Girls tennis: Fremd wins tourney but Barrington regains MSL title
The rivalry between the girls tennis teams from Barrington and Fremd is alive and well as the Fillies, Vikings and the rest of the Mid-Suburban League met Tuesday for the start of the postseason - the MSL championships.
Fremd netted four individual titles and two second-place finishes, while Barrington notched two solo winners and three second-place showings.
Fremd posted 52 points good enough for the MSL Tournament win. Barrington took second with 50 points. However, because of the Fillies' win in the head-to-head matchup, the conference title returned to Barrington.
Prospect fell to third place with 35 points, while Hersey and Buffalo Grove tied for fourth overall.
Prior to Fremd's overall conference win in 2017, Barrington had recorded 23 consecutive MSL crowns. Barrington coach Tracy Waters-Miller bids farewell to her final regular season win with the full lineup as she retires at season's end.
"It's a nice way to end, and we absolutely played as a full team," said Waters-Miller. "Next week (at sectionals), we have to start all over again and I always tell the girls to play present and play happy. When you go against a very good team like Fremd, you just have to play every match down to the end. It's a win-win for both teams.
"I've been really lucky and fortunate for the past 33 years. I don't know what the future brings, but (Barrington) looks pretty good because my lower level coaches are so good. I'm retiring from teaching, but I hope to be coaching again. But like I tell the players I have to stay present. I don't like change and being present is what's helped me and the team to focus."
Barrington's top finishers included the No. 3 doubles team of sophomore Nisha Janamanchi/senior Barbara Covek, who tallied a 6-0, 6-2 title win over Fremd's sophomore tandem of Katie Sze/April Wu. The triumphant Barrington team was senior Alvi Saira/sophomore Sofia Hutchinson, registering a 6-3, 6-2 win over Fremd sisters Emma and Chloe Johnfroe.
Other Barrington medalists included junior No. 1 singles player Niyanthi Puliyala (second place), freshman No. 3 singles player Nurayn Khan (third place), the No. 1 doubles duet of Mounika Gadiraju/Kathleen Tomasian (second place) and the senior duo of Caroline Tomasian/Julia Pisani (second place).
"You can't worry about a (seed) and a name," Puliyala said. "I just tell myself to play my game. (We can) win the point. The challenge is getting in the right mental spot. Play your game, don't worry about (your opponent's) game."
Fremd's two top doubles teams, No. 1 Kyra Emmanouillidis/freshman Akari Matsuno and the No. 2 tandem of senior Diya Matta/junior Kellie Ha have manufactured a lucrative 2018 campaign. Emmanouillidis/Matsuno are undefeated in 2018, while Matta/Ha's sole loss this season was in a 10-point tiebreaker in the Mustang Invite last week to their aforementioned teammates.
Each team notched titles in their respective flights. Emmanouillidis/Matsuno defeated Gadiraju/Tomasian 6-2, 6-0 in the final, while Matta/Ha bested Pisani/Caroline Tomasian 6-0, 6-1.
Other Fremd champs included No. 2 singles freshman Sonal Matta, who defeated Hersey freshman Sydney Hemenway 6-3, 6-2, as well as junior Jane Bodensteiner, who tallied a 6-0, 6-1 first-place finish over Rolling Meadows senior Lexi Zielinski.
"It was absolutely incredible what we did," said Fremd coach Scott Newmark. "One and two doubles have been unbelievable all year. I can't be more proud of Sonal and Jane, who came out and won four matches without a bye.
"Nothing can be taken for granted because every match is a big. Three out of the four on the doubles teams (Diya Matta, Emmanouillidis and Kelli Ha) have sectionals experience, but they know the pressure is on them being the top doubles in the state. Everyone is going to be tested (at sectionals)."
At No. 1 singles, Hersey's Natalia Osiecki took the MSL by storm this season as she logged a league title. The Huskies' freshman recorded a 6-2, 6-2 win over Buffalo Grove senior Kina Tamai and won her final over Puliyala 6-2, 3-0 retired.