Boys tennis: Season comes to an end for Fox area players at state

Brogan Pierce and Chase Bremner, who combined to win over 70 matches this season, had their seasons come to an end Friday afternoon on the second day of the Class 2A state tennis tournament.

The potent Batavia duo lost in the consolation round, Pierce (34-3) against fellow 9-16 seed Zach Trimpe (Edwardsville) and Bremner in his contest with 9-16 seed Ansh Shah of Hinsdale Central.

The Bulldogs' top players, both two-time state qualifiers, were one-two last weekend at sectionals for the second consecutive season, last year at the St. Charles North sectional in which Brad Nelson's club lifted the team title.

Bremner will play tennis next fall at Taylor University in Indiana.

The future of Crystal Lake South tennis is Jackson Schuetzle (28-8) and the freshman recorded one more victory before having his first 1A state appearance come to an end.

Schuetzle, who claimed a sectional title last weekend at Freeport, opened play in the back-draw with a win over Jesse Dwyer (Alleman) before dropping his pro-set match with Jared Thomas of Champaign Centennial.

"(Thomas) was bigger and more powerful than me, but I was happy with the way I played here at state, and the experience I gained from my first year, and at state has given me new insight into what it takes to compete and play at the next level," said Schuetzle.

Schuetzle's mother, who is also the head coach at Cary-Grove, watched her No. 1 doubles team Daniel Sowa and Thomas Conneen sent packing in its third round consolation match against the Glenbrook South team of Ben Soyfer and Daniel Deborin.

"Those two had a terrific tournament, they made Naperville North work hard for their win yesterday, then the guys came back to win their next two. (That) third win came when their tank was low, but they still found a way to pull out a big win over Hinsdale South," said Amanda Schuetzle.

Sowa-Conneen became the first Cary-Grove players to advance into the second day since Chris Federghi did so in 2011.

Alex Veltkamp (25-7) said his goal was to play into the second day of the tournament after going 1-2 a year ago, and the Streamwood junior did just that with three wins in five matches.

The two-time state qualifier lost in pro sets to Gabriel Sardo of Oswego.

When consolation play begins Saturday at 8 a.m., and finals at 9 at tourney host Hersey, Hinsdale Central will take a commanding 12-point lead into the third day ahead of both Stevenson and New Trier, each with 28 points in 2A play.

In 1A, Normal U-High is ahead of Chicago Northside, 33-26, and third place Wheaton Academy has 23 points.