IHSA boys tennis starts its postseason in the next few weeks.
Sectionals are scheduled to begin Friday, May 22 and conclude the next day. The state finals finish the 2026 season May 28-30.
Here are 13 players having breakout seasons, listed alphabetically with all statistics and records through Tuesday, May 5.
Tate Darcy and Joal Larson, Morton
The seniors are making the most of their first season playing together. Darcy and Larson are 14-7 this season, picking up a key Mid-Illini Conference victory against Washington on Tuesday, May 5. After losing a trio of three-set matches to begin the season, Darcy and Larson rebounded in a big way. They have gone 13-4 since that winless start highlighted by winning the doubles championship at the East Moline United Township Tournament.
Dane Hutchison, Metamora
The senior is wrapping up a great final prep season. He’s been a four-year varsity player and the Redbirds No. 1 singles player. Hutchison is 15-4 in singles play this season, while posting an 18-2 mark as a doubles player. Last season, Hutchison went 24-10. He could be a four-time state qualifier. His 135 career victories (and counting) put him in the top 12 for most career victories in Metamora program history.
Ethan Laclef, Dunlap
The sophomore has made a major jump in the Eagles’ lineup this season. Laclef went from the No. 1 freshman/sophomore player to a top varsity player. “His aggressive style of play has become more and more consistent throughout the season,” Dunlap coach Patrick Gornik said. Laclef has played both No. 1 and No. 2 singles this season, amassing a 24-2 singles record. He’s won a pair of singles titles at Galesburg and Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin invitationals.
Samuel Loeb and Ian Durst, Peoria Christian
The seniors are a record-setting doubles team. Last season, Durst and Loeb became the program’s first-ever duo to make the state finals. In 2026, the pair won the Galesburg Invitational by avenging an early-season loss to Macomb with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Durst and Loeb are 11-4 this season and have posted 55 career doubles wins. PCS, which heads to the Geneseo Sectional for the postseason, has won a school-record 11 dual matches this season.
Dresden Michel, Dunlap
The freshman has made a seamless transition to the varsity level. “Dresden kept his nose to the grindstone, never complained and has had a terrific freshman campaign,” Gornik said. Michel has been alternating playing the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots with Laclef. He’s now 19-6 in singles play after a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Metamora’s Hutchison. Michel has also played doubles, teaming with Laclef to get a key doubles win against Metamora.
John Onderko, Peoria Notre Dame
The junior has been a solid No. 2 player for the Irish this season. Onderko won a marathon meeting against East Peoria senior Kaiden Story, 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 in a nonconference dual meet on April 29. He has endured a tough schedule, facing Mid-Illini Conference teams like Pekin and Morton. In a 5-4 dual-meet loss to the Potters on April 8, Onderko teamed with Gus Callaway to win the No. 2 doubles match in straight sets.
Harmin Patel and Ethan Klemens, Dunlap
The seniors have been a steady doubles tandem for the Eagles. “They have been consistently playing tough competition,” Gornik said. Patel and Klemens are 16-5 this season, suffering their first Mid-Illini Conference defeat to Metamora on Tuesday, May 5. Klemens was an all-state doubles player in 2025, while Harmin is making his doubles debut. They hold a key victory over the doubles team from Iowa Bettendorf Pleasant Valley.
Tommy Sopko and Weston Lange, Metamora
This duo has been electric on the doubles scene. Sopko, who is 14-1 in singles play and 23-2 in doubles action, has the chance to become a three-time sectional champion with his third different sectional partner. Lange is an undefeated singles player (11-0), while going 25-2 in doubles action. On Tuesday, May 5 against Dunlap, they won 7-6 (3), 6-4 over Patel and Klemens.
Kace Tyler, Richwoods
The sophomore has become a steady presence in the Knights lineup. “Kace has just been a force this season,” Richwoods coach Terry Cole said. “He has been working a ton and it’s really showing in his results.” He’s posted an 18-6 singles record this season highlighted by a straight-set victory over Mascoutah senior Kaine Climaco. Tyler has also dabbled in doubles, teaming with junior Sean McGary to get a key win over Alton on Saturday, May 2.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 13 Peoria-area high school boys tennis players having breakout 2026 seasons
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
