Boys tennis: Undermanned Barrington battles to third at Knights Invite
Dominant play at doubles proved to be the driving force for state tennis power New Trier in the annual Knights Invite, where the Trevians won the team title over Highland Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Trevians swept all four fields at doubles at the host school Prospect and its second venue, Harper College.
New Trier outscored its conference rival, 64-50.
Mid-Suburban League champion Barrington, without its two top players, finished third with 32 points ahead Normal U-High, a distant fourth at 22 points.
Libertyville, Prospect, Warren and Oak Park-River Forest rounded out the team race.
"We obviously would have liked to been at full strength for this tournament," said Barrington coach John Roncone, who was without Dylan Er and Bradley Yu, both of whom he hopes to have back for the prestigious Jay Kramer Invite next Saturday at Hinsdale Central. "But on the flip side, it gave a couple of others a chance to get themselves some experience."
The Broncos amassed most of their points at doubles, where third-place finishes at Nos. 1 through No. 3 doubles were overshadowed by a second-place trophy at No. 4.
The team of Mike D'Amore-Samit Sinha were third at No. 1 for the Broncos, as were Kyle Shutt and Joe Wolff at No. 2. Shutt was an MSL champion a year ago at No. 1.
Stephen Levy and Vijay Triparanini captured third-place honors at No. 3.
Senior and Lehigh recruit Jacob Edelchik, sixth last season at state, turned in a marvelous performance to win the title at No. 1 singles over Jake Zipoli of New Trier in straight sets.
"I'm really excited about this year," Edelchik said. "I feel like my extra work on conditioning, and injury prevention should keep me right in there with guys like Mark Wu and Nick Marino of Glenbrook North, as well as Jack Randall (Lockport) and Ryan Roegner from Naperville Central."
Teammate Jeremy Learner won top honors at No. 2 singles, but the Highland Park team of Johnny Lew-Branden Raub fell to Reed Bianucci-Peter Leutz (3-6, 6-4, 10-5) of New Trier in the finals at No. 1 to start a perfect run at doubles for the Trevians.
Sophomore Hayden Friese of Libertyville, eyeing a return to the Wildcats' No. 1 doubles team, earned fifth-place honors at No. 1 singles.
"I'm looking forward to getting back to play doubles along with Kenny (Hermann) sooner than later," said Friese after defeating Prospect freshman Mikey Gavrincea in his backdraw opener. "Playing doubles last year and qualifying to state taught me to play with more composure and to stay calm, despite what's going on in a match, so I feel like I'm more mentally prepared for this season."
Friese went 3-2 at the tournament last year along with Julian Janczak.
Hermann and his doubles partner, Scott Daluga, made a deep run that ended in the sixth round of the consolation bracket.
"Julian and Scott have both graduated, along with six others, so we're a little different of a team this year," Friese said. "So when Kenny eventually gets back, we'll have enough time to get ourselves ready for sectionals, then state."
NSC rival Warren, off to a strong start this spring, was led by top singles player Cecil Mella (fifth overall) and the No. 1 doubles team of Stefan Radovic-Caleb Gudeman.
"We would have liked a little better of a finish today, but we've played well up until this tournament, and a lot of that has to do with us being really good friends, and having great chemistry between us," said Radovic, now 6-4 with Gudeman.
Radovic was a state doubles qualifier last spring along with his teammate Brandon Reichel, and the experience there made a lasting impression on the junior.
"Everyone (there) picked up the intensity and level of play, as well as their emotion and physical play," Radovic said. "So I feel that being there once, and then getting back again is something that I am really anxious to do again."
His achievement on the courts a year ago was impressive, but then so is the rest of his life as a student-athlete at Warren. He is a member of the top band, playing the trumpet, an all-conference hockey player and has a 4.22 GPA.
"Sometimes I am not sure how I fit all of what I do into my schedule," he said. "But it's all a lot of fun, and that makes it easier to do each day."