More aggressive Nitz ready for another shot at state meet

In the 2 years Dillon Nitz has been in high school, he has now qualified for the state tournament twice.

The Sterling sophomore No. 1 singles player is hoping to improve on his 1-2 showing at state last year, when he lost to Marian’s Donald Flynn in three sets in the first round, beat North Shore Country Day’s Evan Fedin in a tiebreaker in the first round of the consolation bracket, then fell to Lemont’s Arjun Reddigari in a second-set tiebreaker in the second consolation round.

This time as he prepares for state, he knows what to expect when he gets there.

“It’s time to stay mentally focused,” Nitz said. “It’s time to focus on my game, because the whole season is about the postseason, it’s about state and how we do at state. While it’s great to win conference and sectionals, I have to stay prepared this week and just stay mentally focused.”

Nitz (24-1) has seen his game evolve, not just since his last trip to state last year, but also in the past month. During the Streaks Invitational in Galesburg, Nitz lost to Dunlap’s Aanan Kashyap – Nitz’s only loss of the year so far.

“That was the last match I played where I just tried to be consistent,” Nitz said. “Since then, I’ve become more aggressive, try to move my opponents side to side. I think that my aggressive baseline play has improved a lot.”

He has seen a big boost in his play thanks to those aggressive shots. He lost twice to Alleman’s Joey Miller last year, but at sectional he met Miller again, beating him 6-4, 6-2 in the sectional final.

“I knew coming into this year he was going to be my biggest competition,” Nitz said. “My aggressive play felt good.”

Sterling coach Dan Young is hoping that aggressive play will help Nitz not just make a run to state, but make a run while he’s there.

“Last year he was a consistent player, but he didn’t necessarily have the offensive shots to go deep in state,” Young said. “We’ve been working on that this year, and hoping that we’ll go farther.”

Nitz will open the state tournament today at Buffalo Grove against Jack Butler of Carbondale. With a win, he would face either Hinsdale South’s Joris Bizys or Alton Marquette’s Nathan Joehl in the second round.

Meanwhile in doubles play, Dixon juniors Jonathan Rivera and Daniel Ferguson will open state play at Prospect High against the team of Matt Nguyen and Nikhil Mangtani of Vernon Hills.

“The main difference between the regular season and what you see at state is that every single player, they don’t give up, they fight to the end,” Nitz said. “They don’t make as many mistakes as some of the non-state qualifiers do. I just have to stay with it the whole time, have the fighting spirit, and I can’t give up when I’m at state.”​

IHSA state tennis tournament

Thursday through Saturday, various sites around Chicago suburbs

Singles

Dillon Nitz, Sterling vs. Jack Butler, Carbondale, at Bufalo Grove High School

Doubles

Jonathan Rivera & Daniel Ferguson, Dixon vs. Nikhil Mangtani & Matt Nguyen, Vernon Hills, at Prospect High School