Batavia looks to cap best year at state
Thirteen area girls, representing five schools, will be competing in this weekend’s state tennis tournament.
That number is down a little from the past few years and it should not come as a surprise. This was a transitional season for several of our area’s programs, as younger players found themselves in key positions against tough opponents, and had the opportunity to gain valuable experience that they will convert to wins in the years to come.
It should also come as no surprise that nearly half of the players who qualified are from Batavia. The Bulldogs were expected to have an excellent season, and they exceeded those expectations, posting a 21-3-1 record, winning the Upstate Eight Conference’s River Division, capturing the first sectional title in the program’s history, and advancing all six of its sectional players to state, also a first.
“There were a lot of talented players in our sectional,” Batavia coach Brad Nelson said. “We were able to come through and win the big matches this year.”
Batavia will be led by its top doubles team of senior Hannah Potter, the program’s all-time wins leader with 113, and junior Kaitlin Mills. It will be a return trip for Potter, who qualified last year as a singles player. The duo, which posted a 32-6 record on the season, is a 17-32 seed.
“The sky’s the limit for Hannah and Kaitlin,” Nelson said. “If they play their game, play the net the way they can, and get their serves going, they’ll be very tough to beat.”
Batavia’s No. 2 doubles team of Jenny Mizikar and Amelia Cogan finished second at the West Aurora sectional, losing to Potter and Mills in the final, 7-5, 7-5. This will be the first trip to state for each of them.
“We’ve had a great season,” Mizikar said. “We just want to go there and play well.”
Miranda Grizaffi, a senior, will be making her second trip to state after finishing third at the sectional.
“She won a couple of matches last year at state,” Nelson said. “That experience should help her this year.”
Sophomore Liza Fruendt pushed eventual champ Sajela Harlow in the first set of their third round sectional match on Saturday. That ability to go toe-to-toe with top players should serve her well this weekend.
“With her competitive attitude, she should have some success at the state tournament,” Nelson said.
St. Charles North is also looking for some success at state, and their hopes will ride on a No. 1 singles player, and a top doubles team.
Fresh off winning the St. Charles East sectional title, Brittany Plaszewski, a 17-32 seed with a 24-2 record, will be making her second trip to state. Her first came two years ago as a freshman, and ended abruptly when poor weather forced the cancellation of the backdraw. This time, it may be a while before Plaszewski has to worry about the consolation bracket.
“It’s a nice feeling to be going back to state,” Plaszewski said. “I definitely want to do better than I did my freshman year.”
Joining her will be the North Stars’ doubles duo of Kate Lesswing and Ashley Randazzo. It will be the first trip to state for each.
“It’s nice for Kate, who’s a senior and never been before, to be going to state, and I’m really excited for Ashley as well,” St. Charles North coach Eve Tubman said. “They are capable of playing with any team and staying in the match. They’ll have to stay focused, but they can do well.”
West Aurora’s Emily Stefancic, a sophomore, will be making her second trip to state after finishing second in her own sectional. Stefancic showed what she’s capable of by going three sets with Harlow in a tight championship match that could have gone either way.
“Emily has a chance to do well at state,” West Aurora coach Brian Brooks said. “We’d love to see her make it to Saturday, that’s the goal.”
Stefancic’s experience includes earning her first win at state as a freshman, and she will have an excellent shot at improving on that performance this year.
Kirby Einck, the area’s top freshman, will be trying to bounce back after an early exit from the sectional third place match, as a result of a groin injury. Up until then, Einck had turned in an impressive performance, sweeping each of her matches until she ran into Plaszewski in the semis.
“Everyone at state deserves their spot there, so it’s going to be tough,” Einck said. “My goal is to win at least two matches.”
Kaneland’s doubles pair of Amelia Napiorkowski and Madi Jurcenko will be returning to the state tournament after finishing third at the St. Charles East sectional. A year ago Napiorkowski and Jurcenko became the first players to qualify for state in the program’s history, and they went on to win a match before bowing out.