Walsh finds smashing success on court

There was a problem for Maggie Walsh when she was running cross country for Willows Academy in Des Plaines.

It wasn't how the Arlington Heights resident finished races. Walsh was an all-conference runner who qualified for sectionals as a sophomore and junior.

Just getting started was another issue.

"She was good at it but she hated it," her dad Dean said.

"Basically I did it because I was good at it," said Maggie, who also plays basketball and soccer at Willows and scored 32 on the ACT. "I really dreaded every single meet. I couldn't sleep before every meet because I was afraid I was going to get beat."

So, Walsh looked at tennis, which she had played since she was 7 years old.

That was a lot more fun. But there was another problem.

Willows didn't have a team and Walsh found out it wasn't easy to find competition since most schools were at their limit of the 20 dates of competition allowed by the IHSA.

"It was very frustrating," said Maggie, whose brother Patrick is a sohpomore at the University of Notre Dame and played tennis at Northridge Prep.

"I was kind of discouraged," said Dean, his daughter's coach who played tennis at Lawrence University (Wis.). "Then Maggie said, 'I wonder how many other girls are like that.'"

The Walshes contacted IHSA assistant executive director Susie Knoblauch and found there were around a dozen "individual entry" players in the state.

They came up with the idea of creating a tournament for "individual entry" players as a way to prepare for this weekend's sectional and possibly next week's state tournament.

As a result, the first Illinois Independent Classic was held Oct. 3 at Forest View Racquet Club in Arlington Heights.

It turned out to be a smashing success for Walsh and seven other girls from schools such as Aurora Christian, Byron and Illinois Valley Central in downstate Chillicothe.

"I think she almost felt bad winning it," said Dean of Maggie's two-set victory over Michelle Popadich of Roycemore in Evanston. "It was just doing it.

"From what I know it had never been done before."

Maggie Walsh figured she had to do something to prepare for a chance to play in the state tournament.

She wasn't having much luck finding matches besides a few scattered ones against St. Scholastica and Elgin Academy.

So, Walsh did what she could to make sure the Independent Classic was a first-class event. She designed the T-shirts and awards for the players, who were all guaranteed a minimum of two matches.

"I was thinking we have to make this fun to draw people," Walsh said. "It was basically all of our first tourneys ever.

"Once I introduced myself we became comfortable with each other. We were all commiserating with each other."

Fortunately for the Walshes, the weather cleared up and Forest View manager Nancy Alfonso helped ensure the tournament ran smoothly.

It also appears the Walshes started something for the future. Dean Walsh said Bill Boyd, whose daughter Sarah goes to Aurora Christian and played in this year's event, offered to host it next year.

The difficulty in finding matches has also spurred the Walshes to draw up a proposed amendment to the IHSA by-law regarding the number of competition dates.

Dean Walsh proposed giving players on teams, in addition to their 20 scheduled dates, a chance to play up to two additional dates against individual entry players.

"It won't make any difference to the rest of the tennis world," he said, "but for individual entry players it will open it up to other kids at small schools."

Kids such as Maggie Walsh, who was seeded fifth at singles in this weekend's Maine South sectional. The top four players advance to state.

Regardless of what happens, Walsh has no regrets about the path she's taken.

"I'm glad I did cross country for three years because it was a really good experience," Walsh said. "This year I'm also really glad I chose tennis.

"If I did tennis for four years in a row I think that might take away some of what has kept me going this year. I really care about it and that's what makes it so special."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com