WW South narrowly defeats York
Wheaton Warrenville South seniors Nate Henrikson and Joe Desmond are second-year varsity tennis doubles partners who have been neighbors since fourth grade.
"We know each other really well so we wanted to play together," Henrikson said. "We had a lot of tough losses last year so I think we definitely learned from that and we're trying to bring new stuff."
One thing that hasn't changed is their desire.
On Tuesday the duo began their season - and freshman No. 1 singles player Sunny Sirinit began his first high school season - with big victories as the Tigers edged York 5-4 in Wheaton.
Sirinit defeated York senior John Wheeler 6-0, 6-0. Henrikson and Desmond won 6-3, 6-0 over York sophomores Luke Brigman and Jacob Wit, a 2016 state doubles qualifier with graduated Lucas Gough.
Also winning for the Tigers (1-0) were junior Jack Lillig and senior Shawn Smith at Nos. 2 and 4 singles and the No. 4 doubles team of juniors Dylan Stumbris and Tom Janoski.
York (2-4) received doubles victories from seniors Kevin Rachwalski and Matt Dillion and juniors Answal Shah and Domenic Conversa at Nos. 2 and 3 and seniors Jared Doan and Jakob Albert at No. 3 and 5 singles.
In the lone split-set match, Smith edged freshman Jack Fennell 14-12 in a third-set tiebreaker to 10.
"(Henrikson and Desmond) are true athletes because of their competitive spirit," WW South coach Patti Clousing said. "They will fight to win. I could watch those two play all day long because they don't give up."
Lillig was a 2016 state doubles qualifier and top-24 finisher with graduated Charlie McDonough, now playing club tennis at Notre Dame.
Henrikson and Desmond were 1-1 as the other sectional doubles entry. Four-year player Henrikson convinced Desmond to come out as a sophomore after playing baseball in 2014. A few matches into last season they were united on the court.
"(Our goals are) just to finish in the top three in conference and I want at least a chance to compete for the chance to make state. I think we can," Desmond said.
Sirinit is just beginning his memorable moments. He's played United States Tennis Association tournaments for years but admitted he was a little nervous for his first high school opener.
"It's been really fun, preseason training with all the others. Then the match, it was kind of exciting to cheer everyone," Sirinit said. "I want to do my best and get some good wins because there are some big players that I don't really get to play because of my (younger USTA) age group - and make state. I heard state's really fun and really competitive."
"It's his rookie year because he's a freshman but he is not a rookie," Clousing said. "He's going to really enjoy his first season because he is going to have a lot of success."
Besides their 5-4 opening loss to Wheaton North, the Dukes have competed with limited lineups. Three of seven returnees from the conference meet lineup were absent Tuesday because of illness or injury and German foreign exchange student Lion Hoelzel, who often will play No. 1, still was out of town.
"Walter Payton (High School) and Benet brought their full-strength lineup and I was throwing whatever I could at them," said first-year York coach Shawna (Zuccarini) Zsinko, a former standout player at Hinsdale Central and assistant coach for the girls team.
"I was pleasantly surprised with this team. I feel like we have a lot of depth. We usually win at Nos. 3 and 4 doubles and No. 3 singles."
Wit and Brigman played only a couple of doubles matches in 2016 but beat Wheaton North. Brigman primarily played No. 3 singles as a freshman.
"We're feeling pretty good, a lot of things to look forward to in the future," said Wit, 1-2 at state doubles. "State was really fun. It was a great experience. It was a painful loss that third match (7-6, 6-3 to Belleville East). I just have a lot of motivation to get back there. It's going to be a tough sectional with the split in the (two) classes, but I'm still hoping to make it."