2009 Division I Tennis All-Stars

The York Daily Record/Sunday News has announced its 2009 Division I Tennis All-Stars.
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
   --- Clarke Freeman, Central York: The Panthers' No. 1 player capped his career as a three-time all-star after leading his team to a second straight Division I title. Freeman went 7-0 without losing a set in league play, earning the top seed in the YAIAA Class AAA tournament. The highlight of Freeman's regular season came against Dallastown on April 21, when he defeated Sebastian Eisele in the No. 1 match, 6-3, 6-1, for his first victory against the Wildcats in four tries. The win helped Central affirm its status as the division's top team with a 5-0 romp. Freeman demonstrated his resilience in the postseason, rebounding from an upset loss in the league semifinals to reach the finals of the District 3 singles tournament as an unseeded player. His district conquests included a 6-3, 6-0 romp over No. 2 seed Mike Meyer of Conrad Weiser in the second round and a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Manheim Township's Peter Bookman in the semifinals. The district performance gave him his first PIAA tournament appearance.
   --- Mikesh Desai, Central York: Desai dominated the No. 2 slot in much the same manner as Freeman, winning seven league matches without losing a set. However, it was a loss in a team challenge match that inspired Desai to set the goal that would become his signature accomplishment: winning the league singles tournament. He achieved it with five straight-set victories over four days, including a 6-1, 6-3 win over Dallastown's top player, Sebastian Eisele, in the semifinals. The tournament's No. 2 seed capped his run to the title with a 6-1, 6-0 rout of teammate Evan Cunningham on April 27. Desai went on to post straight-set wins against Hershey and Manheim Township, as the Panthers claimed their second straight team title. Freeman, the top seed in the YAIAA tournament, fell in the semifinals, but he rebounded with a pair of singles wins in his own in district team play. He went on to reach the District 3 Class AAA singles final as an unseeded player, defeating No. 4 seed Mike Meyer of Conrad Weiser, 6-3, 6-0, in the second round and outlasting second seed Peter Bookman of Manheim Township in the semifinal, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, in a three-set semifinal. The performance allowed him to cap his career with his first appearance in the PIAA tournament.
  
Singles
   --- Evan Cunningham, Central York: Cunningham, the Panthers' No. 3 player during the regular season, went 5-0 in league singles play. He became the best illustration of Central's depth when he upset teammate and top-seed Clarke Freeman in the YAIAA Class AAA semifinals. Cunningham went on to reach the district quarterfinals.
   --- Prateek Dhar, Central York: Dhar, one of four seniors in Central's starting lineup, was the picture of perfection with a 13-0 record primarily from the No. 4 slot. His season's slate included a 6-0, 6-7 (10-8), 6-1 win over Teddy Rittase in the Panthers' sweep of Dallastown. He also earned a place on the all-tournament team in the Conestoga Valley Buckskin Invitational.
   --- Sebastian Eisele, Dallastown: The Wildcats' No. 1 singles player went 5-1 in league play and advanced to the semifinals of the YAIAA Class AAA tournament, earning a spot in district play. Eisele and teammate Nathan Gambino upset top seeds Desai and Dhar in the first round of the District 3 Tournament and went on to finish fourth.
  
Doubles
   --- Freeman/Cunningham, Central York: The senior duo earned all-star doubles honors for the second time after capturing their first YAIAA Class AAA doubles title. Freeman and Cunningham swept through four matches without losing more than three games in a set. The pair went on to finish third in the District 3 tournament for the second straight year.
   --- Desai/Dhar, Central York: The pair earned a No. 2 seeding in the league tournament and responded by reaching the final, earning all-star honors as a team for the second time.
  
Coach of the year
   --- Eric Sweitzer, Central York: Sweitzer and the Panthers made a seamless transition to the role of the hunted. One year after ending Dallastown's six-year run atop the division, Sweitzer and the Panthers became the dominant team. Rather than become complacent, they lived up to the role, winning the division without losing more than one point in a match. They went on to repeat as District 3 and Class AAA team champions and finish with a 14-1 record.