After last year’s strong team performance, the boy’s varsity tennis team came into the season with high expectations. The team returned seven seniors and a team that went a perfect 4-0 in conference.
It is safe to say that the team has exceeded expectations by repeating a 4-0 record in conference and improving their nonconference record. The Bulldogs defeated two good programs in Mundelein and Wheeling. They also won the District 88 Classic and Willowbrook tournament by winning against another historically good program in Niles West. This was the first time Coach Brennan Denny has had a team that won this tournament. |
Junior Alex Wilson returns a ball at a recent match against Elmwood Park.
Photo courtesy of Anita Krieger |
Now the Bulldogs can afford to look ahead to sectionals after sweeping the conference meet this past weekend. Each varsity singles and doubles players took first in conference. Despite cruising through the conference, the team knows that they will have a big challenge at sectionals.
Denny agrees that sectionals will not be easy. “Coach (Tom) Fuller and I have preached all season that our best players will have to play their best tennis at the Downers Grove South Sectional in order to qualify individuals for the state tournament at Arlington Heights.”
Sectionals begin on May 23, and the top four singles players and the top four doubles teams will qualify for state. The Downers Grove sectional is a very tough one, which hosts some of the top teams in the state. Large schools such as Lyons Township, Downers Grove North, and Downers Grove South will present a challenge for the Bulldogs along with a strong Hinsdale South team.
The Bulldogs have had a very good year, but they would like to make one last push and send a few players to state. Denny knows that it will be a challenge for his kids to qualify for state.
|
“We would love to give our kids the opportunity to qualify for the state tournament, and they will have to outperform veteran state performers to fulfill that opportunity,” he said.
It is the last chance for all of the seniors to qualify for state. Seniors Kevin and Jason Piersialla are the first doubles team and boast a 19-4 record. Their wins on the year include winning the Leyden and Wheeling Quads. Senior Justin Gurga has played both singles and doubles this year and is undefeated at the second and third singles positions.
Other top performers include Junior Mike Otmanski, who is first singles, and brothers Junior Alex Wilson and Sophomore Bradley Wilson. They have both played singles and doubles throughout the course of the season.
As the season comes to a close, so does the careers of the six seniors. Next year, everyone will need to step up to replace the Piersiallas, Gurga, Matt Leo, Brendan Farnham, and Andy Jones.
Denny says of the six seniors, “Their talent, presence, and light humor on the court will be missed, and next year’s varsity will have to be led by student athletes that commit to improving their game.”
--Submitted by Charlie Morrissey, Staff Reporter |
