Schwartz, Speer make their point
After a drama-filled first day of tennis on Friday, Saturday's sectional action at Stevenson was relatively tame.
Still, there was plenty at stake Saturday morning in Lincolnshire.
With an opportunity to impress the state seeding committee, Jonah Schwartz of Buffalo Grove and Chris Speer of Stevenson met in the semifinals to decide who might, with a victory, perhaps seal a 5-8 seed in the state tournament.
Comfortably in control at the onset, Schwartz found himself in a 3-set marathon with Speer, who battled back and was on the brink of victory before the Buffalo Grove senior reclaimed control.
After nearly 2½ hours, Schwartz (23-6) defeated Speer 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 and advanced into the final, where, with just 20 minutes to recover, he fell to top-seeded Blake Bazanik 6-1, 6-2 to give the Stevenson sophomore his second straight sectional title.
Speer earned third-place honors after St. Viator senior Andrew Rice took an injury default after his semifinal loss to Bazarnik.
The freshman duo of Ross Putterman-David Packowitz (26-2) triumphed over teammates Allen Pukshansky-Nick Stephan (21-4) in the all-Stevenson doubles final, while Owen Marsden-Ryan Kreis of Fremd grabbed the third-place medal by defeating Prospect's Zack Adamovic-Jon Kiefer 6-2, 6-3.
The host Patriots were overwhelming champions in the team race, outscoring runner-up Fremd 35-15. Hersey was third with 12 points.
St. Viator (11) was fourth, while Buffalo Grove and Prospect shared fifth-place honors with 10 points each.
The Emory College-bound Schwartz initially took charge in the semifinals, caring little about the strong winds and warm temperatures.
"The thing you have to guard yourself (against) with Chris is that he has the incredible ability to switch momentum in his favor just by winning a big point," said Schwartz. "But I knew (this) match could be one of those that would swing three games one way, then three the other, just because of the way Chris plays."
True to form, Speer (22-3) looked nearly perfect en route to an easy 6-2 second set win. Then Schwartz seize back the momentum in game No. 4 after it appeared he might be down and out.
On serve, Schwartz found himself trailing 15-40. But he got back to deuce, and then on a superb 15-ball rally won the point to go up 40-30 before finally winning the game.
"Coach helped me on the change-overs by reminding me to stay calm and composed, and to stay with the basics," said Schwartz.
"Jonah was in trouble at (that) point, but it seemed when he went down (0-3) he played a lot looser, and just hit (out) and moved so much smoother and quicker," added BG coach Kevin Schrammel.
"Chris was so close to going up (4-0) and likely winning that match," said Patriots coach Mark Linnenburger, "but (last) night he won the biggest match of his career and for his team."
Schwartz gave it his best against a well-rested Bazarnik (23-3) but he was no match for a player who looks to be on that special express lane along with state stars Eric Spector (Glenbrook North) and Denis Bogatov of Warren, and ready to step on the gas pedal next week.
"Everything seems to be clicking right now, and I feel so much more confidence in myself and my game compared to last year at this time," said Bazarnik, who needed just 42 minutes to down Rice, and about the same in the final.
The doubles final was an entertaining match between two talented Stevenson teams which featured some fun verbal volleys from both sides and super-quick play.
"I think the biggest thing for us was a reality check we faced after losing to New Trier (at the Deerfield Invite), and since then our confidence is up and we are no longer player like freshmen," said Putterman, who celebrated his 15th birthday in style.
Pukshansky, a state qualifier a year ago at singles, feels he and his partner Stephan have made great strides since the 32: "We didn't play well (at the 32) but we had just been put together. Since then, we've gotten better at each practice and time that we've played, and we're peaking at the right time."
Third-place Fremd, which erased a disappointing straight-set loss at the MSL tournament to defeat Prospect, earned praise from coach Ken Goettsche after dropping its semifinal match to Pukshanky and Stephan.
"In that second set, the guys showed they could play and were able to get four games off of a very good doubles team which should easily be a 9-16 seed," said Goettsche.
Adamovic-Kiefer, who survived a long 3-set match with Lake Zurich on Friday before upsetting No. 3 Palatine easily in the qualifying match, gained valuable experience in its semifinal match with Putterman-Packowitz despite a 6-2, 6-1 loss.
"To be able to get four matches in this weekend, make the state tournament, and to compete against a team like Stevenson's No. 1, will help both of our guys next week be prepared for just about anything they might see," said Prospect coach Rick Huffman.
At Deerfield: Highland Park advanced both singles and both doubles and won the team title with 23 points. Deerfield, led by freshman singles champ Ben Shklyar, was second at 18.
Carmel's doubles tandem of Andrew Buchholz and Chris Butler placed third and advanced to the state tournament.
At Larkin: Barrington didn't advance any singles players into state tournament play, but the Broncos placed 1-2 in doubles and won the meet with 26 points.
Barrington's David Martin and Greg Mulligan beat sophomore teammates Matt Barns and Alex Nemz 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in the double championship match.
Dundee-Crown senior Mike Williamson won doubles with a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Streamwood's Yuto Tsukida.
At Glenbrook South: Rolling Meadows' senior tandem of Mark Sansait and Joe Kim placed second in doubles to help the Mustangs placed third as a team with 20 points.
Glenbrook North (31) edged Glenbrook South (25) for the team title.
Schaumburg freshman Izzi Balase also earned a spot in the state tournament after placing fourth in singles.