Here are the 2026 Journal Star boys tennis all-area honorees in alphabetical order, led by player of the year.
Tommy Sopko, Metamora
The 2026 Journal Star Boys Tennis Player of the Year was the best singles and doubles player in the Peoria area for 2026. He becomes the fifth Metamora player — Bryton Short (2023), Brian Lelm (2021), Will Koehrsen (2011-14) and Stephan Rauh (2010) — to be named in the award’s 27-year history. Sopko finishes his senior season with a 53-5 overall record, earning first-time all-state honors with a fourth-place doubles finish in Class 1A. The senior teamed with classmate Weston Lange during their run to the Final Four. They also were sectional doubles champions, marking the third year in a row Sopko won the title, each time with a different partner. He also went undefeated in singles, winning the Mid-Illini Conference singles title, while also going unbeaten in doubles play against league competition.
Dane Hutchison, Metamora
The senior ended his prep career by garnering second-team all-state honors. This came after Hutchison and doubles partner Hunter Poole were the Class 1A ninth-place finishers. The pair were the sectional runner-up finishers, losing to teammates Sopko and Lange. Hutchison went 43-8 in singles and doubles play during in 2026.
Ethan Laclef, Dunlap
The sophomore was a Class 1A singles sectional champion for the Eagles, who also claimed the sectional team title. He went 38-7 during his second varsity season, posting a 3-2 record at the state finals before losing in the fourth round of the consolation bracket. Laclef also played three doubles matches this season, going 3-0 with doubles partner Dresden Michel.
Weston Lange, Metamora
The senior picked up first-team all-state honors to cap his high school career. Lange teamed with POY Sopko and made a run to the Class 1A doubles Final Four. The pair took fourth as the Redbirds finished fourth as a team. He posted a 48-3 record during in 2026, winning a sectional as well as helping Metamora go 27-2 this season.
Dresden Michel, Dunlap
The freshman made a big-time impact during his first varsity season. He was a Class 1A state qualifier following a runner-up finish to Laclef at sectionals in an epic three-set battle. Michel then went 2-2 at the state finals. His record finished at 34-10 and helped Dunlap win a Class 1A sectional and the Mid-Illini Conference.
Daniel Nathan, Richwoods
The sophomore sensation posted another standout season. Nathan made a run to the Class 2A state finals third round before bowing out in the consolation bracket. He was a Class 2A sectional singles champion, beating classmate Kace Tyler in the championship match. Nathan finished the season with a 28-2 overall record.
Kace Tyler, Richwoods
The sophomore made his presence felt during his second varsity season. Tyler played in the Class 2A state finals, dropping a pair of matches. This came after he was the sectional singles runner-up, falling to classmate Nathan in the championship match. Tyler collected a 31-14 overall record highlighted by a 12-match singles winning streak.
Journal Star Boys Tennis Player of the Year
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2026 Journal Star all-area teams | Meet the top 7 boys tennis players
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
