Batavia hopes experience matters
This is the time of year when most boys tennis teams have more questions than answers.
Some of those answers can be found more quickly and less painfully by teams that boast experience at the top of the lineup.
That's what Batavia has with Jordan Broadway sliding over to No. 1 singles, and Colin Bohr moving up to team with Jim White at first doubles. All three are seniors.
"They make us a formidable team at the top," Batavia coach Bob Kummer said. "I'm also counting on them to provide leadership."
Broadway showed promise when he posted an 11-7 record at No. 1 singles as a freshman. But he also struggled at times when his inexperience seemed to get the better of his abilities.
Teaming up with White for his sophomore and junior seasons, Broadway and the Bulldogs achieved a great deal. Now, back playing solo again after dedicating himself to getting physically ready to compete at the highest level, Broadway is poised to help Kummer's squad build on its recent success.
"I'm hoping he can have a successful season, and fulfill some goals he's wanted to reach," Kummer said.
Key among those goals is a trip to the state tournament, and that's something which has eluded White, also. Teaming up with Bohr should give White an excellent opportunity to get there.
The rest of the lineup will be made up of players who are taking on a new challenge. Alex Haizman will be moving from No. 3 singles to the two spot, followed by fellow junior Adam Yinst, who was the top singles player on last year's JV team.
"(Haizman) will have to get some on-the-job experience, but he's up to it." Kummer said.
Drew Slack and Shane Svtak, both seniors, will be making the leap from fourth doubles to No. 2. The rest of the doubles lineup remains unsettled, with juniors Mike Cordes, Mick Collins and Tom Joyce all part of the mix.
"We're starting to get our timing and learn who we are as a team," Kummer said.
Like Batavia, St. Charles North also has the talent to make this a memorable season. The trick may be in figuring how all the pieces best fit together.
The North Stars return six starters, including two state qualifiers.
Andrew Davis hopes to get back to the state tournament, and will be playing first or second singles, depending on where David Johnson winds up. Johnson was one of last year's most impressive freshmen, and capped his season at No. 1 doubles with partner Adam Screeden by winning the sectional championship.
"David has grown a lot stronger, and he's more confident," St. Charles North coach Tim Matacio said.
Christian Hoskey, who played No. 1 singles in the Upstate Eight Conference last season, could round out a very solid singles lineup.
"I've got to get my best six players at first and second singles, and doubles," Matacio said. "I think we're going to have a lot of good flexibility in our lineup."
But at the moment, there is a bit of uncertainty that comes with that flexibility.
Sophomore Nikhil Mehta and senior Alex Kurian are back, after playing fourth doubles last season, but much of the rest of the field is made up of freshmen and players with limited experience.
John Mittvick may prove to be the headliner among the group. Mittvick figures to wind up at, or near, the top of the North Star lineup.
"He's going to be a really strong player," Matacio said. "He hits the ball well, and he's ready to step right in."
Fellow freshmen Pat Corrigan and Stephen Gow are also battling for spots, along with senior newcomer Matt Baumann.
Geneva also is going through the process of sorting out its roster, and things are going smoothly, especially considering the Vikings face the task of replacing their most dominant player.
The graduation of Mike Medchill has left some big shoes to fill, but Geneva coach Doug Ross is confident his team can build on last season's solid performance.
"More guys are falling into place earlier this season, and that helps," Ross said.
Chris Fowler steps into the top singles spot after showing consistent improvement a year ago.
"He's come a long way in a short period of time," Ross said.
David Ta, a junior who played No. 1 singles on the JV team last year, will be at second singles. Colin Rapp, the only freshman on the varsity roster, could end up at No. 3.
Pat Coveney and Wes Koppel should be ready to step up into the top doubles spot after playing No. 2 last season. Senior Joey Rasich will team up with Mike Fellicelli at second doubles.
Rich Michaels and Robby Parker, both juniors, and Neil Hogan, a senior, are among the players competing to fill the remaining spots.
"Mike Medchill was a real spark," Ross said. "The kids who had the opportunity to play with him are now trying to build on that."
Replacing a graduating senior is one thing. A coach can, after all, prepare for that eventuality. But when a top player leaves unexpectedly, it can present a major challenge. That's what Marmion is dealing with after the loss of Sam Pecyna.
Pecyna, who qualified for the state tournament last season as a freshman, has since transferred out of the area.
"Losing Sam was huge," Marmion coach Pat Maurer said. "But we have good players who are also quality kids, so we'll be fine."
Tom Weiler will try to build on a good effort at second singles last season as he moves up to the top spot. Bobby Fortier, who played doubles last season, will likely end up at No. 2 singles.
After those two, much of the rest of the Cadets' singles lineup will play itself out, with sophomore Luke Brandt and freshman James Weiler slated to see their share of varsity play.
Maurer has several interesting options in the doubles lineup, including John Mason and Mike Duefel, a pair of sophomores who played varsity last season.
"I'm looking forward to those two forming a strong team," Maurer said.
Steve Asuman and Brian Hoss have experience playing together, and will team up again, and the same goes for fellow juniors Brian Vasquez and Jeff Gerald.
The Cadets could end up forming several potent doubles teams, and that's just what they will need to stay competitive in the Suburban Catholic Conference.
Dominant doubles teams have always been a strength for St. Charles East, and this year's Saints should be no different, though they could have a number of different faces in new roles.
Sam Gunther has emerged as one the area's top doubles players. Last season, Gunther and partner Chris Bennorth rode a combination of intensity and teamwork all the way to the state tournament.
Following Bennorth's graduation, Gunther has a new partner, but the results could be another trip to state.
Kirk Nelson moves from the top singles spot to team up with Gunther. Nelson is a steady player, while Gunther's strength and intensity can dominate a match. Together, they should earn the Saints a lot of wins at the top of the doubles lineup.
Paul Reiff, who showed consistent improvement last season, will be counted on to be an anchor in the singles lineup.
"Paul is more mature on the court now," St. Charles East coach Sena Drawer said. "He's got more variety in his game now, and he's really looking forward to accepting the responsibilities that come with that first singles role."
Reiff was part of a freshman class that brought a considerable amount of new talent to the Saints last year.
"It was the deepest freshman group we've had in some time," Drawer said.
Ryan McNally, who was part of that freshman class, played fourth doubles last year. He will be joined by senior Russ Reilly and sophomore Nick Romano to help round out the Saints' lineup.
Playing in the tough Upstate Eight Conference, the Saints will, again, be chasing Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley and rival St. Charles North, whom they will host the first week in April.
But as conferences go, West Aurora competes in one of the state's toughest. The Blackhawks will be led by first-year varsity coach Jenny McCormick as they go up against the always challenging DuPage Valley Conference.
McCormick has served as West Aurora's JV coach, which gives her a strong sense of what her players are capable of.
"We have quite a few returning varsity players, and I've seen a lot of improvement," McCormick said. "I coached a lot of these kids when they were younger, which I think will be a plus."
Kevin Thanadanabuth and John Ulven will compete for the top singles spot, with senior Jared Williams the likely choice for No. 3.
Senior Eric Erwin and junior Ben Konstans are in the mix to play No. 1 doubles. Among McCormick's other options are Jeff King, a junior, and senior Cameron Wisinowicz, who will help form a first or second doubles team.
The past couple of seasons have been a struggle for the Blackhawks. McCormick knows the road back will be difficult, but she has already seen some reasons to be optimistic.
"We talk quite a bit about learning from our mistakes," McCormick said. "We have a very spirited bunch, and a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We're going to work hard to be as competitive as we can be."