Amiya Bowles spent the afternoon of April 29 supporting her Bexley tennis teammates, whether giving advice from the bench or cheering from outside the fence.
The senior, a five-star recruit and three-time state champion, would rather have been on the court trying to avenge her only high school loss, but recovery from a right wrist injury meant she had to serve in a supporting role for freshman Harrison Lessard’s first singles match against New Albany senior Tyler Thomas.
“I am just extra support for him, and also for the other guys,” Bowles said. “There are little things; I’ll reassure him and tell him little things I’m seeing that he might not see, but it’s nothing to a coaching length. Just quick little reminders. But it’s so fun to be on the bench and get the inside of what they’re thinking.”
After skipping the girls season last fall to focus on non-scholastic tournaments, Bowles announced in January that she would join the boys team this spring – the benefit of having eligibility remaining. She also signed with Michigan State in December.
Bowles is transparent about her thinking in finishing high school with the boys team instead of on the girls side, where she was Division II state singles champion as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
“This wasn’t for me,” she said. “I will play wherever they need me. The main thing for me was being on the team with the guys. This wasn’t for me. I joined to help them win team state [the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association tournament].”
Bowles adds to deep Bexley lineup
Pursuit of the OTCA Division II championship is a recurring theme for Bexley, whose lineup was already loaded thanks to two-time state champion Henry Lessard and Harrison, like his brother, a five-star recruit.
A Northwestern commit, Henry won state singles as a freshman and doubles last year with older brother Sam, now a freshman starter at Colorado College.
“We went from being a team that might not have made OTCA state and now I would say we are a favorite with [Bowles],” Henry Lessard said. “Team is the most special [tournament].”
Lessard said Bowles, who occasionally practiced with the boys team in previous years, has fit in seamlessly. They have played one doubles match together this year, and both have interspersed outside tournaments with high school matches.
“This year definitely feels different because it’s a lot more fun,” Lessard said. “There just isn’t as much pressure, and the main thing I am striving for is a team championship so then I can say I got singles, doubles and team [titles].”
Versatility among his top players has allowed Bexley coach Will Gingery to roll out several lineups.
Bowles and Harrison Lessard will play singles in the postseason. Henry Lessard will team with senior Adrian Schiff in doubles.
“[Bowles] doesn’t care where we put her in the lineup,” Gingery said. “She just wants to help the team as much as she can. …
“Obviously I was excited to have her, but I wasn’t sure what it would be like having a girl on the team. She has practiced here and there in the past with us, an hour or two, but she’s never really been a full participant, so you don’t know what it is going to look like. She has a blast with our guys. She has really pushed the level of the other kids up because they all want to beat her.”
‘I don’t want it to be about me’
Aware of the attention she draws because of her success, Bowles is hesitant to be the center of attention as high school winds down.
She is 9-1 this season between singles and doubles, and 65-1 in high school. Bowles’ only loss came to Thomas, 6-1, 6-2 on April 13.
“I wanted that rematch really bad and he knows it,” Bowles said with a laugh. “Tyler and I have known each other for a long time, but I definitely wanted another chance.”
Bowles, who did not drop a set in high school until a state semifinal in 2024, is 2-1 at first singles, 2-0 at second singles, 1-0 in first doubles and 4-0 in tournament doubles. Three of those tournament wins came with Harrison Lessard.
“My confidence has grown,” Bowles said. “I have to go bigger, so it’s increased my game. I need to use more shots and hit it bigger. I can’t hit it soft. Nothing gets past these guys. They are helping me get that fire in my matches.”
Even then, Bowles went back to the team’s fortunes.
“I don’t want it to be about me,” she said. “Henry is contending for another title. Harrison is a great freshman. We have a lot of great things going.”
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: OHSAA tennis champ Amiya Bowles driven to help Bexley boys win state
Reporting by Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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