River Hill’s Roger He named 2025 Howard County boys tennis Player of the Year

River Hill senior Roger He took on added leadership responsibility in his senior season.

He, a two-time Class 3A state doubles champion, vowed to be more of a vocal leader and offer advice to teammates when needed.As an upperclassman, he was very confident in his game, River Hill coach Kelley Pfefferkorn said.

I think that hes very comfortable with himself on the court.

To go through his whole high school career only having lost three times, I think that its just a buildup of him being in a leadership position and him just feeling really comfortable and confident in his game.The veteran steamrolled through No.

1 singles in the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record, not losing more than four games in any match.

[He was similarly dominant in the County Cup, handily defeating all four opponents capped off by an 8-2 win over Howards Daniel Au in the final.After transitioning to doubles in prior postseasons, He remained at singles this year.

There was no adjustment period needed as He often rotates between singles and doubles when playing tournaments outside of high school.

An aggressive player by nature who often comes to net to finish points, He maintained his success in regions.He coasted to the 3A South Region II title with a pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins and extended that momentum all the way to the state final setting up a matchup with Oakdales Nicholas Novitzki.

While He was bested in straight sets, he concluded an impressive senior season with an 18-1 record and a first singles county and region title.A model of consistency, He is the 2025 Howard County boys tennis Player of the Year.I think my consistency mainly comes from practicing a lot and making sure that I show up every single day ready to work and here to improve things that I need to work on, He said.

Also, sharpening my own skills, my strengths and also focusing on my weaknesses too to make sure that I am improving every day.

This will allow me to be more consistent both in a match or just on the practice court.The margin for error is minimal in Howard County regular season play with the eight-game super set system.

Fast starts become even more critical as theres only set to decide the fate of a match.

With that unique structure, theres an increased emphasis on adaptability and quick adjustments.While He defeated Au 8-4 in the regular season meeting, it was tied for his most competitive match by scoreline, and the senior wasnt particularly satisfied with that performance.

He needed some time to adjust to Au having not faced him since last season.Therefore, He entered the County Cup final with a heightened focus and a better vision of how he wanted to execute.

That formula translated well in the lopsided win where He started out fast and didnt look back.Hes very a dynamic player, Pfefferkorn said.

He is very quick and a very athletic player.

He can move very quickly.

I think that is an x-factor too because I know that I look at other teammates or other players from other teams and I know that sometimes Roger can just outlast [them] athletically.

So, thats a big strength in his game.Although He hadnt played singles at regions or states before, the senior took away valuable lessons from his prior experiences there in doubles.

He understood the value of ignoring outside distractions and focusing on the things that were in his control.

It yielded great results as He won his state quarterfinal and semifinal matches 6-0, 6-2, and 6-0, 6-1, respectively.Reflecting back on his accomplished three-year career, He isnt focused on the number of wins and losses.

What hell remember most are the different experiences, matches, opponents and most importantly, the people hes met along the way in his growth as a tennis player.I dont think too much about how I only lost three matches and how many matches Ive won, He said.

Im just proud that every single day when I show up, that I am able to do what I wanted to on the court and Im giving my best effort.

High school tennis isnt just always about winning this or that match how many trophies did you get this year, but also how youve grown as a personmeeting new people and how theyve helped shape who youve become.Related ArticlesMt.

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1 singles during the regular season for the Lions, winning 13 of his 14 matches.

He maintained that momentum as he reached the County Cup No.

1 singles final.

Au coasted to the 3A South Region I boys single title, losing just four total games in three matches.

The junior didnt concede a game in his state quarterfinal victory and finished fourth.Landan Daniel, River Hill, freshmanDaniel flourished in his first varsity season at No.

2 singles as he won all 11 regular season matches.

He built on that success as he won the County Cup No.

2 singles title in dominant fashion without losing a game.

Daniel transitioned to doubles in the postseason and won both the 3A South Region II and 3A state mixed doubles title alongside Adele Lair.Adrian Jayaputra, Centennial, juniorJayaputra showcased his versatility for the Eagles and rotated between singles and doubles throughout the regular season.

He transitioned to mixed doubles in the postseason alongside Ariela Dumesh and thrived.

They won the 2A West Region II mixed doubles title and also won the event at states, not losing a game in the semifinals or the state title match.Tyler Wang, Marriotts Ridge, juniorWang led the Mustangs boys at No.

1 singles with a 6-2 regular season record.

He also reached the round of 16 at the county cup.

From there, he transitioned to mixed doubles alongside Stella Lee and made a deep postseason run.

They dominated en route to the 3A South Region title as the top seed and went on to finish fourth at states after winning their quarterfinal match, 6-0, 6-0.Carson Campbell, senior, and Arman Moinfar, freshman, River HillCampbell and Moinfar were 5-0 during the regular season together and made a run to the county cup final as well.

They won the 3A South Region II title handedly, not losing more than three games in a set in either match.

Campbell and Moinfar made the quarterfinals at states where they suffered a tough three-set loss to state champions Kyle Li and Justin Hunag from Wooton.Nathan Gong, senior, and Ian Rhees, sophomore, HowardGong and Rhees impressed as the Lions No.

1 doubles pairing with an 8-1 regular season record.

They won the county cup No.

1 doubles title and gutted through tough matches in each round of the county cup.

Gong and Rhees also finished as the boys doubles runners-up in 3A South Region I.Arnav Rajadhyaksha, junior, and Rishi Rajadhyaksha, senior, GlenelgThe Rajadjyaksha brothers were Glenelgs top doubles pairing throughout the regular season finishing 4-2 and also reaching the County Cup semifinals at No.

1 doubles.

They saved their best for the postseason as they won the 2A West Region I doubles title and finished as state runners-up with a pair of hard-fought wins in the state quarterfinal and semifinals.Vidhu Sampath, senior and Shaan Kalyani, junior, Mt.

HebronBoth Sampath and Kalyani rotated between singles and doubles during the regular season.

They found their stride at regions and won three straight matches as the No.

4 seed to claim the 3A South Region I doubles title.

Their strong season ended in a grueling three-set match in the state quarterfinals against Polys Jack Serpic and Morris Auerbach.All-County second teamJakob Bluemner, Wilde Lake, seniorChanning Clarke, Reservoir, freshmanJosh Ma, Glenelg, juniorNaren Nair, Glenelg, freshmanAryan Singh, Atholton, seniorAyan Shankar, Marriotts Ridge, juniorKrish Shroff, Howard, seniorAdam Hunt, senior and Sanath Simhadri, senior, ReservoirAndre Lair, freshman and Simar Sawhney, senior, Reservoir.

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