BOYS TENNIS
With the exception of state champion Glenbrook North, no boys tennis team in Illinois enjoyed a finer season than Lyons Township last year. Finishing second in the state, the LT players certainly deserve a curtain call for what coach Bill Wham succinctly described as the school’s “best season ever” on the tennis courts.
With renewed high expectations, the prevailing question now becomes what can the Lions possibly do for an encore? Obviously, the only available spot up the postseason ladder is winning a state title, but Wham is taking a more measured albeit no less ambitious approach to the season.
“We would love to repeat our performance at state,” Wham said. “I know we have a good team, but whether we can be a great team, I’m not sure yet. The important thing is to be playing good tennis at the end of the year.”
The Lions’ formidable No.1 doubles team of senior Jon Smits and junior Dave Robare take top billing amid an impressive marquee of players. The lefty(Smits)-righty(Robare) tandem powered their way to a 24-3 record and second place finish at state losing to Highland Park’s Jeff Chudacoff and Justin Lewis 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.
“Jon and Dave are a very athletic doubles team,” Wham said about his top two players. “They serve and volley well and just have a great chemistry on the court.”
Senior Andrew Shannon, one of the more gifted athletes Wham has seen during his 15 years of coaching at LT, and Nick Tannura, a double specialist, will hold down the No.2 doubles slot.
With Smits and Robare penciled in as the top two singles players as well, Wham will call upon John Moskal, Jake Caldwell and Nick Kenaga to round out a versatile singles rotation. Moskal and Kenaga, who play doubles together, are both tall, rangy players that have a good understanding of the game via extensive tournament play during the year.
Andrew Herzog, who possesses a big serve and huge forehand, will be another valuable player for the Lions. Matt Kelly, Ryan Fregeau, Phil Brown and Pat Stafford also may see action for an LT team that loses four of its six key players from last year’s state team.
Last season, the Lions cranked out a Roger Federer-like perfect 12-0 dual match record.
“We have a lot of talent,” Wham noted. “Our goals are to win conference, win the sectional and finish in the top ten at state.”
As usual, LT will compete in a top heavy West Suburban (Silver) Conference. Hinsdale Central and Oak Park captured fifth and ninth, respectively, at the state tournament last spring.
“I think Hinsdale Central is probably the preseason favorite,” Wham said about LT’s conference co-champion last year. “We should also be right there along with Oak Park.”