Girls tennis: Rosary freshman Goheen unbeaten at state
Maria Goheen made a statement on Thursday at the girls state tennis tournament.
"I think she showed the IHSA that she should have been seeded higher," Rosary coach John Tsang said.
The Royals' freshman sensation extended her season-long winning streak to 27 matches by advancing to the Sweet 16 of the three-day state tournament.
"I knew if I played well, I could win some matches," Goheen said. "Seeding doesn't really matter. The results are what matter."
The Aurora freshman cruised into the fourth round after winning 36 out of 39 games on Thursday.
Goheen will face Barrington senior Michelle Linden for a berth in the quarterfinals Friday at Buffalo Grove.
"As each round progressed, (Goheen) got stronger and better," Tsang said. "She made really good decisions out there. She won the pressure points. I can't recall a (Rosary) player being undefeated this late in the season before. She has such emotional intelligence on the court."
"I had a solid serve," Goheen said. "I was getting to all the balls. I wasn't giving (my opponents) many opportunities."
Goheen is the only state qualifier from the area still alive in the championship bracket.
Elgin freshman Marta Krakowski also entered the state tournament undefeated.
But Krakowski and senior teammate Dahlia Keonavongsa, a four-time state qualifier, had their seasons come to a close in the northwest suburbs on Thursday.
"(Krakowski) has been sick all week," Elgin coach Phet Rattana said. "I'm not going to use that as an excuse."
Keonavongsa was knocked out of the consolation bracket in her fourth match.
"I kind of wanted to bring Marta in nice and slowly," Rattana said of his prized freshman playing No. 2 singles during the regular season. "I had a senior and three-time state qualifier in Dahlia (playing No. 1)."
West Aurora sophomore Elizabeth Stefancic will make a second-day appearance after winning three of her four matches on Thursday.
The Blackhawks' leader faces Caroline Malby of Glenbard West in the fifth round of the consolation bracket on Friday.
But Geneva junior Grace Krueger and South Elgin senior Corinne Hilderbrant failed to make the Friday cut.
Jacobs' Ashley Kosy won 24 out of 25 games in her middle two matches after losing in the first round.
But the Golden Eagles' No. 1 player was later eliminated by Mundelein junior Isabel Alviar.
The St. Charles North doubles tandems of Emma Spellman/Shelby Thomas and Morgan Rerko/Brittany Rohrsen carry the torch for the local state-qualifying units.
"Both teams played very well," St. Charles North coach Sean Masoncup said. "Both teams qualified for Friday, so we're excited. Our strength has always been in doubles."
St. Charles East also had twin state qualifiers in doubles, but the Saints' teams of Paige Anderson/Emily Sullivan and Sonia Ost/Jenna Patzner were eliminated on Thursday.
The promising Aurora Christian freshman duo of Shelby Johnson and Madelyn Jurasek met the same fate.
Jacobs partners Alexa Azcui and Katie Toomire also had their season end on Thursday.