Boys tennis: Avon's Logan DeHaven feeling fit, ready for grind of state tournament

Logan DeHaven is finally going to get an ending worthy of his impressive career. The last three seasons, fate prevented DeHaven from a proper sendoff. His first season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His next two trips to the district tournament ended with leg cramps. And while last year he was still able to qualify to the state tournament, he had to withdraw from his semifinal and placement matches. This season, he defended his sectional title and took third at district. More importantly, the cramps didn't make an appearance to hinder him. "Going into state, I know I can handle two tough matches a day," DeHaven said. "Physically, I know I can meet the challenge. I'm glad I got third because this feels like a real placement to me." DeHaven, along with teammates Luke LeMaster and A.J. Sidoti, will compete at the Division I state tournament at Ohio State University beginning today and concluding Friday with both sessions starting at 9 a.m. Vermilion's Severin Kretchmar will compete in the Division II singles tournament. DeHaven has been Avon's top player since his first days at the school. Even as a freshman he was projected to play first singles ahead of three seniors. He's amassed 86 singles wins and 89 wins in all. He enters the state tournament with a 26-3 singles record, while also going 3-1 in doubles. He's committed to play for Division II Cedarville University next season. "It's hard to put into words what he's done for this program," Avon coach Eric Korey said. "Three years ago, outside of the SWC (Southwestern Conference) and Lorain County, nobody really knew of the Avon program. In fact, two years ago at sectionals, during Logan's sophomore year, I won't say the name of the coach, but the coach said, 'Wow, you're actually good.' Now he didn't mean it to be offensive, what I think he meant was now we're good on a different scale. And Logan has been the catalyst to this. He's our top player leading the charge. He will always be special to me." While Avon has been blessed with elite depth the past two seasons, having DeHaven in the top spot is one of the main reasons it's consistently ranked among the top teams in the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association poll. DeHaven isn't just a show-up-and-play kind of teammate. Korey said he's a driving force behind Avon's strong chemistry and is willing to share his knowledge with his teammates. "He loves the game so much," Korey said. "His spirit of how much he enjoys tennis is infectious. All the guys love playing more when he's around. Even our Varsity B guys, when they have a shot to play a point against Logan in practice. It's such a challenge, but every now and then they'll win one and it's so inspiring for them to see the work and the passion he brings to the sport. We're very grateful for all the hard work he puts in for us." Despite all of that success, most of DeHaven's losses have been consolidated to the week of the district tournament. He's had to withdraw from three district matches because of cramping — the quarterfinals as a sophomore, which ultimately led to him missing the state tournament, and his semifinal and placement matches as a junior. He spent last summer searching for answers. A blood test showed that his body has naturally below-average levels of sodium. And a lengthy tennis match in hot conditions sheds a lot of sodium. Now, at every changeover, he downs a shot of pickle juice — which contains 400 milligrams of sodium — or water laced with a liquid IV that contains essential vitamins and 500 milligrams of sodium. He said he knew he found the right combination when it didn't lead to cramping after playing two Intercollegiate Tennis Association tournaments in Tennessee during the summer. Though while he didn't cramp up at the district tournament, he did have to take a medical time out in his semifinal against Elijah Hadler — a match he lost in three sets — because of an upset stomach. DeHaven attributed that to not accounting for the indoor conditions in his regimen. "I think the pickle juice was the reason I ended up puking," DeHaven said. "I always struggle with how much pickle juice I should take indoors. I'm still sweating, but I don't think I'm losing quite as much as I am when it's outside and hot. Ultimately, I think I had to lay off (in the semifinals). I stopped taking the pickle juice completely in the (third-place match) because I didn't want to upset my stomach again with the sodium." DeHaven will go into the state tournament as a three seed in singles and will open with Jackson Clements of New Albany. If he wins two matches, he'll end his career as a state placer. Regardless of how much longer his high school career lasts, he's just trying to focus on enjoying the final moments. "Whenever I'm getting tired or the match is tough, I say to myself this is the last time in my life I'm going to get to do this," DeHaven said. "I just carry that mentality into every match. That's what makes me try my hardest." Contact Chris Sweeney at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on Twitter.