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Finishing second.
It’s a place LJ Stark didn’t want to end his senior season at in the 2026 boys tennis season.
The recent Geneva graduate accomplished that mission, winning first singles in the Ashtabula County tournament.
He was selected the county boys player of the year, as voted on by the coaches, for the season.
“It means a lot,” Stark said of capturing the honor. “I was always second. It’s good to say I was able to get first.”
Last season, Stark fell to Edgewood graduate Noah Vencill in the boys county tournament at first singles.
This season, Stark took first with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Saint John’s Kenton Zheng.
“It was one of my goals,” Stark said of claiming the individual title at the time in April. “My team needed it, and I needed it.”
Who to play at first singles between Stark and Myles Colgan wasn’t decided until just before the season started.
“It was kind of up in the air,” Stark said. “I didn’t know what position I’d play.”
Stark ended up at first singles while Colgan played second during the regular season.
“We’re practice partners,” Stark said of himself and Colgan. “We’re always so close in skill level.”
Stark and Colgan were two of four Eagles to post first place, en route to Geneva’s first county tournament title since 2019.
“Winning county feels great,” Stark said. “We feel like we should have won it in the past.”
Geneva also claimed the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division team championship. It was the Eagles’ 51st conference crown in 59 years. The 2020 season didn’t happen because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“He just put in so much work,” first-year head coach Michael Rose said. “We talked about getting better each day. LJ fought some big guns in the are and out of the area. He’s mentally strong and has a good attitude. We’re super proud of him and for him.”
Geneva was under the direction of Rose, who became just the sixth head coach over the last 60 years for the program.
The goal this season was to maintain the legacy, family and tradition.
“We have a lot of pressure,” Stark said. “Coach Rose always says ‘pressure builds diamonds.’ This is where we should be.”
In the postseason, Stark and Colgan teamed up to compete as a doubles team.
The duo won the Division II sectional tournament at Canfield.
“We’re best friends, me and Myles,” Stark said. “We compliment each other. We keep each other up.”
Teammates Logan Willsey and Isaiah Rose also advanced to the district tournament.
Both doubles teams ended their season in the district tournament at Akron.
Stark and Colgan are planning on remaining teammates.
Both are joining the Mount Union program, which is coached by Lakeside graduate Ryan McClure.
“I chose Mount Union and said to Myles, ‘imagine if we got to play together again.’”
Colgan signed on and will join Stark; Isaac Riddell, another Geneva graduate, and Saint John alum Jacob Timonere, on the Purple Raiders roster for the upcoming school year.
“He’s always been super-welcoming,” Stark said of McClure. “He’s such a good guy.”
At the collegiate level, players usually compete in both singles and doubles.
“My goal is to help as much as I can,” Stark said. “Mount Union seems to be on the upswing. It will be interesting to see. I like singles, it’s more of a mental thing.”
Stark said he intends to major in language education.
To prepare for the upcoming school year, he is playing in the county tennis ladder this summer.
“It’s such good practice,” Stark said. “I tell the younger players to play the ladder. You play a ton of matches.”
Continue reading...
It’s a place LJ Stark didn’t want to end his senior season at in the 2026 boys tennis season.
The recent Geneva graduate accomplished that mission, winning first singles in the Ashtabula County tournament.
He was selected the county boys player of the year, as voted on by the coaches, for the season.
“It means a lot,” Stark said of capturing the honor. “I was always second. It’s good to say I was able to get first.”
Last season, Stark fell to Edgewood graduate Noah Vencill in the boys county tournament at first singles.
This season, Stark took first with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Saint John’s Kenton Zheng.
“It was one of my goals,” Stark said of claiming the individual title at the time in April. “My team needed it, and I needed it.”
Who to play at first singles between Stark and Myles Colgan wasn’t decided until just before the season started.
“It was kind of up in the air,” Stark said. “I didn’t know what position I’d play.”
Stark ended up at first singles while Colgan played second during the regular season.
“We’re practice partners,” Stark said of himself and Colgan. “We’re always so close in skill level.”
Stark and Colgan were two of four Eagles to post first place, en route to Geneva’s first county tournament title since 2019.
“Winning county feels great,” Stark said. “We feel like we should have won it in the past.”
Geneva also claimed the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division team championship. It was the Eagles’ 51st conference crown in 59 years. The 2020 season didn’t happen because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“He just put in so much work,” first-year head coach Michael Rose said. “We talked about getting better each day. LJ fought some big guns in the are and out of the area. He’s mentally strong and has a good attitude. We’re super proud of him and for him.”
Geneva was under the direction of Rose, who became just the sixth head coach over the last 60 years for the program.
The goal this season was to maintain the legacy, family and tradition.
“We have a lot of pressure,” Stark said. “Coach Rose always says ‘pressure builds diamonds.’ This is where we should be.”
In the postseason, Stark and Colgan teamed up to compete as a doubles team.
The duo won the Division II sectional tournament at Canfield.
“We’re best friends, me and Myles,” Stark said. “We compliment each other. We keep each other up.”
Teammates Logan Willsey and Isaiah Rose also advanced to the district tournament.
Both doubles teams ended their season in the district tournament at Akron.
Stark and Colgan are planning on remaining teammates.
Both are joining the Mount Union program, which is coached by Lakeside graduate Ryan McClure.
“I chose Mount Union and said to Myles, ‘imagine if we got to play together again.’”
Colgan signed on and will join Stark; Isaac Riddell, another Geneva graduate, and Saint John alum Jacob Timonere, on the Purple Raiders roster for the upcoming school year.
“He’s always been super-welcoming,” Stark said of McClure. “He’s such a good guy.”
At the collegiate level, players usually compete in both singles and doubles.
“My goal is to help as much as I can,” Stark said. “Mount Union seems to be on the upswing. It will be interesting to see. I like singles, it’s more of a mental thing.”
Stark said he intends to major in language education.
To prepare for the upcoming school year, he is playing in the county tennis ladder this summer.
“It’s such good practice,” Stark said. “I tell the younger players to play the ladder. You play a ton of matches.”
Continue reading...
