RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesLEXINGTON – We saw something Tuesday in the 93rd News Journal Tennis Tournament we may never see again.
High school senior Oscar Haynes won his first NJ title — 6-2, 6-4 over Cainan Palmer in the boys 16-and-under singles division.
Senior? In the 16s?
“I’m home schooled, so I’ve always done a little school over the summer and it kind of racks up,” said Oscar, who doesn’t turn 17 until Jan. 31. “I forget how it works, but I started (school) a little earlier.”
As you can imagine, Oscar has more varsity tennis experience than your typical 16-year-old. He’s already a two-time Division I district qualifier for Ashland High School and will be playing No. 1 singles for the third straight season for the Arrows next spring.
Oscar is built like a college player, so the physical gap isn’t an issue when it comes to competing against someone two years older.
“There are advantages and disadvantages (to being young for his class),” he said. “Having already played three years of high school tennis obviously helps.”
Cooper Remy was sweating the age thing a little bit more going into this tournament. He turns 19 in a couple of weeks and just did make the cut-off for boys 18 singles, giving himself an early birthday present with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over former Lexington High School teammate Tony Palmer.
It was Cooper’s third straight – and final – title in that division.
“I just did squeeze in,” he joked.
Cooper credited Cainan with an assist for his threepeat championship. Cooper won their semifinal bout 6-1, 6-2 on Monday.
“Actually, playing Cainan helped me a lot,” Cooper said. “He brought out my best ball and I’ve been going forward ever since. He got me out of my little funk. He hits a good, clean ball. He hits with good pace. My backhand was not doing so hot, but against him it started finding the court a little better.”
Cooper has been busy this summer playing United States Tennis Association and Intercollegiate Tennis Association matches in preparation for his freshman year at Ohio Northern.
“This was a good way to cap off (playing in the 18s for the last time),” Cooper said. “This summer has been kind of rough, actually. I’ve been getting beat up in USTA and ITA matches.”
Cooper did win an ITA tournament in Oakwood, Michigan, taking first in the Second Flight.
“I’ve been playing all summer getting ready for college,” he said. “I don’t usually play the ITAs, but my coach wanted me to play. It’s kind of weird because they play let serves (like in college), so I need to get used to that and no-ad (games) in college.”
Cooper will join his brother, Ethan, and another former teammate, Dylan Catanese, on campus. Ethan, who won a high school state doubles title with Dylan in 2024, transferred to Ohio Northern from Tiffin University this past year.’
“There are no points off (in college),” Cooper said. “ I have to have a better mindset. In high school, you can be up 40-30, but if your opponent wins the next point (to make it deuce), you know you have at least two more points (to pull out the game). So you’re not that nervous. But when it’s no-ad and you’re up 40-30 on your serve and you lose the next point, you know it will take only one more point to get broken.”
Cooper has used this summer to make the necessary mental and physical adjustments.
“I need to be more aggressive and take my shots,” he said. “I only had two ad games in this entire match with Tony. Last year when Tony and I played we just rallied the whole time. This year, I decided to just go for it. If I miss, I’ll just widen the margins. But I was on it today.”
Tony, a two-time state qualifier for Lex, changed his tactics for this tournament, hitting with more power. It worked in his semifinal win over Oscar, but not in the finals against Cooper.
“I did pretty well playing like that against Oscar, and my parents said you better do that again,” Tony said. “But (Cooper) hit harder than me. When I’m hitting the ball in, it feels good playing that way. If I can consistently hit those shots, my game will be a lot better.”
Cooper being more tournament-tested this summer than Tony paid big dividends.
“I only played one tournament this summer,” Tony said. “(Cooper’s) an amazing tennis player. I couldn’t compete today. It wasn’t even close.”
Tournament director Ron Schaub, who doubles as the boys coach at Lexington, raves about Cainan’s game. The Lex eighth-grader, 13, not only reached the 16s finals and 18s semis, but he’ll be playing men’s singles and doubles this weekend. He won his first round match in the men’s open draw last year at 12.
“I’m down at Lakewood (Racquet Club) almost every day,” he said. “I play with a lot of the older kids now.”
Oscar qualifies as “older” but, as crazy as it sounds, he’ll be a college sophomore before he’s too old to play in the News Journal 18s. Next spring, he should be one of the favorites to win No. 1 singles in the Ohio Cardinal Conference, and the MVP honors that come with that title, as the top returning placer (third).
“I thought I served pretty well,’ Oscar said about his title match Tuesday. “(Cainan) hit with a little variety, but I thought I adapted well. I had a little more energy than I did in my (semifinal) match Monday.”
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Age is just a number: ‘Old’ Remy, ‘young’ Oscar win NJ titles
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