Scouting Cook and Lake County boys tennis sectionals
The 128-man state tennis field is as big as the Grand Canyon, but getting into the massive three-day tournament next week might be tougher than knowing how many millions n English pounds were given to the main draw participants at Wimbledon in last year's tournament. There's little room for error this weekend for players who are vying for a top-4 finish at five venues in and around the area, so here's a quick glance at what awaits those who are looking to make plans to play for one last week this season.
At Deerfield
When: 1 p.m. today; 9 a.m. Saturday
Top four singles seeds: Toby Ma and Jason Brown (Deerfield), Tom Haile and Danny Wynbrandt (Highland Park).
Top four doubles seeds: David Zak-Zack Brint (17-3) and Tyler Manci-Jordan Hainsfurther, (16-3) of Highland Park, Ben Shklyar-Joel Siegel (Deerfield), Anish Raman-Jack Springgate (Libertyville, 16-4).
Other players to watch: Ryan Jump (Mundelein); Chris and Geoffrey Butler (20-5), Bryan Hunt (Carmel) and Griffin Pils (Libertyville).
Storyline: Chasing the always insurmountable odds of overtaking Deerfield and Highland Park every Spring to advance someone, anyone into the state tournament, both Carmel and Libertyville can see a slight opening for its doubles teams when play begins this afternoon.
Deerfield, and its No. 2 team, in particular, might be the most vulnerable and that's where Carmel, second at the East Suburban Catholic, and Libertyville, third in the North Suburban, will be ready to pounce if the opportunity presents itself.
"My guys haven't had a bad loss all season, and have been steady throughout the year," says 'Cats coach Dan Kiernan.
What the host Warriors have done with a roster loaded at singles gives coach Josh Leighton the opportunity to coast while the Highland Park tradition will continue to carry on in a deep doubles group.
At Elgin
When: 2 p.m. today; 9 a.m. Saturday
Players to watch: Barrington: George Coll (19-13, No. 1 seed), Varun Parekh (25-8, No.3 seed), Joe Gasior-Jim Deroche (18-9, No. 1 seed), Connor-Ben Nuckles (26-7, No. 3 seed); David Kaufman and Christian Lynn (Elgin Academy); Tom Schreiner (Jacobs); Dan Keonsavonga (Elgin); Selwyn Hansana-Eddie Senesombath (Larkin, No. 2 seed).
Storyline: It's a singles' strong sectional this season with the 1-2 punch strong candidates to finish atop the ladder on Saturday, with 2009 state qualifiers Schreiner and Lynn right there, along with the senior Kaufman, who qualified as a sophomore two years ago, before training out of state last season in preparation for his final season on the prep scene.
"We cannot overlook anyone in a very deep and crowded field at singles," says a wary Barrington coach John Roncone, who earlier in the week watched Coll defeat Keonsavonga and his top dubs team beat a Larkin club which earned its first trip to the state tourney one year ago.
At Glenbrook South
When: 2 p.m. today; 9 a.m. Saturday
Players to watch: Glenbrook South senior Ben Hoogland made sure he will be in the mix for a top-4 seed next week after defeating defending state champion Blake Bazarnik earlier in the week in 3 sets during a dual with Stevenson. Hoogland is the obvious choice here for No. 1 at singles, but Schaumburg junior Izzi Balase (31-4), Brian Levitas (Glenbrook North, 10-11), Konrad Ryba (Glenbrook South), Justin Hirschaut (Glenbrook North, 8-14) all will make a claim for a top-four finish. Balase is looking to return to the state tournament following his one-year absence.
Storyline: Balase will be looking to return to the state tournament after missing out on his second consecutive trip there following a 3-set heart-breaking loss last spring in his state qualifier match with Levitas. "Even after falling short at the MSL tournament, I've remained positive about my chances this weekend, and feel that I have a really good chance of advancing to state next week," said Balase after his third-place finish at the conference tournament.
The GBS duo of Michael Sellitto and Michael Levin, champs at the Deerfield Invite two weeks ago, are the clear favorite at this flight, however look for a dogfight over the next three spots with Takuma Ito-Brett Sacks (Conant), Attilo Bonasera-Ryan Kulpins and Sam Metzger-Tony Falcone (Rolling Meadows) and the No. 1 from Glenbrook North (Bill Angel-Tom Snape, 11-8) all looking to break through and away from the field.
At Lakes
When: 2 p.m. today; 9 a.m. Saturday
Players to watch: Warren: Nikola Trukov-Paul Schlais (NSC champs, 23-10), Noah Mandell-Eric Seiler (20-10), Kristiyan Trukov (23-10), Wesley Stoller (15-12); Mike Chernetsky-Josh Rosenberg (Lakes, 23-7), Bryan Poggensee-Wei (25-3) and Nate Campanile (26-0) of Grayslake North, Steven Kveton (Grayslake Central); Sam Winkler, Cameron Bagheri and Peter Wolniak-Andy Walker (Lake Forest).
Storyline: Warren's Trukov-Schlais sealed the top seed after defeating Lake Forest and Stevenson, en route to its NSC title, leaving both teams from Lake Forest, and Mandell-Seiler right there along with the host Eagles all hoping for a good draw in a top-heavy group at doubles.
"Mike and Josh can qualify, and when they play well, it's pretty amazing what they can do," says Lakes coach Bryan Plinske of his top team, which has losses to top clubs Stevenson, Lake Forest and Libertyville this season.
The dynamic duo of Poggensee-Wei (second in Fox Valley at No. 1) and Campanile (FVC champ at No. 2) are the feature acts here, along with the freshman pair (Trukov-Bagheri) and the veteran Winkler.
"Kristiyan has a great chance to advance next weekend, but I feel Nikola and Paul have the ability to something special (here) and next week with the way they are both playing," said Warren coach Greg Cohen.
At Palatine
When: 2 p.m. today; 9 a.m. Saturday
Top four singles seeds: Blake Bazarnik (Stevenson, 20-3), Eric Klawitter (Hersey, 20-3), Jeremy Bush (Stevenson), Grant Thompson (Lake Zurich).
Top four doubles seeds: Kenta Shimizu-Ryan Kreis (Fremd, 25-3) Sam Pope-Jon Kiefer (Prospect, 19-9), Richard Brej-Ryan Buxbaum (Stevenson, 1-0), Kevin Amarantos-Yuki Chiba, Hersey), Taylor Blaney-Dean Tanglis (St. Viator, 17-7).
Other players to watch: Ismail Kadyrov (24-5) and Sam Rong-David Alvaro (25-6) of Vernon Hills.
Storyline: A last-minute change in its lineup from Stevenson would throw the doubles field up for grabs when head coach Tom Stanhope threw his No. 2 at singles (Richard Brej, 16-3) together with sometime Nos. 1 and 2 Ryan Buxbaum and earned the No. 3 seed behind MSL powers Fremd and Prospect, which finished 1-2 at the conference tourney last weekend. A straight set victory over Glenbrook South state power Michael Sellitto-Michael Levin earlier in the week would lead to the Patriots grand entry into doubles, while a pair of victories over Hersey and Barrington this season likely solidified the Knights No. 2 spot behind Fremd.
"We played together for most of the season, and against a much tougher schedule, which has helped prepare us better for this time of the season," said Kiefer, a Prospect senior.
"After Fremd, it's wide open," figures Blaney, who with Tanglis enters the tournament as the No. 5, but the alternate at No. 4 if Hersey's (Chiba) is unable to go after suffering an injury during training this past week. "Winning the ESCC title gave us a big confidence boost just when we needed it."
Grant Thompson, the NSC runner-up to Bazarnik, rounds out a terrific quartet at the top of the singles field after the freshman was rumored to possibly slide over to doubles for the Bears. Another freshmen, Kadyrov, who lost to Thompson in the semifinals of the NSC tourney (7-5, 6-0) is on the outside looking in as play begins today, but with a solid chance to earn a trip to the state tournament.
"The doubles field (here) is loaded, and teams that are just outside the top 5-6 are all capable of pulling a surprise here and there," offered Stanhope. Last season, this sectional produced a state champion (Bazarnik) and fourth-place medalist (Michael Redlicki) and as well doubles runners-up Ross Putterman-David Packowitz.