If you wish to bake an apple pie from scratch...you must first read the Edwardsville Tennis Weekly Recap!
The past weekend saw the Boys make Edwardsville tennis’s first trip to Chicago since Girls State 2019: a year and a half total and nearly two full years for a boys team. Friday night, the Tigers faced off against Jacobs High School from Algonquin in a match that was about much more than tennis. The match was an official fundraiser for Hit for Henry, a charity to support Jacobs’ coach Jon Betts’ son Henry, born with muscular dystrophy. Both teams wore custom Hit for Henry shirts for the match (check photo below). Anyone wishing to get involved with helping Henry and supporting the fight against muscular dystrophy should get in contact with Coach Lipe.
The actual match itself was a tightly contested affair, with a strong Jacobs team winning 9-6. Certain recappers would not be surprised to see them in the top 10 of state come mid-June. The Tigers played well, however, with Jade Dynamic taking a win at no. 3 singles. Colton Hulme lost 6-2, 7-5 to a strong no. 1 player, and Jace Ackerman and Alex Lane lost tight three-set matches. Edwardsville’s wins came mostly from good play toward the bottom of the lineup, capped most memorably by “wild animal” Jacob Summers winning a full third set in his match at no. 7 singles.
On Saturday, EHS took part in the Hersey Invite, hosted by John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. (Quick English teacher plug: if you’ve never read Hersey’s essay, “Hiroshima,” the first account published in the United States about what it was like on the ground in Hiroshima during and after the first atomic bombing, it’s a must-read). The tournament offered a unique format for downstate teams: seven matches being played all at once for the dual match score, with 3 singles matches and 4 doubles matches. That means 11 kids got to travel and play varsity matches this weekend! It was an awesome opportunity, and some of the players seized on their opportunity.
In the first match the Tigers downed the Prospect Knights 4-3, with wins coming via Colton Hulme at 1 singles, Michael Karibian and Jade Dynamic at 1 doubles, Ben Blake and Alex Lane at 3 doubles, and Teddy Lopansri and Harrison Feco at 4 doubles.
Next the Tigers travelled to Hersey High School to face the host Huskies, who are a GOOD team headlined by defending state finalist Maxwell Sheldon, who is committed to play at Michigan State next year. EHS fell 2-5, with wins coming via strong doubles play from Adrian Norcio and Jace Ackerman at no. 2 doubles, and Ben Blake and ALex Lane at no. 3 doubles.
In the 3rd place match, the boys squared off against Huntley High School, ultimately prevailing in another tight 4-3 match. Wins came courtesy of Jade Dynamic and Michael Karibian at 1 doubles, Jace Ackerman and Adrian Norcio at 2 doubles, and Ben Blake and Alex Lane at 3 doubles. Colton Hulme clinched the match at 1 singles, coming back from being down 1-4 in the 2nd set to win five straight games.
Overall the weekend was a huge success, and multiple Tigers played the best tennis of their careers, which is always one of the team goals. Particular shout-outs go to Jace Ackerman and Adrian Norcio, as well as Ben Blake and Alex Lane, the latter pair going undefeated on Saturday: both teams had great doubles play all day.
This week is jam-packed: the boys have a JV match Monday at Belleville West, a varsity match Tuesday at Alton, and a Thursday varsity match at O’Fallon. On Saturday the varsity will play Principia High School in St. Louis, while the JV participates in the Belleville East tournament.
In individual tournament action, Katie Woods won the girls 14s consolation flight in Peoria. Way to go Katie! This is just the latest in a great string of success for her.
JTT had another successful Sunday. The 18u advanced team defeated St. Joe’s, while 18u Gold defeated Woodsmill. 14u’s defeated Vetta Concord for a great win. At the 12u Green Ball level, ETA’s first team was victorious while the second team fell in a close match. Big highlight of the day goes to Zoe Byron in her first match on the 18u team, who went undefeated with three wins on the day! Below, Zoe and Sophie celebrate a pair of team JTT wins with Bobby’s. ’Tis the frozen custard season!
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