are having fun while also competing. We may never be a state level champion but this is a lifelong sport,” Silberstein said.
