Boys tennis: Burlington Central's Welker third in Class 1A

The face of Burlington Central boys tennis closed the book on a brilliant four-year career Saturday afternoon in Arlington Heights.

That's where Nicolas Welker overcame a heartbreaking semifinal defeat to come back and claim a Class 1A third-place state medal after his 6-0, 7-5 win over Andy Graf of Mascoutah on the final day of the 103rd year of the boys state tennis tournament.

Welker will leave with two state medals, four state appearances and two sectional titles to set the bar high at Central, which until he burst onto the scene, had never seen a player such as the Grand Valley State-bound Welker.

"Its been an amazing four years of tennis for me, and after winning that three-set quarterfinal on Friday then knowing I would finish higher than last year, it made an incredible day No. 2 a lot easier to take," said Welker.

The BC star weathered a three-plus hour storm with Ben Mitchell in which he outlasted the Latin School of Chicago sophomore 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 6-1 to reach an early morning semifinal on Saturday only to find his extra long contest with Mitchell had taken its toll.

"When I woke up this morning I felt the full effect of my match with Mitchell," Welker said. "I ached all over, my legs were so sore when I rolled but I started to feel a little better after a shower, breakfast and just moving around a little bit."

Welker was quick not to use his aches and pains as an excuse for his straight-set loss to top seed Natan Spear (Northside) who would later fall in the state final to Arjun Asokumar (Chicago U-High) in three sets.

"I thought I played well against Natan, but he was the better player, and that was that," said the classy Welker.

"It was a great way to end my high school career, and with two state medals, and this one being one for third place it's something that I can be proud of."

The Asokumar victory would help draw Chicago U-High into a tie for first overall with Normal University, which claimed the top prize at doubles, while the Latin School of Chicago fell one point short (28-27) of its 1A rival.

In Class 2A, Hinsdale Central enjoyed a big day with Jake Elliot capturing the singles title, and teammates Trevor Hamilton-Andrew Buehlos joining the party at doubles to give the Red Devils their fifth state title in the last seven years.

Central outscored runners-up Stevenson and New Trier 44-33, and defending champion Naperville Central, which finished with 30 points.

Jacobs tied for 16th with two others.