Stevenson demonstrates nearly total domination
The Stevenson Patriots left little doubt about their almost complete domination of the North Suburban Conference boys tennis meet.
The Patriots powered to the championship of the 14-team meet with 38 points, capturing first places in four of the five flights contested in the three-day event.
Warren took second place with 28 points, as junior Denis Bogatov defeated Stevenson sophomore Blake Bazarnik 7-6, 7-6 in a classic No. 1 singles match to end Saturday's competition.
After winning the first set tiebreaker 7-4, Bogatov trailed Bazarnik 5-2 in the second set.
But Bogatov really came to life as he won 2 set points from Bazarnik and forced a 5-5 tie before the second set also went to a tie-breaker.
Bogatov (24-2) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the tie-breaker and he never looked back. A pair of great passing shots in a row helped seal his 7-3 tiebreaker win and the NSC crown.
Bazarnik had beaten Bogatov in a three-set match last week at Deerfield.
"I was almost already focusing on the third set because he (Bazarnik) was really on the top of his game in the second set," said Bogatov, who was also the NSC champion last season. "He missed a couple of easy shots that helped me, and my passing shot was on for pretty much the whole match."
In the other No. 1 singles matches, Lake Forest's Peter Wolniak defeated Mundelein's Tyler Patner for third place, and Libertyville's Erik Scanlon toppled Lakes' Andrew Yopp for fifth place.
Lake Forest held off Lakes 25-17 for third place in the team competition.
They were followed by Lake Zurich (14) in fifth, Vernon Hills (13) in sixth, and Libertyville (12) in seventh.
Stevenson's road to the team title was paved by the No. 1 doubles team of freshmen Ross Putterman and David Packowitz.
The duo beat Charlie Scupham and Justin Shey of Lakes in two quick sets to claim the title.
The Patriots' No. 2 doubles team of Allen Pukshansky and Nick Stephan took first place in two sets, as did teammate Chris Speer in the No. 2 singles match.
Stevenson's No. 3 doubles team of senior Robert Saltiel and Ryan Buxbaum was also a winner in two sets.
"We won at every spot except first singles and a couple of points here and there and it could have gone either way," said Patriots coach Mark Linnenburger. "But Denis (Bogatov) made the big shots when he had to. "They (Putterman and Packowitz) are an excellent doubles team, they're starting to play better doubles together, and when they play good doubles they can play with anybody in the state."
Warren's Jon Donnowitz defeated Lakes' Randall Haylock 6-2, 6-2 for third place at No. 2 singles.
Vernon Hills' Josh Brickman beat Grant's Clay Guenther 6-3, 6-3 for fifth place in that flight.
The Blue Devils' No. 1 doubles team of Igor Fedorov and Konrad Siczek topped Lake Zurich's Erik Wolf and Tyler Miller 6-1, 6-2 for third place. Vernon Hills' Jingyu Lee and Riaz Hoveydai placed sixth at No. 1 doubles.
"He (Bogatov) saved at least 2 set points, he is an amazing player, and he is a great competitor," said Warren coach Greg Cohen. "I thought we played pretty well, and with the win today in the third-place match Konrad Siczek is now third all-time in wins at our school."
At second doubles, Warren's Eric Seiler and Nikola Trukov defeated Lake Zurich's Pat Flanagan and Mark DeCanio 6-1, 6-4 for third place. Lakes' Joe Davis and Timmy Davis placed fifth.
"We knew we were going to be up there, but we didn't think we would be that far up there against this competition," said Lakes coach Bryan Plinske. "That was the best competition (Scupham and Shey) have seen since they've been playing No. 1 doubles the past three years and I thought they played well."
At No. 3 doubles, Warren's Matt Schlais and Jordan Lenz beat Lake Zurich's Luke Mueller and Pierce Romei for third place. Grant's Steve Sheets and Dave White placed fifth.
"They definitely did well and they're peaking at the right time," said Lake Zurich coach Kristin Chamberlain. "We had some big wins at No. 1 doubles, and they knocked off the No. 3 seed (Lake Forest) in the first round."