The Lo-Ellen Park Knights are sending by far the largest local contingent to OFSAA next week.

If your mind migrated directly over to the world of SDSSAA Track & Field, surely you can be forgiven - such is the dominance in this sport of the south end powerhouse.

In this particular case, however, we are referencing the upcoming 2024 OFSAA Tennis Championships as six Lo-Ellen athletes represent the entire Sudbury and area delegation that will carry the NOSSA hopes into action at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto on Monday.

Half of that sextet are repeat visitors to the all-Ontario high-school tournament including city and NOSSA Boys Singles' champion Noah Bulbring, his sights set on a high-end podium finish after placing fourth one year ago.

"I am for sure better than I was last year," said Bulbring. "And I've done more track, staying fit, eating healthy, various things that help your game and separates you from the others."

On the court, the grade 11 LEP student who was born and raised, initially, in South Africa feels well equipped to match-up against the best of the OFSAA "high-school division" (there is a separate Open Boys division for the lads who play Tennis Ontario sanctioned tournaments with some regularity).

"My consistency, I would say, is one of my strongest points," said Bulbring. "And just knowing when to go for the big shot and not just ripping the ball, 24/7."

Finally, the 11-court facility that is home to Tennis Canada and sits adjacent to York University also favours the young man who is contemplating the possibilities of pursuing both his education and tennis south of the border come the fall of 2025.

"Most Canadians have grown up playing indoors," noted Bulbring. "But I grew up in South Africa and playing outdoors in 30 degrees, 30 knots winds. We lived on the coast so it was extremely windy."

Also back as repeat NOSSA champions are the Lo-Ellen Boys Doubles tandem of Stephen Suorineni and Jonah Poxleitner, cruising to victory just over a week ago in Sudbury in the northern playdowns.

Blessed with solid ball striking skills, the locals now feel that the additional chemistry that has been built up via their on-court play is clearly a differentiator when facing many newly-formed partnerships.

"I think we have more collaboration and team strategy," said Suorineni, a 15 year old grade 11 student who combined forces with the 17 year-old grade 12 senior that is Jonah Poxleitner.

"Last year was more individual rather than together; now, we're more in sync. That's what separates us from other teams that are here. Most are pretty good singles players - but I would know when he (Poxleitner) is going to hit a shot or he would know when I was going to hit it."

"You see quite often a shot goes right down the middle when nobody knows who should hit it," added Suorineni.

Like Bulbring, the Knights' duo carry with them the knowledge learned from 2023. "We know that the competition is harder," said Suorineni, adding that he felt the northern pair could have easily won the opening game they dropped last June (8-6), if not for nerves and the move to outdoor courts.

"Now we know to expect the unexpected and to be ready for anything," he said.

While NOSSA silver medal winner Annabelle Bulbring is making her first appearance at OFSAA, all that she has heard gives her reason to believe that she will not be in over her head when she battles Sara Sablic from St John Henry Newman CSS first thing Monday morning (9:00 a.m.).

"I am not that intimidated because I know I will be playing other high-school players (vs open players)," said Bulbring. "It's not the OTA circuit players. I don't think I will get beaten off the court. I think there will be some good matches."

Rounding out the SDSSAA collection of talent are the Lo-Ellen Girls Doubles' team of Jane Walker and Kavya Nalia while North Bay rounds out Team NOSSA with: Tristan Koch (BS - Algonquin); Ella Hart (GS - Chippewa); Cohen Lefebvre/Keaton Gervais ((BD - Chippewa); Chloe Popp/Carly Popp (GD - SJSH); Mila Koch/Jacob Fry (MD - Algonquin) along with the Manitoulin SS mixed team of Aspen Debassige and Eli Lock.

Joining the Bulbring siblings and the Suorineni/Poxleitner tandem in capturing SDSSAA banners were Maddison Hollohan and Avery West from St Charles College (Girls Doubles) and Justin Barriault and Tessa Ranger from Horizon (Mixed Doubles).