Tri-Cities players brave the elements

Athletes are taught to adapt to the elements, and not get too caught up with worrying about the weather.

But sometimes in the Midwest, especially in the late fall and early spring, the weather makes its presence known in a way that cannot be ignored.

That's what happened Thursday in the opening rounds of the girls state tennis tournament, as a steady downpour forced the matches to be moved indoors and led to the cancellation of the back draw.

"We've been all over the area today," Rosary coach John Tsang said.

But playing indoors can be a benefit to stronger players, since it removes poor weather conditions as a possible equalizer.

"I play very well indoors," Rosary senior Emily Reuland said. "It's nice not having to worry about the wind or the cold, and just going out and playing your game."

Reuland, a 9-16 seed, didn't have much to worry about on Thursday as she swept both of her matches, beating Elgin Academy's Bianca Swegler, 6-0, 6-0, in the opening round, and Taylor Koehrsen of Metamora, 6-0, 6-1 in round two.

"I felt very strong today right from the start," Reuland said.

Rosary also picked up a first-round win from its doubles team of Angelina Goheen and Katie King as they came from behind to beat Maria Kovarik and Paige Sturley of Edwardsville, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

"They played a little nervous and tentative in the first set," Tsang said. "I was proud of the way they were able to overcome that."

St. Charles North sent a full compliment of two singles players and two doubles teams to the state tournament, led by Liselot Koenen, a 17-32 seed, who won both of her matches.

Koenen's day began with a 6-4, 6-4 battle against Grace Smith, a senior from F.W. Parker, who proved to be very tough. A fact that came as no surprise to Koenen.

"I played her before and we split sets, so I knew she was very good and very aggressive," Koenen said.

Koenen then made quick work of her next opponent, beating Madie Baillon of Edwardsville 6-1, 6-1.

Fellow singles player Brittany Plaszewski won a tight three-setter over Glenbrook South's Chandler Murphy, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3. It was the freshman's only match of the day.

On the doubles side, Jenna Bell and Alecia Natale won their opener against Oak Lawn's Jill Metcalf and Kayla Annerino, 6-1, 6-1, before bowing out in round two.

Under normal circumstances Bell and Natale and everyone else who lost a match in the first or second rounds would've had the opportunity to continue in the back draw, but the rain led officials to cancel the consolation bracket.

"I'm very pleased with the way the girls played today, but I'm also disappointed for the girls who didn't get to continue," St. Charles North coach Eve Tubman said, "It's a really abrupt end to their season."

West Aurora's sister duo of Brooke Henry and Haley Henry kept their season alive by winning both of their matches, starting with a quick, 6-0, 6-0, dusting of Rochelle's Mikaela Rogers and Elizabeth LaFleur.

"Sometimes sitting around and waiting like we had to do today makes us start slow," Brooke Henry said. "But we started out really well today."

While Brooke is a senior and a veteran of state tournament play, Haley, a freshman, is going through the experience for the first time.

"It was a little nerve-racking at the beginning," Haley said.

But any nerves dissipated as the day wore on, and the Henrys won their second match, 6-2, 6-1 over Morton's Paige Clayton and Ashley Martin.

"There was a lot of waiting around today, and you couldn't plan for the next match," West Aurora coach Brian Brooks said.

But few waited around longer between matches than St. Charles East's Erin Bowman and Lexi Baltes who finished their 6-2, 6-0, opening round win over Julie Comfort and Mia Mastrangeli of Fenwick and didn't take the court again until after 7 p.m.

St. Charles East coach Sena Drawer put it simply, "It was a very long day."

The Saints duo was even more impressive in their second match, sweeping Homewood-Flossmoor's Tyler Clark and Colleen Kenney, 6-0, 6-0.

"They're pleased to win two, but also very exhausted," Drawer said.

Geneva's Kayla Fujimoto's day was one of the shortest, as she won her only match, 6-1, 6-2 over Highland Park's Lauren Schectman.

"This is Kayla's senior year, and she's focused on doing really well here," Geneva coach Maureen Weiler said.