Men's Tennis | 3/14/2025 10:22:02 AM
Houghton will look to earn its third consecutive Empire 8 Championship as league play for the 2025 season begins on March 29. The league will have a new look this season, as affiliate members SUNY Oswego, SUNY Delhi, Lesley, Norwich, Thomas, VSU Johnson and VSU Lyndon will give the Empire 8 eleven members in 2025.
The league will consist of two divisions (six-team East division and five-team West division) with each team playing its regular season schedule within its same division.
The top three teams from each division will advance to the 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament. The top-team in each division will receive an opening round bye, while the No. 2 vs. No. 3 seeds in each division would play each other to determine the final four participants. In 2025, the West Division No. 1 seed will host the semifinals and championship. The second and third seeded East teams will play on Saturday, April 26, while the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds from the West will play on Tuesday, April 29.
The top-seed in the West will play the lowest remaining East Division team in one semifinal on Friday, May 2, while the East No. 1 seed will play the lowest remaining West Division team in the second semifinal. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2025 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, May 3. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship, which begins on Friday, May 9.
2025 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Players to Watch (sorted alphabetically)
Terrance Bayly-Henshaw, Norwich, So., Scottsville, NY/Wheatland-Chili – Bayly-Henshaw finished last season with a 5-5 record in singles, topping competition from VTSU Johnson, VTSU Lyndon, VTSU Castleton, and Albertus Magnus; he also held a 6-5 record in doubles play; earned a spot on the GNAC All-Tournament Team
Jeffrey Blais, Vermont State University-Lyndon, Sr., Newport, VT/North Country Union – Blais earned All-North Atlantic Conference honors in both singles and doubles last season. He was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
Griffin Bond, Nazareth, Sr., Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua – Bond returns after earning All-Empire 8 first team honors in singles last season and second team doubles. He will compete near the top of the lineup for Nazareth.
Advance Cheromiah, Vermont State Johnson, Jr., Laguna-Acoma, NM/Laguna-Acoma – Cheromiah is expected to play at the No. 1 singles and doubles spot to lead the way for the Badgers in 2025.
Breece Erickson, Alfred, So., Goshen, IN/Bethany Christian – Erickson will play towards the top of the lineup to lead the way for the Saxons. He won three matches at second singles last year.
Devin Guerreri, SUNY Delhi, So., Catskill, NY/Catskill – Guerreri earned NAC All-Conference honors in singles last season and will be expected to lead SUNY Delhi in 2025.
Tyler Hernandez, St. John Fisher, So., Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park – Hernandez, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was named the 2024 Empire 8 Co-Player of the Year and earned Rookie of the Year accolades after finishing 5-1 in league play at first singles and first doubles last season.
Bennett Locke, Lesley, So., Braintree, MA/Braintree – Locke, who stands 6-foot-9, serves as Lesley’s team captain, and will be expected to play near the top of the lineup in 2025.
Anthony Marcano, SUNY Oswego, Jr., Victor, NY/Victor – Marcano led the Lakers in singles wins last season and has played primarily at second singles.
Gabe McPhail, Thomas, Sr., Windham, ME/Windham – McPhail was named the North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year last season after finishing 8-0 in league play at both first singles and first doubles.
Nolan Zach, Houghton, Sr., Penfield, NY/Penfield – Zach earned All-Empire 8 first team honors in both singles and doubles for the Highlanders last season. He garnered All-E8 second team singles and doubles accolades in 2023.
Team Capsules (Sorted by 2024 E8 and NAC Standings)
WEST DIVISION
Houghton
Houghton will look to win its third consecutive Empire 8 title and fourth overall in 2025. The Highlanders finished unbeaten in conference play last season and have won 43 straight Empire 8 regular season contests dating back to the 2018 season. Jordan Crouch, who led Alfred University to the 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship, returns to his alma mater as head coach. Crouch was a former two-time All-E8 selection at Houghton in 2017 and 2018. Houghton returns six players including four starters in 2025, including All-Empire 8 first team singles and doubles selection Nolan Zach, a senior and fellow All-E8 picks, sophomores Preston Tobolski and Jason Murphy. Newcomer Samuel Garay will also look to make an immediate impact for the Highlanders.
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers will attempt to win its second Empire 8 title in the last four seasons and make its fifth straight E8 championship match appearance in 2025. Nazareth returns a veteran-laden lineup, including five starters and five former All-Empire 8 conference selections. Seniors Griffin Bond and Noah Britton returns after both earning All-E8 first team honors in singles last season. Bond was also an All-E8 second team doubles pick. Junior Pierre Ntonga, a 2023 and 2024 All-E8 second team selection, will also lead the way for Nazareth this season, along with classmate and fellow All-E8 second team pick Chris Benedict and All-E8 second team doubles selection Max Funicello.
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher will look to improve on last season’s third place finish, as they have placed third in the E8 regular season standings in each of the last 10 seasons. Sophomore Tyler Hernandez, the 2024 Empire 8 Co-Player of the Year and 2024 Rookie of the Year, finished 5-1 in league play at both first singles and at first doubles with teammate Will Chubb. Hernandez became the second player in league history to earn Player and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season, joining Matthew Heinrich of Stevens, who was honored in 2013. Two-time All-E8 second team second team singles selection Will Chubb along with Trentyn Grant and junior transfer Sean Brown will look to shine for the Cardinals in 2025, as they try to win their first league title.
Alfred
The Saxons are looking to make a postseason run in 2025, as former Houghton men’s tennis standout and All-Empire 8 selection Jake Fisler begins his first season as head coach of the Saxons. Sophomore Breece Erickson, along with Matthew Bittel, Bill Tran and Walker Waldon will look to lead the way for Alfred this season. First-year Ricardo Alvarez Janik will also look to make an immediate impact for the Saxons in 2025.
SUNY Oswego
SUNY Oswego makes its Empire 8 debut in 2025. The Lakers won eight matches in 2023-24, including several versus current Empire 8 opponents. Head coach Tyler Glowaki leads a young but talented lineup, with seven newcomers. Junior Anthony Marcano led the Lakers in singles wins last season and will serve as a team leader alongside senior Austin Davis and junior Zachary Demott. Newcomers Colin Byer, Miguel Garcia and Tyler Yhun will look to make an immediate impact in 2025.
EAST DIVISION
Thomas
Thomas begins its first season as an Empire 8 member in 2025, coming off back-to-back North Atlantic Conference Championships in 2023 and 2024 for head coach Rob Disch. The Terriers return seven players and five starters from last season’s championship squad, including the 2024 NAC Player of the Year Gabe McPhail and 2024 Rookie of the Year, Calvin Cutler. McPhail, Cutler, and senior Sebastian Soto earned NAC All-Conference honors in both singles and doubles. Freshmen Dominic Clifford and Camden Herrick will also look to make an immediate impact in 2025. Disch was named the 2024 NAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time.
SUNY Delhi
SUNY Delhi makes it Empire 8 debut this season under head coach Rasul Jackson. The Broncos finished as North Atlantic Conference runners-up in 2024, having finished 5-2 in league play. Sophomore Devin Guerreri earned NAC All-Conference honors in singles last season and will be expected to lead SUNY Delhi in 2025. The doubles duo of juniors of J.T. Maccarrone and Jack Madera also return for the Broncos after earned All-NAC honors in 2024.
Vermont State Lyndon
Vermont State Lyndon, who finished third in the North Atlantic Conference in 2024, begins its first season as an Empire 8 member in 2025 for head coach Laura Laramee, who begins her 14th season in 2025. The Hornets return a pair of NAC All-Conference selections from last season, senior Jeffrey Blais, and junior David Gratton. Blais, who went 6-2 in NAC play at first singles and Gratton, who was 6-2 at second singles, were both also named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team.
Vermont State Johnson
Vermont State Johnson makes its Empire 8 debut in 2025 under head coach Ryan McDonnell. The Badgers placed fourth in the North Atlantic Conference last season. Junior Advance Cheromiah is expected to play at the No. 1 singles and doubles spot to lead the way for the Badgers in 2025. Mohammed Semega, David Heath, and newcomer Jack Senecal will also be counted on to play a large role for Vermont State Johnson.
Lesley
Lesley University makes its Empire 8 debut this season under second year head coach Jason Walsh. The Lynx, who finished fifth in the North Atlantic Conference last season, return six players from 2024, including senior DJ Cronin, junior Miles Brajdic and sophomores Bennett Locke and DJ Cronin. Lesley makes its E8 debut on March 29.
Norwich
Norwich University, previously of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, begins Empire 8 play this season for head coach Scott Barker. Last season, the Cadets advanced to the GNAC Semifinals for the first time since and return a trio of top leaders, including sophomore Terrance Bayly-Henshaw, senior Keagan Bakke, and junior Ethan Teluk. Bayly-Henshaw was named to the GNAC Championship All-Tournament Team last season, while Bakke was a former GNAC Rookie of the Week. Norwich has seven newcomers looking to crack the lineup in 2025.
Final 2024 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Standings (West Division)
Houghton (9-5, 6-0 E8) - League Champions
Nazareth (5-12, 4-2 E8)
St. John Fisher (2-11, 2-4 E8)
Alfred (2-9, 0-6 E8)
Final 2024 North Atlantic Conference Tennis Standings (East Division)
Thomas (12-2, 8-0 NAC) - League Champions
SUNY Delhi (5-6, 5-2 NAC)
Vermont State University Lyndon (4-8, 4-4 NAC)
Vermont State University Johnson (2-10, 2-6 NAC)
Lesley (0-10, 0-7 NAC)
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
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