Boys tennis: Jacobs dominates Cary-Grove sectional
The rest of the 10-team field assembled at Saturday's Cary-Grove boys tennis sectional didn't have any chance.
Jacobs was totally dominant.
The Golden Eagles, who qualified both singles teams along with its two doubles duos for next weekend's state meet, cruised to the sectional title with 34 points. Jacobs finished 17th at last year's state meet. Action for the 2016 state meet begins Thursday at 8 a.m.
"It is awesome and impressive that we are bringing our whole team to the state meet," said Jacobs coach Jon Betts. "We got contributions from all four positions. It was a phenomenal team effort. We believe with our entire team we can improve on last year's 17th place finish."
Golden Eagle teammates Kailash Panchapakesan and Riley Rowan squared off in the singles title match. Panchapakesan, who will play tennis at Division I Illinois-Chicago, dispatched of his teammate 6-4, 6-1.
"Riley and I hit a lot in practice and I thought it would be fun to play him in the championship match," said Panchapakesan. "It was more stressful and different than I thought it would be. Riley came out with guns blazing and played great. I am happy both of us are heading to the state meet."
The brother doubles team of Kendrick and Kerwin Chong will make their second straight appearance at the state meet for the Eagles.
The Chongs knocked off Prairie Ridge's Patrick Nasta-Daniel Lamar 6-1, 6-2 to win the doubles championship.
"It was a nerve-wracking weekend but it is great to make it to state again especially with my brother," said Kendrick Chong. "We played with great confidence and played with our hearts."
Said Kerwin Chong: "We communicated very well and we were mentally tough. We beat some good doubles teams this weekend. We are hoping to play well at the state meet and make it to Saturday."
The Jacobs doubles team of Matt Kastritis-Kyle Burton, which lost 2 matches on Saturday, was able to qualify for the state meet with a fourth-place finish.
Led by a fourth-place finish in singles play from junior Nick Thome, Crystal Lake South was second with 16 points.
Thome, who missed all of his sophomore year with an ACL injury, was ecstatic to advance to the state finals.
"I am happy to just play this season," said Thome. "I had an uncomfortable feeling at times and I am sore but it is worth it. It is an awesome feeling to advance to the state meet."