Who is central Ohio's top regular-season boys tennis player? Vote now

The high school boys tennis postseason got underway May 12 with the sectional tournament, the start of a two-week march to state.

That means it is time to determine who has been the top Columbus-area player for the regular season by voting for your choice.

Here are the 10 candidates. After reading their bios, scroll down to the ballot and cast your vote. You can vote once per hour.

Voting will conclude at noon May 20. Please do not email your votes; they will not count.

Some candidates were submitted by area coaches. Others were nominated by The Dispatch staff.

In addition, keep an eye out for the annual All-Metro teams for spring sports in the days following the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards show, which is June 22 at Upper Arlington High School.

Pickerington Central sophomore Austin Bruey won 18 of 20 regular-season matches at first singles.

Austin Bruey, Pickerington Central

The sophomore entered the postseason 18-2, all at No. 1 singles for a Central team that went 16-4 in the regular season. Bruey earned the top seed in his team’s home Division I sectional.

Gavin Cheung, Olentangy

A senior who is seeking his second Division I state tournament berth, Cheung went 9-2 at first singles, 1-1 at No. 1 doubles and earned the top seed in singles for the Gahanna Lincoln sectional.

Olentangy Liberty senior Shane Hand is seeking his third Division I state tournament berth this spring.

Shane Hand, Olentangy Liberty

The four-star, Butler-bound senior entered sectional undefeated in singles since his sophomore year, including a 7-0 mark this spring interspersed with non-scholastic tournaments. A two-time Division I state qualifier, Hand earned the top seed in singles at the Upper Arlington sectional.

Upper Arlington junior Owen Hawley prepares to return a shot from New Albany's Tyler Thomas during an April 28 match. Hawley is playing singles during the Division I postseason.

Owen Hawley, Upper Arlington

The junior played one of the most grueling schedules in the area against some of the state’s top singles players, going 6-6. A state qualifier in doubles last year, Hawley is the second seed in the Pickerington Central sectional.

Bexley freshman Harrison Lessard is a five-star recruit who has shined in singles this year. He is playing singles in the Division II postseason.

Harrison Lessard, Bexley

The freshman five-star recruit has played either first or second singles throughout the spring to lead a deep Lions lineup. Lessard is 13-3 and the top seed in the Division II sectional at Columbus Academy.

Bexley junior Henry Lessard, a five-star recruit and Northwestern commit, is seeking his third consecutive Division II state championship and second in a row in doubles.

Henry Lessard, Bexley

A junior and two-time Division II state champion – once in singles and last year in doubles – Lessard is 10-2 this spring. A Northwestern commit and five-star recruit, Lessard is playing doubles this postseason with senior Adrian Schiff.

Shailen Patel, Olentangy Orange

The senior entered the postseason 12-6 at No. 1 singles and is teaming with brother Devan for a Division I tournament run in doubles. They are the top-seeded team in the Hilliard Davidson sectional. Patel reached state in doubles last year with junior Luke Rutherford.

Malcolm Reynolds, Centennial

The junior was the City League’s top singles player during the regular season, going 7-0 in league competition and 10-2 overall.

Sophomore Luke Stone went 14-3 during the regular season for Worthington Christian.

Luke Stone, Worthington Christian

A sophomore and No. 1 singles player, Stone went 14-3 during the regular season, with his only losses coming to other top players in Columbus Academy’s Sujay Billakanty, Watkins Memorial’s Graham Smith and Schiff. Stone is the top seed in the Division II sectional at London.

New Albany senior Tyler Thomas, an Otterbein signee, has played first singles all season for the Eagles but will move to doubles for the Division I postseason.

Tyler Thomas, New Albany

A senior who will play at Otterbein, Thomas’ 10-2 record at No. 1 singles includes wins over Hawley and Bexley’s Amiya Bowles and losses to Cheung and Hand. Thomas is playing doubles in the Division I postseason with freshman Brady Kattan.

High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vote for central Ohio's top regular-season OHSAA boys tennis player