Gates, Thome score shutout wins at state
Two singles players and four doubles teams from the Fox Valley will continue play Friday in the IHSA girls state tennis tournament.
Due to weather conditions not all first-round matches were concluded Thursday, so the IHSA canceled the back draw. Only Thursday’s winners and the winners of those first-round matches that didn’t finish Thursday play on.
Bartlett’s Jen Gates and Crystal Lake South’s Marisa Thome won their first-round singles matches Thursday, along with the doubles teams of Marcilyn Rowan/Lauren Steinkamp of Jacobs, Jennifer Parato/Gabby Gregorio of Bartlett, Kassy Bernardo/Autumn Hackett of Jacobs and Kelsey Laktash/Rachel Seimon of Crystal Lake South.
Gates defeated Olivia Ray of Moline 6-0, 6-0 and will play Megan Nguyen of Metmora in the second round. Thome knocked off Laura Knysak of Belleville West 6-0, 6-0 and awaits the winner of a match between Alexandra Kerr of Rock Island Alleman and Shanaz Daneshdoost of Carbondale.
Other Fox Valley singles players who lost in the first round Thursday include Kayla Garcia of Huntley, Alina Zabolotico and Megan Elliott of Jacobs and Jessica Chalas of Huntley.
In doubles action, Rowan/Steinkamp defeated Lexi Baysinger/Allison Harris of Belleville East 6-3, 6-2, while their Jacobs teammates, Bernardo and Hackett, downed Anna Rodgers/Shoham Band of Champaign Central 6-1, 6-1.
Rowan/Steinkamp take on Jenna Borzak/Jorie Fox of Deerfield in the second round, while Bernardo/Hackett will face Michelle Kannenberg/Kathleen Felecelli of Carmel.
Bartlett’s team of Parato and Gregorio defeated Kaitlyn Kuper and Grace Hilgenbrink of Lincoln-Way Central 6-0, 6-0 and the Hawks’ duo will face Kim Simmons and Madeline Carney of Benet in the second round.
Laktash and Simeon of CL South downed Alia Nejdawl and Haley Mallon of Barrington 6-4, 6-2 and will face Jenna Gault and Nora Hughes of Loyola.
Fox Valley doubles teams that lost in the first round include Katie Gates/Kaylen Kress of Bartlett and Kelly Frankel. Brooke Romero of Huntley.
The doubles teams of Beth Hughes/Arley Bayer of Cary-Grove and Jordan Kauffman. Lauren Ficken of Elgin Academy were not completed with their matches when darkness set in Thursday.