The Sun’s Boys Tennis All-Star Team

Westford’s Connor Liona rips a nice forehand volley back to opponent Nick Narina of Andover. Liona won the No. 1 singles match and Westford pulled out to a tough 3-2 non-league victory. (James Thomas photo)

Connor Liona

Westford Academy

Player of the Year

Named The Sun’s Player of the Year for the second time, Liona is also the Dual County League’s two-time Player of the Year. Liona finished this season 20-3, which includes competing in the USTA Singles State Tournament which he won. A three-time DCL All-Conference selection, he was 16-0 last year, bringing his two-year total to 36-3. Liona guided the Ghosts to a 14-4 overall record, including state tournament wins over North Andover and St. John’s Prep. He will play tennis at Division 1 Sacred Heart University and study physical therapy.

Caleb Lambert

Alvirne

A senior, Lambert played a key part in the Broncos’ 7-7 season, which included a first-round state tournament loss to Dover. Lambert played No. 3 singles and finished 10-2 on the season and also was part of the first doubles team which finished 6-6. “Caleb’s a great student, athlete, and always wanted to improve. He has the best sportsmanship, never swearing, and always won with class, or lost with grace,” said coach Colin Stone. Lambert was also a member of the boys soccer team. He plans on becoming a firefighter.

Abhinaba Goswami

Billerica

Playing No. 1 singles for his fourth straight year – since he was in eighth grade – Goswami led the Indians to a 7-7 regular season record and into the state tournament for the second straight year, which included a preliminary round win over Somerville. Goswami was named to the Merrimack Valley Conference second team after finishing the season with an 8-6 record. The junior was also named the team’s MVP. Last year he was named to The Sun’s second team.

Milan Behara

Chelmsford

Making his second appearance on The Sun’s All-Star team, Behara finished 7-7 playing No. 1 singles for the Lions, helping the team finish 8-6 overall, which included a 1-1 mark in the Division 1 state tournament. In a preliminary round playoff win, Behara won his match. Last year he finished with an 8-3 record playing at No. 2 singles. An honor roll student who was a member of the Student Council, DECA and CharitAbel Clubs, as well as being a class representative who won the Presidential Award for Volunteer work, Behara will attend UConn to study medical engineering.

Ayush Chaudhary

Groton-Dunstable

A sophomore who has played No. 1 singles each of first two years, Chaudhary finished 7-9 this season, while helping the Crusaders qualify for the Division 3 state tournament, including defeating Pentucket Regional in the preliminary round. For his efforts, he was named to the Mid-Wach B All-Star team. Besides tennis, Chaudhary enjoys mountain biking as well as coding and robotics, and has even taught those courses to others.

Sam Little

Littleton

In his second year of tennis after switching from baseball, Little played No. 1 singles again, finishing this season with a 17-0 record, which comes after last year’s 10-6 mark. He was named the Mid-Wach B Player of the Year after being named the POY in Class C last year. An honor roll student all four years of high school, Little, who coach Richard Ryzi calls “the heart and soul of the team,” will attend UConn in the fall.

Keegan Winsor

Lowell Catholic

A junior who resides in Methuen, Winsor played No. 3 singles all season and finished with a 7-3 record. He helped the team reach the Division 3 state tournament, losing a first-round match to finish 6-5 overall. Named the team MVP, Winsor produced exciting wins against Tyngsboro, St. Mary’s of Lynn, Arlington Catholic and Lawrence. The goalie for the boys ice hockey team, Winsor also boxes in his spare time to maintain his strength and agility.

Saunak Manna

Westford Academy

Making his second appearance on The Sun’s All-Star team, Manna, a junior, has played No. 2 singles for three seasons and posted a 14-2 mark this year, coming after finishing 12-4 as a sophomore. He has been selected to the Dual County League All-Conference team for two straight years. Besides playing tennis, Manna volunteers his time as a recreation basketball league coach and as a flag football league coach. He is a black belt in karate and also enjoys playing the piano.

Anuj Gandhi

Wilmington

A senior two-year captain and now a two-time selection to The Sun All-Star team, Gandhi finished with an 9-10 overall record, while helping the Wildcats finish 10-9 overall, which included a big non-league regular season win over Central Catholic, and then a 1-1 mark in the Division 3 state tournament with a win over East Longmeadow and a loss to Swampscott. Last year, Gandhi finished with an 8-2 record at No. 1 singles. He is also a two-time selection to the Middlesex League Liberty Division All-Star team.

Sidd Karani

Wilmington

Karani played No. 2 singles for the Wildcats and had great success in the very competitive Middlesex League, coming away with an 11-8 record, which included helping the team finish 10-9 overall, including a first-round Division 3 state tournament win over East Longmeadow. Last year, Karani finished with a 7-3 record while playing No. 2 singles. He is a two-year captain, a two-year selection to the Middlesex League and Lowell Sun All-Star teams.

Second team

Greater Lowell: Avery Dube, sr.; Luiggi Ferreira, sr.; Giovanni De Oliveira, jr.; Samuel Lucena, sr.; Julio Kuchuminski, sr. Littleton: Manthan Acharya, sr.; Evan McKay, jr. Lowell: Vaal Thawnghmung, sr. Lowell Catholic: Carter Vercauteren, jr.; Ben Poirier, jr. Tewksbury: Peter Impink, sr.; Rafael Bellicco, sr.; Jefferey Wolfinger, fr.; Tyler Chesbrough, jr. Tyngsboro: Arjun Jatain, jr.,; Sudar Meyyappan, jr. Westford Academy: Prett Mood, fr.; Nikhil Ponnusamy, so.; Yash Veerkar, jr. Wilmington: Jay Karani, fr.; Ryan Weinstein, sr.