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The 2016 IHSA Boys Tennis State Finals will unfold on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, May 26-28. The finals will be played at numerous high school courts throughout suburban Chicago (see sidebar on right), with Hersey High School in Arlington Heights serving as Tournament Central and hosting all Saturday matches. Should weather force the action indoors, continue to follow www.IHSA.org and IHSA Weather on Twitter (@IHSAWeather) for updates.
The 2016 tourney will mark the final year of one-class tennis in Illinois, as the tournament expands to two classes in 2017.
Earlier this week, a committee of coaches seeded the Top 4 players in each bracket, who are then separated into different quadrants within the bracket. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are set, while the two singles players/doubles tandems designated as the No. 3/4 seeds are interchangeable between the two seed positions. The committee then seeds a groups of four players (5-8) who are also interchangeable between the four seed positions. The flexible seeding allows for provisions to be made to try and prevent players from the same high school or same Sectionals from having to matchup until as late as possible in the state meet.
12 schools this weekend will be playing with the maximum four entries (6 total players: two singles, two doubles pairs) and the chance to optimize points toward hoisting the team state title, including 2015 runner-up Lyons and third-place finisher New Trier. Not included in that group is four-time defending team state champion Hinsdale Central, which begs the question if 2016 will see the Red Devils title run come to an end. The school’s three entries have plenty of state final experience, as seniors Nick Calzolano and Michael Czlonka earned the No. 2 Doubles seed. Calzolano teamed with then freshman Zach Elliot, who is the school’s lone singles player this season, a year ago to reach the quarterfinals of the championship bracket. Czlonka also played into the doubles quarterfinals a year ago and hopes that teaming with Calzolano will produce the program’s third doubles crown in the past five years.
Fourth a year ago, Deerfield enters with the chance to sweep the individual titles, a feat that if realized could lead to the program’s fourth overall team state championship. The Warriors have the top singles seed in senior Vic Budic, while fellow seniors Chris Casati and Niko Wasilewicz are the defending doubles state champions and top seed as they try to become the first duo to repeat since 2010 (Hinsdale Central’s Dan Ballantine & Ian Tesmond).
New Trier was the last school to win the team title prior to Hinsdale Central’s current run, as the Trevians went back-to-back in 2010 and 2011. New Trier has the depth to contend again, as the team boasts a seeded singles player in senior Scott Bickel (5-8 seed), as well as two seeded doubles tandems (5-8 seeds, Jeffrey Chen & Michael Kusznerko, Ricky Mayer & Wyatt Mayer). Meanwhile, senior Tom Bickel is back in the singles field after reaching the consolation semifinals in 2015.
Highland Park has posted Top 10 team finishes in eight of the past 10 seasons, and another could be on tap in 2016. Junior Jacob Edelchik is a seeded singles player this weekend (5-8) after a quarterfinal appearance last year, while seniors David Aizenberg and Brandon Lew are the 3/4 seed. Aizenberg was a part of the doubles duo that placed third in the state in 2015.
Glenbrook North, who tied for eighth with Highland Park last season, is eyeing its first trophy since placing second in 1998. The young Spartans feature junior Mark Wu (5-8 singles seed), as well as the sophomore tandem of Austin Klapman and Nick Marino, who also earned a seed in the 5-8 grouping.
Rockford Christian’s Brandon Ancona is playing great tennis in his senior season, one year after falling one victory shy of the quarterfinals. Ancona’s school has never produced a singles state champ, nor have the schools’ of three other seeded players, including Rolling Meadows senior Mack Galvin (3/4), Neuqua Valley senior Brett Meyers (3/4), and Dunlap junior Victor Spolidorio (5-8).
Edwardsville has never had a singles or doubles state champion in school history, but that could change this weekend, or over the course of next three seasons, as the freshman combo of Zach Trimpe and Alex Gray enter the weekend as the No. 3 doubles seed.
Richwoods’ Kiran Patel-O’Connor and Zach Settelmyer are in the 5-8 doubles seed grouping one year after they reached the quarterfinals of the state tournament where they lost to the eventual state champs. As seniors, they are vying to become the first Richwoods doubles tandem to ever win a state title.
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
101st year of State Series
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Hersey High School
Arlington Heights
Directions
OTHER COURTS
Barrington High School
Buffalo Grove High School
Conant High School
Fremd High School
Hersey High School
Hoffman Estates High School
Palatine High School
Prospect High School
Rolling Meadows High School
Schaumburg High School
Wheeling High School
WEATHER
Updates/delays posted on Twitter at @IHSAWeather
SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 26
Matches begin at 8:00 a.m.
Friday, May 27
Back draw at 8:00 a.m.
Main draw at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 28
Back draw at 8:00 a.m.
Main draw at 9:00 a.m.
* Suspended matches will be played at a site and time TBA by tournament managers
LIVE RESULTS
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
TICKETS
There is no charge for admission at this event
SOCIAL MEDIA
#IHSA on Twitter
Twitter - @IHSAstate
Twitter Weather Updates
Instagram - @IHSA_IL
Facebook.com/IHSA.IL
Classic IHSA YouTube Video
OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva
Photos from VIP
Balls from Wilson
Souvenir Program
STUDENT SAFETY
Play Smart. Play Hard.
Take the PSPH pledge...
BROADCAST
No broadcasts currently scheduled for this event
HISTORY & RECORDS
2016 State Series
Record Book & Past Champions
100-Year Anniversary
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