Boys tennis / Scouting Lake County
Boys tennis / Scouting Lake County
Super singles
Jeremy Bush (Stevenson): While Patriots standout Blake Bazarnik was the undisputed leader of the team last spring, Bush, who went back and forth between singles and doubles all throughout the season, broke out to advance into the tournament, where he went 4-2 to earn the club 6 points to help the Pats edge Deerfield for fifth place in the team race.
Nate Campanile (Grayslake North): The junior was the No. 2 singles champ last year at the NSC tournament, and combined with his Knights teammate at No. 1, Bryant Poggensee-Wei, helped lead the team to an impressive 15-3 overall record, while recording 33 victories himself en route to a spot in the singles field at the state tournament.
Mitch Granger (Grayslake Central): Before moving to Florida with his family two seasons ago and improving his USTA ranking and placing in the state finals there, Granger earned a spot in the field of 64 in 2009 and won 2 of his 4 matches over two days of play.
Ismail Kadyrov (Vernon Hills): Another freshman phenom who came onto the scene last year and played like a grizzled veteran, earning the No. 2 seed at the NSC tournament behind Bazarnik and just ahead of Thompson. He fell short in his bid to join his counterparts at the state tournament when the rugged Palatine sectional proved to have one too many shining stars in the singles field. Nonetheless, the Cougars’ No. 1 nearly reached 30 victories in his first season.
Grant Thompson (Lake Zurich): As a freshmen last season, Thompson overcame a bout of what he thought to be appendicitis, only to put that behind him and go onto a berth in the state tournament, where he snared a 17-32 seed and went 3-2 to finish with a sparkling 19-4 overall record.
Kristiyan Trukov (Warren): The rookie sensation had the unenviable task of taking over the No. 1 position following the graduation of superstar Denis Bogatov, but with 30 victories and a 3-2 record in his first state tournament appearance, Trukov proved he belongs as the Blue Devils’ top man heading into his second varsity season.
Court dates
Liberty Bell (April 9) at Glenbrook North and South:The NSC Lake division duo of Libertyville and Warren get their chance against two long-time Central Suburban League powers (Glenbrook North and South) as well as Lyons, which until recently was always found in the top eight when the state tournament team standings were announced. Cohen will test his best doubles teams against the likes of 2010 5-8 state seed Michael Selitto and Michael Levin from GBS, a team likely to be considered even higher when the tournament committee convenes in late May. Rockford Guilford, always a first-class program, no longer has four-time state qualifier Danny Park, but the Vikings are sure to bring plenty of quality in their lineup. Vernon Hills, with Ismail Kadyrov and its top senior, David Alfaro, will be on hand, as will ESCC favorite Carmel.
Hersey/Prospect Invite (April 16):Warren and Libertyville once again travel outside the conference. But this time the talent pool has increased two-fold with state powers Highland Park and Oak Park-River Forest awaiting, in addition to defending MSL champion Barrington. The Broncos have a nice 1-2 punch at singles in Varun Parekh and George Coll, both first-time state qualifiers a year ago, as was Ben Nuckles, who last year, along with his then-partner Connor Brownell, went into the fifth round of the consolation bracket. What is sure to be worth watching will be the battle at doubles with the Blue Devils facing their counterparts at HP and OPRF, both quite capable of deep runs at the state tournament, especially the Giants#146; pair of David Zak and Zach Brint. They finished second at the state tournament to two-time champion Hinsdale Central.
Jay Kramer Invite (at Hinsdale Central):In the first of the big three state tournaments, this event hosts all of the best in the northern half of the state, including Stevenson and Barrington, who look to gain an advantage against the likes of New Trier, Deerfield, Highland Park, OPRF, and the host Red Devils. This will be the first chance for the Pats#146; doubles teams to measure how far they have come thus far, and how much more work they might need for postseason tests. While the singles field may lack depth, not so at doubles, where all the clubs on hand will have at least one team capable of a 5-8 seed or better at the state tournament.
Pitchford 32 (April 29-30):Called a mini state meet, the 32 brings together nearly every top singles and doubles player in the state, including teams from Belleville West and Edwardsville #8212; who, by the way, have top quality doubles teams ready to show their stuff for the first time against top competition. This mega-tournament begins early on Friday at 7 sites around the area, and at the end, will crown champions at Nos. 1 and 2 singles and doubles.
Deerfield Invite (May 5-6-7):Every elite team from the CSL is here, plus Stevenson, in the last major of the season before the postseason begins. Plenty of gamesmanship is to be expected as teams shift players around to get one last look at what could be a potential new lineup. In 2008, Highland Park coach Steve Rudman moved his top singles player, Sam Barnett, over to doubles to team up with Ben Woldenberg for the first time that season, and three weeks later the senior pair won a state title.
East Suburban Catholic tournament at Marist (May 12):Last season, both Carmel and Benet registered 33 dual-team points to finish tied for the regular-season title. A week later, they went at it again, scoring 13 overall points apiece at the conference tournament for equal shares of the overall league crown, the first time that#146;s been done since the ESCC began 1991. Benet had won every year from 1991 through 2008 when St. Viator finally broke that string. All eyes will be on the singles competition, where Marian Catholic junior Julian Childers (40-3) is a clear favorite to repeat. He#146;s got a talented group behind him, including state qualifier Alex Haizel (Marist) and senior Ronnie Wing (Notre Dame).
Fox Valley Conference tournament at Woodstock (May 13-14):Once again, the focus will be on the singles play as multiple returning state qualifiers compete over two days in hopes of increasing their seeds the following week when the state sectional series begins. Cary-Grove senior Chris Federighi is back to defend his title at No. 1, but the Trojans#146; captain, a two-time state qualifier, will have plenty of competition with Campanile, Granger and Tommy Nelson (Crystal Lake Central) all right there, and with state tournament appearances in their resumes as well.
NSC Conference tournament at Warren (May 12-14):Once mighty Lake Forest has fallen off of late, and it#146;s been all Stevenson since Blake Bazarnik walked onto the Lincolnshire campus. He#146;s gone now, but look for this to be another Patriots title run, with Warren a strong runner-up over the rest of the field. Last year#146;s Prairie Division champion, Vernon Hills, will play a role in the final tally, as will Libertyville and Lake Zurich. If the Bears had the nationally ranked brother duo of Michael and Martin Redlicki on their roster, they could have been a dangerous challenger to the top teams in the conference.
State race
Who will beat New Trier this spring? No one, according to those in the know, such as Deerfield head coach Josh Leighton, and Highland Park coach Steve Rudman. #147;Nobody will touch New Trier,#148; said Rudman. #147;Their second (6) are the No. 2 in the state. After that OPRF and Deerfield should be real tough, and we think with our doubles teams, and Tom Haile and Danny Wynbrandt at singles, we have a change to be in the hunt for a trophy as well.
Says Leighton, #147;It#146;s hard to imagine anyone having enough depth in their lineup to overcome New Trier. Stevenson and OPRF have a lot of good players back, and so do (we) and Highland Park, but we#146;ve got to battle each other at the sectionals, along with having Lake Forest and Carmel (there) with us. So who knows if either of us can get our entire team through?#148;
The Warriors recently showed they can be considered among the favorites after finishing second overall recently at the prestigious DecoTurf Team championships in Louisville. Guess who was first? Yep, New Trier. The Trevians were led by the defending singles state champion, Stanford-bound Robert Stineman. He was voted the MVP of the tourney and helped his club with four wins over two days to capture the team title.
#8212; Mike Garofola