Elgin claims unofficial city championship
Despite nature's best attempts to curb the Elgin boys tennis team from winning Saturday's Elgin Invitational, the Maroons were able to prevail in the unofficial city championship.
Elgin defeated Elgin Academy and Larkin 3-2 and was able to finish off St. Edward 5-0 before the heavy rain forced play to end the afternoon. Both Larkin and Elgin Academy defeated St. Edward 5-0. The two teams were able to finish any of the 5 games in their match before the rain started to fall.
The teams were forced to take nearly an hour rain delay when heavy storms dampened the courts, but Mother Nature's slight inconvenience did not diminish the level of play.
Elgin's No. 3 doubles team of Mike Kanovas and Adam Hung proved the difference for the Maroons.
The duo, who were the last to finish in all 3 matches, gave Elgin the edge against Larkin by defeating the Royals' No. 3 duo of Sterling Perez and Sean Lang 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.
"Our serves were working good, that's what really saved us," Kanovas said.
Likewise, the duo won 6-2, 6-0 over Elgin Academy's Nick Kemmler and Jason Diaz de Leon. They finished the day with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over St. Edward's John Puhr and Charlie Shoemaker.
"We had a tough time against Larkin," Hung said. "The ball was going everywhere."
Elgin coach Larry DeHaan also took notice of Kanovas, a freshman, and Hung, a sophomore, and their efforts on Saturday.
Larkin finished second in the invite. Both the Royals' No. 1 and No. 2 doubles squads took victories against Elgin. Selwyn Hansana and Eddie Senesomboth downed Nick Montgomery and Tyler Altieri 6-4, 6-3 and St. Edward's Luis Sandoval and Mishka Sidlin 6-1, 6-1.
Jesse Perez and Casey Siripanya won over Elgin's Behroz Khan and Hiep Du, 6-2, 6-2 and then beat the Green Wave's Ian and Alex Koller 6-0, 6-0.
"I'm really pleased with how we battled," Larkin coach Bob Young said. "It really comes down to doing the little things right in every match. Hats off to Elgin. It was a tough battle from every single spot."
Elgin Academy opened its day by rolling through St. Edward 5-0 to jump out to an early lead at the invite. David Kaufman beat Anthony Abbate and Christian Lynn won over Christian Bagot without dropping a game. No. 2 and 3 doubles squads Dillon Roppolo and Ken Suevel and Nick Kemmler and Jason Diaz de Leon each won their opening bouts 6-1, 6-0.
Kaufman, a returning state qualifier, also beat Elgin's Danny Keonavongsa 6-1, 6-4.