The LT girls tennis team will have quite the 1-2 punch in sophomore Alex Chatt and freshman Christian Thoms this season. The trick for head coach Bill Wham will be finding the right combination of players to complement his terrific tandem of young singles players.
“It’s kind of like basketball when a team has two guards, no forwards and a center,” Wham said. “We’re still trying to find the right spots for everybody. Alex and Christian are head and shoulders above our other players, but I think the rest of the kids will pick it up and get there in time.”
Chatt, the Lions’ lone returning state qualifier, appears poised for a big sophomore campaign. More importantly, Chatt (22-7 record through sectionals last season) is injury-free after enduring some setbacks with her hips and right knee last season. Thoms is a highly skilled and welcomed addition at No. 2 singles for LT.
“Alex and Christian are nationally ranked players,” Wham said. “They are very strong baseline players, but they can do it all on a tennis court. I like the fact that they also understand the game and know how to set up points.”
The Lions’ previous No. 1 doubles team Madeline Barnabee and Alexis Reisch graduated, so senior Katie Miller and sophomore Samantha Sherman (8-2 at No. 2 doubles last season) are the probable candidates to take over that position. Maggie and Annie Wiedner played together at No. 4 doubles last season, while singles players like sophomore Maggie Schwartz and junior Maeve Plunkett will also contribute for the Lions.
Last year, LT went 14-2 in dual matches and finished tied for second with Glenbard West during the regular season. After the West Suburban (Silver) Conference Meet, the final standings were: Hinsdale Central (80 points) won the overall conference title, followed by Glenbard West (61 points) and then the third-place Lions (53 points).
“We’ll have a good team,” Wham said. “In the conference it’s hard to see anybody challenging Hinsdale Central. We’ll have a shot against them in some singles matches, but to beat them overall in a dual match is very difficult.”
Lyons opens the season on Thursday against Sandburg.