JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Zach Hyatt may be a freshman but the Fleming Island tennis star certainly didn’t play like one.
Hyatt, the All-News4JAX boys tennis player of the year, wasn’t even close to being a varsity novice. He played varsity at St. Johns Country Day for three years, so Hyatt already knew the area landscape well.
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But he said there was naturally a bit of an adjustment and a learning curve going from a school the size of St. Johns to one as big as Fleming Island. After a dominant first season where he played for the overall singles championship as a freshman, Hyatt clearly wasn’t fazed by the jump up in competition.
“I wasn’t really sure I was going to be. I mean, I’ve already played high school tennis here, so it wasn’t super new being a freshman playing line one. But it was more pressure than I expected,” Hyatt said.
“Just line one and a bigger school with a bigger district. So going through districts and regionals, a lot of pressure because I really wanted that state [appearance]. I really wanted to take that run as a freshman. And I got to state and I wasn’t sure if I was going to do very well there. But I mean, I pushed through somehow. Got lucky, I guess. Made it to the final and then I went up from there.”
Hyatt was better than just lucky. He was 10-2 in the regular season at the No. 1 singles spot, but really emerged during the postseason. He won the individual portion of the singles draw before falling to Lake Buena Vista’s Pete Tran (6-1, 6-2) for the overall championship.
Hyatt comes from a strong tennis background. His sister, Stella, was a two-time All-News4JAX selection and a constant presence in the postseason during her time at St. Johns. He bounced between sports like soccer and basketball before headed back to the court full time.
“After the pandemic hit, I couldn’t really do those, so I just kind of drew more towards tennis and I haven’t really done anything else since,” he said.
His future looks as bright as ever. Hyatt is the headliner in a blockbuster freshman class that includes four Class of 2028 players on the All-News4JAX first team. Hyatt said his experience this season shows him just how realistic that winning a state championship is for him.
“I think it is. I’m striving for it, especially sophomore year,” Hyatt said of his championship aspirations. “I really want to take it at a younger age. I think it’s very possible. I think it’s in my reach. I was so close this year as a freshman, so I think I really have an opportunity with my district and class and everything right now.”
All-News4JAX boys tennis
First team
Player, school, class
William Chaves, Nease, Fr.
Top singles player for the Panthers who was 10-2 and reached the Class 4A state tournament. Just one local loss (Ponte Vedra’s Jacob Raider).
Reef Davis, Fletcher, Jr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Went 7-1 in No. 1 singles and rolled to the Class 3A individual doubles title with Brayden Woods before falling in the overall final.
Zach Hyatt, Fleming Island, Fr.
Went 10-2 in the regular season at the No. 1 spot, and 10-1 in doubles. Won Class 3A individual singles draw at state tournament but fell in overall championship.
Charlie Neal, Episcopal, Fr.
Another star in the loaded Class of 2027. Was 16-0 at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles and 16-1 at the top two doubles positions.
Grant Price, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection and a second-team pick as a sophomore. Went 9-1 at No. 1 singles and 4-1 at No. 2 singles and went unbeaten against area competition as Sharks won region and reached 3A team semifinals.
Andrew Shkotkin, Flagler Palm Coast, Fr.
Excellent debut season for the Bulldogs. Four-star prospect by Tennis Recruiting Network. Went 12-3 at No. 1 singles and 13-3 at No. 1 doubles.
Second team
Player, school, class
Andres Alvarado, Ridgeview, Sr.
Excellent final season, with only loss coming to top player Hyatt. Went 15-1 at No. 1 singles and 13-2 at No. 1 doubles. Only losses were to Hyatt in singles and to Hyatt and Anthony Williams in doubles.
Jacob Raider, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Wofford commit is three-star prospect by Tennis Recruiting Network. Unbeaten against local competition. Went 4-1 at singles and 3-2 at No. 1 doubles.
Adam Stochel-Polubiec, Flagler Palm Coast, So.
Went 16-2 at No. 2 singles and 13-3 at No. 1 doubles with first-teamer Andrew Shkotkin.
Stanislav Valenteychik, Matanzas, So.
Went 8-3 at No. 1 singles and 7-3 at No. 1 doubles. Just two local losses at singles (to FPC’s Shkotkin and Ponte Vedra’s Price). Was first-team All-News4JAX last year.
Brayden Woods, Fletcher, Fr.
Another strong freshman who was unbeaten at No. 1 and 2 singles (combined 8-0) and went 8-1 in doubles with first-teamer Reef Davis. That duo played for the 3A title in doubles.
Michael Zhang, Bolles, So.
Went 7-1 at the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles spots. Was 5-1 combined at the 1-2 doubles positions.
Honorable mention
Player, school, class
Collin Beese, Menendez, Sr.
Akhil Chedde, Stanton, Sr.
Henry Colwell, Fernandina Beach, Sr.
Jay Deering, Stanton, Fr.
Aidan Emmett, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Jack Miller, Wolfson, So.
Dhruv Pandya, Bolles, Jr.
Sujay Prasath, Beachside, Sr.
Ford Rachels, Episcopal, Sr.
Caleb Shepler, Christ’s Church, Jr.
Aidan Stefanides, Episcopal, Sr.
Marko Stevanovic, Atlantic Coast, So.
Connor Vernon, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Tristan Straw, Tocoi Creek, Fr.
Jack Walzer, Creekside, Jr.
Anthony Williams, Fleming Island, Sr.