Doubles teams have Larkin on the winning track

The Larkin boys tennis team has been doubling its fun so far this season.

Coach Bob Young credits his doubles division in part for helping the Royals start the 2008 campaign with a 10-5 overall mark (3-1 in Upstate Eight Conference play through earlier this week).

"Our top three doubles teams have been very solid," said Young. "They are very competitive with everybody we've played."

Those teams include the combinations of seniors Scott Shriver and Tyler Compere (No. 1), sophomore Selwyn Hansana and senior Tyler York (No. 2) and junior Jesse Perez and senior C Siripanya (No. 3). Siripanya's brothers A and B now play for Elgin Community College.

"They've been playing real solid ball," said Young. "They've been real aggressive and they really attack you. They are a fun group to coach and they work hard and they play hard. They can laugh at themselves and have fun while doing it."

Larkin has benefited from a full playing schedule, despite the poor spring weather.

"We've played a lot of matches," said Young. "We got everything in at spring break, but it was tough. We shoveled a couple of times, but we managed to play."

Larkin sophomore Nick Schlegel has also contributed to the Royals' success at No. 1 singles.

"Nick is starting to perform better the last couple of weeks," said Young. "He will be OK."

Young isn't shocked by his team's strong start.

"I wouldn't say it's surprising," said Young. "We've had a lot of close, close matches thus far and we've come out on the winning end. It's a nice start. It's a nice position to be in. It's the first time in a long time that we've gotten off to this good of a start."

Larkin will compete in the annual Elgin invitational Saturday that also includes Elgin High, Elgin Academy and St. Edward.

"We will compete very hard and hopefully very well at Elgin," said Young. "I think it is going to be very competitive. Elgin Academy has a nice number one singles player (sophomore David Kaufman) and when you get Elgin and Larkin together, anything can happen. There is a lot of emotion. Larry will have his team ready. It will be a lot of fun."

Jacobs update: Youth is the name of the game this year for the Golden Eagles.

While Jacobs was 4-5 overall through its first 9 matches, coach Barry Hanrahan has been pleased with the performances from his younger players.

"We're young and we never give up in a match," said Hanrahan. "These guys work hard and don't quit. They are improving as the season goes on, which is good to see."

Hanrahan was especially impressed with how his doubles team fared in a recent Fox Valley Conference loss to Crystal Lake Central (4-3). The Golden Eagles wins all came in the doubles division.

The Jacobs No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Mike Romor and Greg Roeckner won in 3 sets over a Central doubles team that featured 2 seniors who had played No. 2 as juniors.

"It's a good sign for the future," said Hanrahan. "These young kids are getting good varsity experience."

Sophomores Brandon Buettner and Collin Forbes won at No. 3 doubles against a Central team that was comprised of a junior and a senior.

And at No. 4 doubles, the Golden Eagles duo of left-handed brothers Nick (junior) and Brian (freshman) Kazzar won its match against another Central combo of a junior and a senior.

"All the younger kids won long matches against Central," said Hanrahan. "We played Prairie Ridge earlier in the year and lost 7-0 and lost all of our 3-set matches. I bet the kids would like to have those matches back. Against Central we won those doubles matches all in 3 sets. The future looks bright."

South Elgin update: The Storm has been receiving good production from a trio of singles players that includes freshman Colin Ferry (No. 1) and seniors Steve Battaglia (No. 2) and Ian Sosna (No. 3).

"I've been pleased with our singles players and their athleticism and tenacity," said South Elgin coach Jennifer Shaughnessy. "They are real good listeners who can go and fix things right away. That's always a likable quality to see for a coach. We're seeing some progress from the singles players."

The Storm was 2-6 in its first 8 contests (0-4 UEC) and has also lost match and practice time due to the rough weather.

"Last week was extremely hard," said Shaughnessy. "That was much-needed practice time and we didn't get that. Now you have all of your regular matches and the make-up matches and you don't have much time to fix mistakes."

Dundee-Crown update: Senior standout Mike Williamson continues to motor along for the Chargers. He was a perfect 10-0 through the early part of this week.

"Mike is looking pretty strong," said Dundee-Crown coach Harlan Miller.

Success has also occurred on the team level. The Chargers were 8-2 through those first 10 matches and were 2-0 in FVC action.

"We've got a big team," said Miller. "We have some depth so we have some different choices to make. Overall, the chemistry with the team is coming together."

Junior Andy Schuessler has also been a factor of late at No. 2 singles. He was 3-0 earlier this week after missing a stretch of matches over spring break.

"There are certainly things we still need to work on and improve on," said Miller.

D-C will compete in the Hoffman Estates Hawk invitational Saturday. D-C won the event last year. The Chargers did not get to defend their crown at Schaumburg last Saturday due to the poor weather.

"The weather's been rough," said Miller. "You have some players that you want to get in there and get tested and see how they do and the rain washes the action. The season is short enough as it is."

Bartlett update: New Bartlett coach Brian Page is looking forward to seeing how his team progresses the rest of the way after a solid 4-1 start (only loss was a 3-2 setback to Wheaton-Warrenville South).

"The team is doing very well," said Page. "We will be strong. We beat a very good Wheaton Academy team. I'm expecting big results."

Yosh Patel leads the singles contingent for the Hawks. Senior Kevin Veatch has also been a key contributor in singles competition.

Page has also been pleased with the doubles teams of seniors Andrew McKinley and Josh

Eggerbrecht (No. 1) and juniors Brian Howes and Kyle Infante (No. 2). Page said Eggebrecht will continue his studies at the University of Illinois.

"Our one and two doubles teams are very strong," said Page. "We've got a balanced team. We don't have any standouts, but we have a lot of nice, strong players."

St. Edward update: St. Edward's 0-3 start to the season isn't concerning to coach Megan O'Brien.

"Each match we are getting better, which is really good," said O'Brien.

And in that getting better category are singles players Jim Cholewa (sophomore) and Anthony Abbate (freshman). Cholewa is making his varsity debut this year and is playing in the No. 1 spot, while Abbate is at No. 2 in his first year of high school play.

"Both of them are doing pretty well and will keep getting better," said O'Brien. "I think as the years go on they will be really good."

Crystal Lake South update: The Gators were 4-2 through their first 6 matches of the season.

"I'm satisfied," said South coach Don Nead. "We've got a pretty balanced team. We're about even from the top of singles to the bottom of doubles. We don't have a big drop-off."

Freshman Cam Laktash has been playing well at No. 1 singles. He was 3-2 earlier in the week.

"I'm pleased with him," said Nead. "He's a freshman playing above .500 at No. 1 singles."

Starting this past Tuesday, South was in a stretch where it was slated to play 7 matches through Saturday.

"We've had our share of rainouts," said Nead. "It's going to be a busy week."

Streamwood update: Streamwood No. 1 singles player Yuto Tsukida was 3-1 through Tuesday's action. Tsukida defeated Neuqua Valley. His only loss is to a Waubonsie Valley player.

"His loss to Waubonsie Valley, the wind was very bad for his kind of game," said Streamwood coach Miriam Abe.

Abe said Tsukida has thrived this year due to a number of factors.

"He is very consistent," said Abe. "He's a baseline player with a lot of topspin. When necessary, he goes to the net. Mentally, he's tougher and more consistent this year."

Cary-Grove update: The Trojans (10-3, 2-1 through Tuesday) have received a jolt from singles players Jake Szybowicz (1 loss at No. 1), freshman Chris Federighi (undefeated at No. 2) and John McLaughlin (undefeated at No. 3).

"Our strength so far has come from the three singles and we're scoring points at 1 and 2 doubles," said Cary-Grove coach Bud Lachel.

Lachel had a solution for this week's earlier windy weather.

"We'll put the balls up on kites," laughed Lachel.