Handley boys’ tennis has been one of the area’s most consistent programs in recent years, and that didn’t change in 2025.
The Judges went unbeaten in the regular season and earned the North’s No. 1 seed in the Region 4D Tournament. There, they defeated Millbrook 5-0 in the quarterfinals, before falling 5-0 to eventual state champion Charlottesville in the semifinals.
This successful campaign resulted in Handley head coach Dan Jones being named The Winchester Star Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year for the ninth time out of the nine times the award has been issues in his first 10 seasons.
If the Judges want to advance further, they’ll have to find a way to replicate the production of Jack Boye and Mathew Bosshard. The two Class of 2025 graduates went 14-3 from the No. 1 spot in doubles action last year, finishing as Region 4D semifinalists. Boye also finished as a singles semifinalist after going 13-6 from the No. 1 position.
Handley returns seniors Will Brubaker and Owen Way, who went unbeaten at No. 2 doubles last season. Brubaker finished 15-0 in singles from the No. 3 spot, while Way went 15-1 from No. 4. To open the season, both players are still in those spots. In Monday’s season-opening 9-0 victory over Millbrook, sophomore Aman Gopal played at No. 1 singles (he was No. 6 last year) and junior Ben Boye was at No. 2 singles (he played at No. 5 last year).
After a 14-3 finish last spring, Sherando will look to knock Handley out of its first-place standing. The Warriors, who fell to Charlottesville in the Region 4D quarterfinals, return five seniors, including Greyson Foltz and Sam Brooks, who finished as Region 4D doubles quarterfinalists after going 11-4 from No. 1.
Foltz also went 14-4 from the No. 1 singles spot and reached the Region 4D quarterfinals. Brooks went 11-3 from No. 2 in singles action. So far this season, Sherando (4-0 going into Wednesday) has senior Joe Jeran playing at No. 2 singles and Brooks at No. 3. Jeran normally played at No. 5 singles last year.
Millbrook went 8-9 in 2025 and saw its season ended by the Judges. The Pioneers return senior Anthony Gelormine — the team’s No. 1 singles player this year — but will have to replace multiple graduated seniors who slotted in toward the top of the lineup. The Pioneers are 1-1 going into Wednesday.
James Wood is coming off a tough season, going 2-14, but it does return 2024 and 2025 Winchester Star Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year Josh Lucas. Last season, Lucas impressed with a 16-1 record singles record from No. 1, while also finishing 13-4 from the top spot in doubles alongside Ander Pratt-Perez. Lucas finished as a Region 4D quarterfinalist in both singles and doubles. The Colonels are 1-1 going into Wednesday.
In Class 2, Clarke County will aim to improve after a 4-11 finish. The Eagles lost Jack Westbrook, David Flaherty and Pasha Holsinger to graduation, but return six players from last year. Sophomore Cord Hornbaker has opened the year as the team’s No. 1 singles player. The Eagles are 1-3 so far.
Here’s a closer look at each team’s roster and expectations.
Handley
Coach: Dan Jones, 11th season.
Last year: 16-1, lost to Charlottesville in Region 4D semifinals.
Key losses: Jack Boye, Mathew Bosshard, Joe SanPietro
Key returners: Will Brubaker (Sr.); Owen Way (Sr.); Ben Boye (Jr.); Aman Gopal (So.)
Key newcomer: Tyler Oates (Fr.)
Jones’ outlook: “With four of our top six starters and eleven total returning, we are poised and eager to kick off the season. This veteran leadership provides the backbone our program needs to reach its goals. If we maximize our potential and maintain a daily commitment to improvement, we expect to be in the hunt for both district and regional titles. This year’s experience allows us to challenge our athletes in new ways — pushing them to evolve as players, leaders and teammates.”
Next match: Friday at Eastern Mennonite, 4:30 p.m.
Sherando
Coach: Jason Robertson, fourth season.
Last year: 14-3, lost to Charlottesville in Region 4D quarterfinals.
Key losses: Emmett Gannon, Landon Dahlinger
Key returners: Greyson Foltz (Sr.); Sam Brooks (Sr.); Joe Jeran (Sr.); Henry Fitzpatrick (Sr.); Alex Corl (Sr.); Logan Tolbert (Jr.); Jay Sluss (Jr.); Emerson Foltz (So.)
Key newcomers: Andrew Ahrens (Sr.); Blakely Lawrence (Sr.); Logan McConnell (Jr.); Tyson Yeg (So.); Chase Kemp (Fr.); Jordyn Jacobson (Fr.); Diego Marroquin Diaz (Fr.)
Robertson’s outlook: “The boys improved over the offseason, plus we have added a few exciting players to our team. Our expectations are to be playing our best tennis at the end of the season, qualify for the postseason and compete.
“Our local rivals are always fun matches. Charlottesville (2024 and 2025 state champions) will be the team to beat in our region. We were able to qualify for the postseason last year and want to make a deeper run this year.”
Next match: April 7 at Warren County, 4:30 p.m.
Millbrook
Coach: Chris Rogus, fifth season.
Last year: 8-9, lost to Handley in Region 4D quarterfinals.
Key losses: Ben Yeager, Matthew Hale, Caden Knight
Key returner: Anthony Gelormine (Sr.)
Key newcomers: Eli Makari (Fr.); Samridh Rangineni (Fr.)
Rogus’s outlook: “I am excited for this season, as I have a large split of seniors and freshmen. We’ve got young talent and senior leadership that should pair well together. William (Bennet) Weiss has been a standout at practice for his hard work and positive attitude. I look for him to be a role model to the younger players and an example of sportsmanship for the seniors.”
Next match: Thursday at Clarke County, 4:30 p.m.
James Wood
Coach: Tanner Jones, second season.
Last year: 2-14.
Key loses: David Spinar, Isaac Peterson
Key returners: Josh Lucas (Sr.); Ander Pratt-Perez (Sr.); Nate Miller (Sr.); Joel Rorex (Sr.)
Key newcomers: Blake Arnold (Sr.); John William Hill (Fr.); Wesley LaBonte (Fr.)
Jones’ outlook: “James Wood tennis expects an extremely competitive year in the region. Our expectations for No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles will remain very high after the standard that was set last year. Josh Lucas had a historic undefeated regular season in 2025 at No. 1 singles and we expect him to build off of his momentum and success and have an amazing 2026 campaign. Our players are very motivated coming into the season and there will be strong competition for spots in our lineup, which will expedite the team’s development. We anticipate there being tremendous parity across the region this year and we expect many matches to be decided at the end by doubles, which we are optimistic will be a strength for James Wood.
“James Wood has a very large senior group this year and I cannot speak enough about the positive way they have represented my team and our community at large. I am confident that the dedication they have shown over the summer and offseason will lead to results on the courts that leave them very proud of what they were able to accomplish as they end this chapter of their lives and begin the next.”
Next match: April 6 versus Central, 4:30 p.m.
Clarke County
Coach: Forrest Pritchard, fifth season.
Last year: 4-11.
Key losses: Jack Westbrook, David Flaherty, Pasha Holsinger
Key returners: Aden Rounds (Sr.); Jack Stanley (Sr.); Gideon Carne (Jr.); Ryder Hamilton (Jr.); Cord Hornbaker (So.); Finley Rounds (So.)
Key newcomers: JD Ferraro (Sr.); Finn Haynie (Fr.); Burak Caglar (exchange student)
Pritchard’s outlook: “Clarke has great potential this year, with three returning starters and three key reserves ready to contribute. Special note to watch Cord Hornbaker’s progression this season, as his serve has gained consistency and power. Jack Stanley has shown strong improvement since the offseason as well. Expect consist wins from Finley Rounds as he makes his varsity debut.
“As a smaller school, Clarke always has its hands full with its larger peers. Our team intends to improve on its 4-11 record from last year and to challenge for both the district and region as we have in each of the past several years.”
Next match: Thursday versus Millbrook, 4:30 p.m.
— Contact Joe Tuman at jtuman@winchesterstar.com
— Follow Joe Tuman on X @jtuman21