An Nguyen is one of many contenders vying for the top singles title at the Frontier League boys tennis tournament Saturday at Watertown High School.

Although the regular season is winding down, there remains no clear favorite to secure either the individual or team championships.

Nguyen, an exchange student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is attending Immaculate Heart Central as a junior this year and is enjoying a banner season on the tennis team. He has posted a 6-1 record, including a win and a loss to Lowville standout Brandon Bryant.

"It's exciting for a kid to come over here, play a sport he loves and find some success for himself and also his team," IHC coach Anthony Burgess said. "An is one of the best hitters in the league. He's won his last six matches, he's gaining confidence, and he's playing very well."

Among the other league leaders, including Bryant, are Alexandria's McKenzie Garlock, who on Tuesday also posted an upset over Bryant, Lowville's Dan Cannan, and three Watertown players, James Purcell, Partha Panwala and Spencer McCreary.

"It's going to be an interesting tournament, especially at singles," Lowville coach Dale Crossman-Cole said. "(The) IHC player is very good, very consistent, good at the net. McKenzie certainly has stepped up, and Watertown, they're all contenders. Carthage, they are like walls, they're very consistent, both first and second singles, so I think it's going to be a great tournament."

Lowville (7-2), Alexandria (6-2) and Watertown (5-3) appear to have the best chances to claim the team crown, but it won't be an easy battle for any squad.

"It's a very evenly matched year between all the teams," said Watertown coach Brian Morrison. "Each player can beat each other at any point, so it's really not allowing for any certainty."

Nguyen squeaked out his victory over Bryant in three sets last week, and an overall victory on Saturday for either player is a possibility.

"An has the potential because he strikes the ball so well," Burgess said. "There are really a lot of good first-singles players this year, so whoever wins the Frontier League this weekend, whether it be Brandon or An or anybody else, is going to have to earn it. There's no easy road against the other No. 1s."

Last year, Lowville secured the team title, while the individual league championship was claimed by IHC's Tommy Pham, also an exchange student from Ho Chi Minh City. Pham is attending Immaculate Heart again this year and is involved with the tennis team. He is not allowed to compete in matches due to a rule limiting exchange students to competing only during the first year they're in the country.

ALEXANDRIA TOPPLES LOWVILLE

Alexandria coach Terry Satterley said it was going to happen. Maybe not until next year, but his boys tennis team was going to defeat Lowville.

He was right, and it happened sooner rather than later. The young Purple Ghosts team, which was started up again just last year, upset the Red Raiders 4-1 on Tuesday at Alexandria Bay.

"I always looked at Lowville as the benchmark," said Satterley. "So the win means a lot just because I really respect their program."

The successful Lowville boys team has been coached by Dale Crossman-Cole for the last two seasons. Before that, the program was run for 30 years by her husband, Dick Cole.

The highlight for Alexandria in the victory was sophomore McKenzie Garlock's 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Lowville first-singles player Brandon Bryant. Shawn Martin posted a second-singles win, while Ethan and Riley Thomson claimed first doubles, and Wataru Yamazaki and Ethan Dunham took second singles for the Purple Ghosts.

"Alex Bay played very well," Crossman-Cole said. "They were ready. I think they were out to get the job done, and I have to give them credit for that. ... McKenzie's definitely raising the level of his game."

Winning for Lowville was Nathan Kelly at third singles.

The Red Raiders, now 7-2, also lost to Brian Morrison's Watertown team.

"Lowville was pegged as one of the top competitors in the league; they've always had a strong program," Morrison said. "To pull out a win against Lowville on the first match of the season kind of set us off at a good pace."

LEMAY STILL IN ACTION

Ledena LeMay is still involved with tennis despite having to participate from a wheelchair these days.

The Watertown High School senior broke her right foot sliding into base during softball this season, but she goes to the courts everyday to assist the boys tennis team.

"She comes here with her wheelchair and parks it right on the court with a tennis racket, and she'll drill the ball back to the players during practice," Watertown coach Brian Morrison said.

LeMay tried getting around on crutches, but the wheelchair was easier for her to navigate.

"She's just such a good athlete, she can serve the ball sitting down," Morrison said.