photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The Journal-World All-Area Teams.

The Journal-World All-Area teams are carefully selected by the Journal-World sports staff.

Coach of the Year: Aaron Clark, Free State

For the first time in school history, the Free State boys tennis team finished second in the 6A state tournament after the team’s two singles players placed in the top four and the team’s top doubles duo finished ninth.

Player of the Year: Micah Ward, Free State

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Micah Ward starts his swing during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

Ward didn’t just have the best season in the area or the state, Ward had a dominant year in which he went undefeated and didn’t drop a set. He held the No. 1 seed through the Sunflower League, regional and state tournaments and finished at the top in all of them.

Jack Bauch and Koh Brewer, Lawrence

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Jack Bauch jumps to hit the ball during the 6A state tennis tournament on Friday, May 15, 2026, in Wichita.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Koh Brewer backhands the ball in a tennis quad at Gardner Edgerton High School on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Gardner.

Bauch and Brewer were Lawrence’s top doubles team throughout the year and dramatically improved together as the year went on. The team qualified for the state tournament as the 14th seed but finished as the seventh seed.

Drew Harrison and Andrew McCall, Free State

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Drew Harrison follows through on his serve during the 6A state tennis tournament on Friday, May 15, 2026, in Wichita.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Andrew McCall swings during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

Harrison and McCall qualified for the 6A state tournament as 17th-seeded doubles team but won three matches and finished 12th in the tournament. The duo finished fifth in the 6A Gardner Edgerton regional and fifth in the Sunflower League tournament.

Aiden Hixson and Eli Risley, Free State

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Aiden Hixson, left, and Eli Risley prepare for a serve during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

Hixson and Risley finished eighth in the Sunflower League meet and secured their ticket to the state tournament a week later in the Gardner Edgerton regional. Hixson and Risley secured a state tournament win in the first round.

Ishaan Rao, Free State

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Ishaan Rao swings during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

Rao had a remarkable season and finished No. 2 in both the Sunflower League and the regional tournament, as well as No. 4 in the state and as a sophomore.

Gabriel Rinnert, Bishop Seabury

Gabriel Rinnert

Rinnert qualified for the 3-1A state tennis tournament by placing sixth in the Cair Paravel regional with a 2-2 record.

Warren Wiedeman, Perry-Lecompton

Warren Wiedeman

Wiedeman finished fifth in the 3-1A regional tennis tournament, which solidified his place in the state tournament.