Change is in the air for Tri-Cities tennis teams

Reinvention and change will be key buzzwords during this year's boys tennis season.

A wave of new players, made up of talented freshmen, an out-of-state transfer, and even a couple of foreign exchange students, promises to keeps things interesting over the next couple of months. Add to that a pair of new coaches taking over programs with winning legacies, and you've got the makings of a season that should be both colorful and unpredictable.

Some of the more interesting changes may come at St. Charles North, where Tim Matacio's fast improving program welcomes new players from other states, and other countries.

David Johnson and Christian Hoskey, both juniors who qualified for the state tournament last season are back, as is John Mittvick, whose impressive freshman season also culminated in a trip to state. Though Hoskey could end up at singles this season, Matacio is pleased with the options he has at both halves of the lineup.

"We're mixing and matching, and looking for the best combinations," Matacio said. "There are a lot of different ways we can go this year and be successful."

If Mittvick doesn't return to the top singles spot, he could team up with Johnson to form a potentially devastating doubles team. That might open the door for Felix Nitzsche, an exchange student from Germany. Ludvig Runestam, an exchange student from Sweden, could play third singles or slide over to doubles.

"We have some very good returning players, and then we have the new guys," Matacio said. "We're definitely an eclectic group this year."

Parker Featherston, a sophomore transfer from Minnesota, is part of that group. The sophomore could wind up playing doubles, as could junior Nikhil Mehta, who played singles last year.

Junior Alex Enskat could make the move from singles to doubles, while seniors Kyle Pashan and Mike Fulton appear poised to claim the third or fourth doubles slot. Patrick Corrigan, who played third singles last year as a freshman, and Dan Oakes, a freshman coming back from an injury, round out a lineup that is talented, deep and possibly ready to challenge Neuqua Valley for the Upstate Eight Conference crown.

"Top to bottom, this is probably the best team we've had," Matacio said. "But we're also young, and so we'll have to see how the kids respond as the season goes on."

For years, Marmion has prided itself on producing quality athletes who are also quality students. Last year, the school's tennis team earned recognition from the IHSA for its cumulative GPA, while earning the respect of the other teams in the Suburban Catholic Conference.

This year coach Pat Maurer will be working with a team that again appears ready to challenge for the conference title.

Lucas Brandt, who played second singles last year, will battle Austin McWethy for the top singles spot. However it shakes out, they should provide a solid one-two punch on that half of the lineup. Chris Solis, Marmion's No. 1 singles player at the JV level a year ago, is also in the mix.

James Weiler and John Mason are penciled in at No. 1 doubles, giving the Cadets the sort of strength at the top that every successful squad needs.

Junior Mike Deufel could team with either Brian Hoss or Steve Ausman, both seniors, at third doubles.

With help from former College of DuPage coach Dave Webster, Maurer has built the Cadets into one of the area's top teams. Now they look to take the next step.

"This team has probably the best shot at winning conference of any since I've been here," Maurer said. "We've got two freshmen who are ready for varsity, and some very good returning players who've gotten better since last year."

Batavia will also be counting on freshmen. In particular, Josh Cogan, a USTA rated player who will step into the No. 1 singles role.

"Even though he's a freshman, Josh is an experienced tournament player with a lot of court time," Batavia coach Bob Kummer said. "He's got all the shots."

Joining Cogan in what looks to be a revitalized Bulldog lineup will be fellow freshman Drew Demars. Either Demars or senior Alex Haizman will play second singles, with the other rounding out one of the area's strongest singles trios.

"Our singles players look very promising," Kummers said. "But you really don't know until you see them in matches."

The doubles side could take a little longer to come around. Mick Collins and Tyler Mabry, both juniors, will play first or second doubles, with the other slot going to seniors Adam Yingst and Tom Joyce.

Ethan Carlson, a junior, and seniors Mike Cordes and Mike Dalton are in the mix to be part of the final two doubles teams.

With a disappointing 2008 season behind them, the Bulldogs appear set for a new start.

"I've got a lot of players who know how to hit the ball," Kummer said. "The challenge is to get the kids to understand what it takes to win a championship."

St. Charles East is another team with a lot of new faces in key roles. Coach Sena Drawer, however, feels good about the top of her lineup.

Paul Reiff returns to No. 1 singles, where he showed steady improvement a year ago.

"Paul is looking really good right now," Drawer said. "He seems more relaxed and in control, and that's important."

Sophomore Nick Maze, who Drawer describes as an excellent athlete, is returning to the sport after focusing on baseball for the past few years. Maze could step into the No. 2 singles role. After him, the other singles spot comes down to a battle between freshmen Bradley Sullivan, Mike Muir and Connor Davis, and junior Nick Niemiec.

On the doubles side, juniors Ryan McNally and Sam Leopardo will get an opportunity to win the top slot, with junior Nick Romano and sophomore Sam Decker providing several good options for Drawer.

A trio of juniors - Justin Liss, David O'Dell and Charlie Schukas - are among a total of 16 players who are competing to make the varsity roster.

"Things are coming along well and the players are improving quickly, which is what we need," Drawer said. "I expect that we should be respectable if we continue to improve."

While Batavia's Kummer and St. Charles East's Drawer are the longest tenured coaches in the area, Geneva and West Aurora will be welcoming new coaches to their programs, though neither is new to tennis.

Peter Burkhardt's first coaching assignment will be to rebuild a Geneva team that improved throughout the 2008 season, and returns seven seniors.

Senior David Ta will step up to No. 1 singles after playing second a year ago, while Colin Rapp is slated to move into the No. 2 spot. But either could wind up facing a challenge from freshman West Adelman.

"West has been playing very good tennis, and beating everyone," Burkhardt said.

Wes Kappel, who qualified for state last year, will team with fellow senior Rich Michaels at No. 1 doubles. The Vikings' doubles lineup is populated with seniors, including Greg Adelman and Michael Fellicelli at No. 2, and Braden Dalton and Mike Tourte at No. 3.

Peter Legrand and Cooper Sartell, both juniors, will fill out the rest of the doubles side.

"We have a good mixture of kids who've played in the program for several years and others who are new to it," Burkhardt said.

As a high school player at Arlington Heights back in the 1970s, Burkhardt experienced a high level of success, which led to a scholarship to play tennis at Northern Illinois. As a coach, he now hopes to translate that winning vibe to his players.

"I'm trying to reinvent the program, raise expectations, and do everything at a high level," Burkhardt said.

The West Aurora Blackhawks don't need to reinvent as much as they need to return to a past filled with success stories.

The responsibility of putting this once shining program back on the map now falls to Adam Camp. Camp is a familiar face in the area, as the former head coach at IMSA and one of the driving forces behind the Aurora Tennis Club.

The new coach will relay on several key newcomers, starting with freshman Matt Kuntzi at No. 1 singles.

"Matt's a very good player, and once you put a freshman at the top of your singles you immediately increase your depth," Camp said.

Garrett Wells, a junior who played first singles last year, moves to No. 2, while freshman Kennan Johnson will likely end up at No. 3.

West Aurora has more high school tennis experience in its doubles lineup. Senior Kevin Thanadaouth will team with junior Aaron Grecco at No. 1. Corey Koskinen and Jeff King, both seniors, will be at No. 2, while juniors Krystan Reformado and Michael Holm will play third doubles.

Though a West Aurora turnaround won't happen overnight, the fact that Camp has worked with most of the players in his program should be a huge plus.

"I know what talent these kids have and what they're capable of," Camp said. "We may not be a state level team, but we won't get blown off the court, either."