Boys tennis: WW South defeats St. Francis

With a senior leader like three-time state singles qualifier Charlie McDonough, there's usually little for the Wheaton Warrenville South boys tennis team to worry about.

That apparently wasn't the case in the early moments of the Tigers' nonconference dual at St. Francis on Wednesday.

From her vantage point WW South coach Patti Clousing believed McDonough lost the first set of his No. 1 singles match 6-1.

"She gave me a real motivational speech, but thankfully I didn't lose," McDonough said.

"I don't think she was really watching the match, but I used the wrong scorecard and I was kind of frustrated with how I was playing so that might have been why she thought I lost."

McDonough's 6-1, 6-0 victory was among six straight-set victories in the Tigers' 6-1 triumph in Wheaton for their first dual victory.

Sweeping doubles for the Tigers (1-3) were seniors Connor Page and Damon Leach at No. 1 and juniors Joe Desmond and Spencer Hecht, senior Andrew Baise and junior Carter Cooley and senior Bryan Dudzienski and Shawn Smith at Nos. 2-3-4. Sophomore Jack Lillig won at No. 2 singles.

Undefeated sophomore Sam McEnery won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles for the Spartans (2-4).

Page and Leach edged Dave Gianos and Tom Lorish 7-6 (7-1), 7-5. In their other five victories the Tigers lost a combined 12 games, including the apparently losing McDonough.

"On the scorecards we were supposed to be using the red number, but when your school (colors are) black and orange, we always gravitate toward the black," a smiling Clousing said. "Watching six matches at once from a distance, I was like, 'Uh oh.' But (McDonough) was in control so it was good for him."

McDonough is the Tigers' lone returning state qualifier. He won two state matches last year and three in 2014.

McDonough and Leach are co-captains and members of the school's athletic leadership council, which organizes projects in the school and community.

"(McDonough is) a great leader. He leads by the hard work he puts in," Clousing said. "He also leads off the court. He's done a great job of applying that to our team."

Playing since he was 8 years old, McDonough is in his final season of organized tennis. He's headed to Notre Dame.

"(My goal is) finish off senior year well. That's basically it. This is the last hurrah," McDonough said.

There's another big adjustment. He's playing with a black hat after losing a favorite white hat that he used since sophomore year.

"I wish I knew (where it was). Maybe I'd be playing a little better right now," McDonough said. "I think I lost it when I was hitting and maybe took it off or something. Brutal."

Last season McEnery played No. 1 doubles for the sophomores. He's now 6-0 in singles with five victories in straight sets, including all three Chicago Catholic League opponents. So far the Spartans are 2-1 in their new conference.

"Maybe I'd be on the bubble, but I didn't think I'd always be playing (varsity) every time," McEnery said. "The (older) guys all have accepted me. These guys are always happy. Losing or winning, they're having a good time. That's what I should get better at, always keeping a positive attitude."

The Spartans also played five seniors - Chris Thoms, Gianos, Lorish, Joe Ayres and Alex Bonner - and five juniors. They graduated five players from their sectional lineup and junior Nick Kovach, a two-time state qualifier, did not return.

"Sometimes that's how things go, but it gives somebody else an opportunity to step in," St. Francis coach Rick Huffman said. "I'm hoping just giving (McEnery) the opportunity to develop because the four guys ahead of him are seniors."

McDonough only has played singles this season but could try to qualify for state in doubles and possibly with Lillig.

Lillig was off to a promising freshman season but then broke the pinkie in his right hand and had season-ending surgery. He tried playing a couple of more weeks into mid-April, but the pain and swelling became too much.

"It's been nice to be able to play this year," Lillig said. "I'd like to get as many wins as I can, get a good winning record. We'll see how far I can take it."