At the end of each season, The Herald-Tribune selects All-Area teams to honor the best athletes in every sport. Coaches from Sarasota and Manatee County schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rate their athletes as well as those from other teams. That data, combined with our research, led to the selection of the All-Area team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ariston Spanos
School: Pine View School
Year: Junior
Highlights: At the No. 1 singles spot, Spanos went 6-5, while also going 10-6 playing No. 1 in doubles during his first season at Pine View. He helped the Pythons to a 19-1 record this season. He has a 9.0 UTR.
FIRST TEAM
Luke Calleja
School: Pine View School
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: At No. 2 and No. 3 singles, Calleja went 12-4. In doubles, Calleja went 7-2.
Benecio Langdon Claudino
School: Braden River
Year: Senior
Highlights: With a 8.0 UTR, Claudino went 5-2 this season at No. 1 singles. At No. 1 doubles, he finished 2-0, helping Braden River to a 6-4 finish.
Levi Felsmann
School: Riverview
Year: Junior
Highlights: At No. 1 singles, Felsmann finished 4-2, while also going 5-2 at No. 1 doubles. His UTR is 8.0.
Mattias Maier
School: Parrish Community
Year: Junior
Highlights: Maier went 11-8 at No. 1 singles, helping Parrish finish 8-4. He added two wins at No. 1 doubles.
Bryce Newman
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Newman finished 8-1 at No. 1 singles, while going 4-4 in No. 1 doubles. He helped the Mustangs finish 7-4.
SECOND TEAM
Josh Nicklis, Parrish Community
William Wang, Saint Stephen’s
Philip Zhang, Pine View
HONORABLE MENTION
Parrish Community: Cooper Lane
Riverview: Bennett Stencik
COACH OF THE YEAR
Wayne Robertson
School: Pine View School
Highlights: Robertson helped his team to a 19-1 finish. With Robertson at the helm, Pine View went undefeated in the regular season, making a state semifinal appearance.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 2026 Herald-Tribune All-Area Boys Tennis Team, Player of the Year
Reporting by Emma Moon, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
