Stevenson stars in the swing at Pitchford
It is remarkable to think Stevenson was just 2 points from a state boys tennis championship last spring - and that the Patriots were fueled by a pair of freshmen at doubles and sophomore sensation Blake Bazarnik at first singles.
One year later, all three are back. Coupled with the return of senior Etham Frenkel at No. 2 singles, the Patriots appear ready to take their best shot at a state title against state powers Hinsdale Central and New Trier later this month.
On Friday, the Patriots advanced all four competitors into the quarterfinals - as did Central and New Trier - to set up today's final round of the Pitchford 32 Invite hosted by Hersey.
Championship-round action in all four flights begins at 8 a.m. at Hersey, while the back draw will be held at five area sites.
Top seed and 2008 state singles champion Denis Bogatov (17-1) of Warren made quick work of a pair of opponents and will meet 5-8 seed Mike Jacobs (12-3) of Oak Park-River Forest in the quarterfinals.
Second-seeded Bazarnek (10-0) takes on the 5-8 seed, two-time state medalist Drew Feder (18-1) of Belleville East.
"I was excited about our season here at Stevenson 2 days before spring practice began," said Bazarnik, who earned a fifth-place medal last year when he lost in three sets to Matt Goralka of Chicago Payton in the consolation quarterfinals. "I feel very good about our team and its chances this weekend and later on at the state tournament.
"Etham, who is very good players indoors, is beginning to play great (outdoors) and is going to be an important player for us in the next couple of weeks, and with David (Packowitz) and Ross (Putterman) along with our two (doubles) team (Nick Stephan-Alec Turner), we can be better than last year's team."
Bazarnik defeated 9-16 seed Joo Ho Yu of Glenbard North in straight sets to advance. His teammate Frankel rolled past a pair of opponents to book his spot opposite Andrew Krentz (14-3) of New Trier.
The top-seeded Packowitz-Putterman (11-0) will meet 9-16 seed James Stathis-Scott Segobiano of Moline this morning after a pair of wins in straight sets at Buffalo Grove.
"We like being the team that everyone wants to beat this season, we think it brings the best out in our play," said Putterman, who teamed with Packowitz in 2008 to finish as runners-up to Highland Park in the state championship match.
Top-rated MSL singles player Kenta Shimiza (10-2) of Fremd opened with a straight-sets win before being sent into the consolation bracket by Bogatov (6-1, 6-1).
The same fate befell a trio of area doubles teams. Prospect's Jon Kiefer-Sam Pope began with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Naperville North, then fell in straight-sets to 3-4 seed New Trier (Miron-Kawashima).
Barrington's David Martin-Cam McClelland rolled past MSL rival Palatine in two sets, but had no answer for 5-8 seed Oak Park-River Forest (Gebert-Wilson) in a 6-1, 6-1 loss.
Warren's sophomore doubles team of Eric Seiler-Nikola Trukov avenged an early season loss to Glenbard North (Lapping-Schenker) 6-3,3-6,6-4 in its opener, then dropped a two-set match to 5-8 Highland Park (Tyler Manci-Zach Brant).