Stevenson's Speer edges Fremd's Piotrowski
When Stevenson senior Chris Speer and Patriots coach Mark Linnenburger finally allowed themselves to exhale Friday, each found the breath he took full of life and energy.
It was worth the wait.
That's because after over two-plus hours, Speer overcame upset-minded Brian Piotrowski of Fremd in a three-set match to advance to next weekend's IHSA state tennis tournament.
Speer's victory also helped stop Linnenburger's tennis life from passing before his eyes, giving him new-found hope for a state team title.
The second-seeded Speer joins Patriots' top seed Blake Bazarnik (21-3) and doubles mates Ross Putterman-David Packowitz, and Allen Pukshansky-Nick Stephan in today's 9 a.m. semifinals of the Stevenson sectional.
"There was no way I could let my senior year end and to let my team down," said an exhausted Speer (21-2), who ended a heroic effort by the sixth-seeded Piotrowski.
"Chris was able to win that match on sheer guts, determination and will," said Linnenburger, who added that he felt this may have been the best match he has witnessed this spring. "That (Speer's victory) was the state tournament right there for us. Without (Chris) advancing for us, our chances next week to win a state title were reduced dramatically."
"Chris beat a player in (Piotrowski) who deserves to play at the state tournament, and was, along with (Prospect's) Tom Kujawa a legitimate top 32 player. It's a shame that both cannot continue to play next weekend."
Piotrowski and Speer took each other on like heavyweight boxers, only in a larger ring. Neither could hide from the other as both pounded away with every weapon in their arsenals.
Piotrowski, a state qualifier last season at doubles, broke on top with a 6-1 victory in the first set, then watched his opponent get back even after taking the second set.
"Brian played a near-flawless first set, he just hit everything back perfectly and there was nothing that I could do about it," Speer said.
Speer felt an immediate boost of high octane fuel after winning the first game of the second set, and although Piotrowski battled all the way, Speer won the third set 7-5.
"That match was there for the taking," said Fremd coach Ken Goettsche.
Long before the match ended, Goettsche was able to celebrate the victory his first doubles team put on the board. Also winning for the Vikings was their sixth-seeded doubles tandem of Owen Marsden and Ryan Kreis, who avenged an early-season three-set defeat to No. 3 Michael Zielinski-Dean Tanglis of St. Viator 6-1, 6-0 to earn their first state appearance.
"At the start of the season we figured as the No. 2 doubles team this (sectional) would be our state tournament," said Kreis, who along with his partner were moved to No. 1 just before the Pitchford 32.
"So we didn't really figure on having a chance to qualify, but when we won the first match we both knew another 6 wins and we would go to state."
It wasn't safe for another top-four seed at doubles, as No. 4 Carlos and Rafael Robles of Palatine fell in straight sets to No. 5 Nick Adamovic-Jon Kiefer of Prospect by scores of 6-3, 6-2.
"We told Nick and Jon on the way over to just play steady and error-free and their chances would improve as the day would go on," said Prospect coach Rick Huffman.
The Prospect duo will face the Pukshansky-Stephan team, while Fremd takes on the top-seeded Patriots.
Next up for Speer will be No. 2 Jonah Schwartz (22-5) of Buffalo Grove, who cruised past a pair of opponents without losing a game.
Bazarnik will meet St. Viator senior and now two-time state qualifier Andrew Rice in the other semifinal.
"It feels good to have all of the pressure of qualifying off my shoulders heading into tomorrow," said Rice (24-3) who fell behind Kujawa 4-1 in the first set, rallied to win the second set 6-4, and needed a third set to finally put away the Prospect senior.