One of the best high school girls tennis players to come through central Ohio is not done yet.

Bexley’s Amiya Bowles, who went 56-0 in her first three high school seasons with as many Division II state singles championships, said Jan. 29 that she will play for Bexley’s boys team this spring.

Bowles, a five-star recruit who signed with Michigan State on Dec. 20, skipped the girls season in the fall to focus on national and international tournaments. She is ranked first statewide, second in the Great Lakes region and 40th nationally by TennisRecruiting.com.

“I am close with a lot of guys on the boys team and they have been recruiting me to play with them pretty much every year I’ve been in high school,” Bowles said. “I practice with all boys. … I actually don’t hit with girls. It’s all boys. I am used to the competitiveness that comes with it. …

“It’s a faster pace and comes with a lot more grit and competitiveness. It forces me to bring out my best tennis.”

Bowles, who has lost only one set in high school, decided in early September to forgo the girls season and concentrate on tournament play.

She joins a powerful Bexley boys lineup.

Junior Henry Lessard won the Division II singles title as a freshman and teamed with older brother Sam, now playing at Colorado College, to win doubles last spring.

Their younger brother, Harrison, is a freshman who is top-ranked in his class statewide by TennisRecruiting.com and a five-star prospect.

“We are extremely excited to have Amiya join the boys program this spring,” coach Will Gingery said. “Over the past few seasons she has spent some time hitting with our guys at practices when her schedule would allow it, so it will be nice to officially have her on the team with the rest of the guys.”

Girls playing for boys teams in central Ohio has been rare, although they are permitted to do so if they have eligibility remaining.

Notably in recent years, Upper Arlington’s Paige Kompa did so in 2018 and 2019. She came up one win short of the Division I state tournament in doubles both years before playing collegiately at Dayton.

“Henry told me he wants to get [an Ohio Tennis Coaches Association] team state title this year,” Bowles said. “That’s something I want also. I want to go out and help achieve that goal. It will be great to play with them [and] very competitive. It will be a challenge.”

High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA girls tennis champion Amiya Bowles to play for Bexley boys team