Boys tennis / Scouting sectionals, Northwest

Class 2A

At Conant

When: Friday, 1 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.

Guest list: Addison Trail, Bartlett, Conant, Fremd, Glenbard North, Hoffman Estates, Lake Park, Schaumburg, Streamwood.

Outlook: Although Conant edged both Fremd and Hersey to claim second place last weekend at the Mid-Suburban League tournament, Cougars coach Dave Koleno would tweak his sectional lineup in order to maximize his chances of advancing all four of his teams, and to make a run at its fourth team title in the last five years.

The Cougars' head coach kept his top player, Vera Iyer (15-7), as his No. 1 but moved Shashank Yerraguntia to No. 2 singles from his spot at No. 2 doubles.

Andrew Milas-Kaahan Motwani (11-10) were state qualifiers a year ago, and will look to do so again, while at No. 2, Koleno paired Roberto Machon-Rameen Marzban.

When you add the Fremd teams of Arjun Srivasta-Ryan Zheng, 19-6) and Andrew Yin-Sean Hishinuma (19-7), along with the Lake Park duo of Aayush Patel-Tyler Ferengul (11-2) you have the makings of a spirited battle for a spot in the state field.

Casey Hishinuma (Fremd, 16-10), Alex Veltkamp of Streamwood) and Iyer, all returning state qualifiers, are the class at singles.

At Glenbrook South

When: Friday, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m.

Guest list: Elk Grove, Glenbrook North, Glenbrook South, Leyden, Maine East, Maine South, Maine West, Oak Park-River Forest,

Outlook: Central Suburban League rivals Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South are the clear favorites in the team race but at singles there will be plenty of intrigue surrounding the chase for the top prize.

Maine West sophomore Kamil Kozerski (22-2) has what it takes to challenge two terrific players from Glenbrook South, Marc Blekhman (19-4) and Michael Bukhalo (20-6).

Kozerski fell to three-time state qualifier, Jeremy Learner (7-5, 6-1) in his CSL North tournament final last weekend, after defeating 2018 state qualifier and Deerfield star Charlie Chernawsky 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals.

"Kamil played brilliantly at the CSL, he just was beaten by a player who is tough as nails," said Warriors head coach John Hauenstein.

At doubles, it would be an upset if fans don't see an all-Glenbrook final between Ben Sofer-Daniel Deborin (GBS, 13-4) and the 2018 Top 8 GBN team of Ben Riad-Ethan Park.

At Highland Park

When: Friday, 1 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.

Guest list: Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Hersey, Highland Park, Palatine, Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling.

Outlook: Hersey sophomore Max Sheldon (25-1) is the undisputed favorite after a terrific regular season performance, capped by an impressive two days at the MSL tournament where he collected his second straight league title.

Sheldon is at the head of an exceptional group at singles, beginning with three-time state qualifier Jeremy Learner (Highland Park), followed by Deerfield star Charlie Chernawsky and a trio of MSL players who have the capability to beat any of these three to upset the final standings.

"Max has grown so much, both physically and mentally, from a year ago when he arrived as a freshman and it's given him the type of confidence needed to go out there and beat the big-time players," says Hersey head coach Andy Walton.

Fremd sophomore Casey Hishinuma (16-9), who came this close to stunning Barrington's Bradley Yu in three sets at the MSL tourney, looks to be in line for a 3-4 seed, while league rivals Jackson Spurck (Palatine) and Ryan McCoy of Rolling Meadows will both be looking to spring a surprise.

Fremd scored one more point than Hersey to edge the Huskies for third place last Saturday afternoon but it might be the depth of Walton's lineup that could see them lift the sectional hardware.

Kevin Mi-Jace Coffaro (18-7) and their mates at No. 2, Dan Gankov-Jack Aielllo (12-3), will need to come out at their collective best in order to fight off the challenges of the No. 1 teams from Fremd (Arjun Srivasta-Ryan Zheng), Rolling Meadows (Nate Morgan-Brent Behrens), Deerfield (Zach Fine-Adam Hirsch) and the host Giants.

The HP team of Ben Aizenberg-Max Rosenfeld will be one to watch after their straight-set victory on Monday over the highly regarded No. 1 team from Stevenson during a nonconference contest.

At Huntley

When: Friday, 1 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.

Guest list: Barrington, Cary-Grove, Dundee-Crown, Elgin, Hampshire, Huntley, Jacobs, Larkin, South Elgin

Outlook: It will take a monumental upset for the field to outscore eight-time MSL champion Barrington and while Broncos coach John Roncone will preach for maximum effort from his team to succeed, Jacobs head coach Jon Betts Is willing to concede the team title and the first two state spots to the anointed favorite.

"Barrington was a top six team last year and everyone is back, plus they added a couple of talented players as well," says Betts. "Both of their doubles teams are capable of long runs in the state tournament and the one-two punch at doubles with Bradley Yu (19-3) and Ammar Wazir (24-5) help make them a very deep and dangerous team to deal with."

Betts will throw his dynamic singles duo of Thomas Nelson (28-10) and Kyle Burton (33-10) into the mix, with the hope of each advancing when the tournament is over, while both of his doubles teams, as well as Huntley, all add quality to the flight.

Barrington's Matt D'Amore-Dylan Er (23-5) and teammates Aryan Sharma-Pranav Gadiraju (8-0) are both coming off championship weekends at the MSL, while the Huntley No. 2 team of: Justin Schee-Drake Southwell (16-2) were crowned Fox Valley Conference champs after their 6-4, 6-3 win over Ethan Schmidt-Brandon DIhn (27-13) from Jacobs.

Class 1A at Vernon Hills

When: Friday, 1 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.

Guest list: Carmel, Chicago Northside, Evanston Beacon, Fenton, North Chicago, Northridge Prep, North Shore Country Day, St. Viator

Vernon Hills.

Outlook: 2018 state runner-up Nathan Spear (Chicago Northside) and three-time state qualifier Evan Fedin (North Shore Country Day) are the headliners at this venue, but St. Viator coach Amy Ritchie believes she has one of the top four in the singles field.

"Matthew McManaman has had a strong showing all throughout the spring, and I feel very confident that at the end of this tournament he will be on his way to the state tournament," says Ritchie of her senior, who just last weekend finished fourth at the East Suburban Catholic Conference tournament.

Ritchie figures Liam Harding will be in a dogfight for the fourth to qualify, while at doubles her No. 1 team of Connor Flynn-Nathan Kochera, both sophomores, can compete for a top-four finish along with the No. 1's from Carmel Catholic, North Shore Country Day and the host Cougars.

The favorite to win it easily is the Chicago Northside duo of Nicholas Biernadski-Justin Pernados, who lost in the consolation semifinals at state one year ago.