Girls tennis state preview: Singles players hope to end medal drought

It’s been a long time since a local girls tennis player has earned a medal at the state finals.

But as a group of nine singles players head to this year’s state tournament, which runs from Thursday to Saturday at various sites in the northwest suburbs, there is a real possibility that the long drought of local schools not having an all-stater could come to an end.

Two players who both went 4-2 at state a year ago look like they might be able to finally pull off the feat, while a few veterans and some newcomers also hope to end the streak.

Joliet Catholic Academy junior Mia Bertino went 4-2 a year ago and also posted a 4-2 mark as a freshman in Class 1A. She won her first three matches in each of those seasons to reach the quarterfinals before going 1-2 and falling one win shy of a medal. She was the top seed in her sectional and lost two games in her four matches. She’s a 9-16 seed.

Plainfield North sophomore Grace Chadick also went 4-2 in last year’s Class 2A state tournament. After splitting her first two matches, Chadick won three in a row in the consolation bracket before being eliminated.

Minooka freshman Annabelle Siegel was a No. 1 seed in the Lockport Sectional and she and No. 2 seed Chadick split 6-3 decisions before Chadick won, 6-0, in the finale. Both players are seeded between nine and 16.

The area’s other singles player who was a sectional champion is Providence Catholic freshman Emma Davis, who was the top seed in her Class 1A sectional and helped the Celtics to win the team title by one point over Marian Catholic. She is a 9-16 seed.

Also advancing in Class 2A singles play were Lockport junior Natallie Barth, Plainfield Central senior Katie Kearney, Lincoln-Way Central junior Kiana Sikich and Lincoln-Way West junior Natalie Singh.

Sikich also qualified for state in singles last season, Barth and Singh both advanced in doubles a year ago, while this is Kearney’s first state appearance.

The area’s other qualifier in Class 1A singles is Lemont freshman Amanda Lopykinski, who also is a 9-16 seed.

Lockport’s twin sister combination of seniors Bri and Cassidy Hillock were the No. 1 seeds in their sectional and dropped three games during their four matches to win the title and help their team beat Plainfield North, 29-24, for first place.

Bri Hillock qualified in doubles for the third year in a row, while Cassidy Hillock also advanced to state in singles last season. They are seeded between nine and 16.

Lincoln-Way Central junior Emma Rimkunas and freshman Kara Rimkunas also were the top seeds in their sectional, and they also captured a title in that meet. Emma Rimkunas qualified in singles during the past two years.

Lockport senior Maddy Grcevic and sophomore Kamila Kalinowska are making their first state appearances after placing second to the Hillock sisters in their sectional.

In Class 2A, four doubles qualifiers will make their first state trips. They are Lincoln-Way Central junior Lily Malas and sophomore Micaela Cesta, Lincoln-Way East juniors Maddie Harper and Ellie Marion, Minooka senior Kacie Moore and sophomore Isabelle Figarelli and Plainfield North senior Mikayla Dwyer and junior Stephanie Kucera.

Two of the three Class 1A doubles qualifiers feature an individual who previously has advanced to state.

Lemont senior Grace Horky, who competed in singles in both 2015 and 2017, joins senior Maggie O’Brien on one those teams that advanced.

Providence senior Bridget Koval qualified in doubles in 2016 and is going back to state along with senior Olivia Goodwin.

Two first-time doubles qualifiers in Class 1A are Morris senior Abbie Borgstrom and sophomore Cheyanne Phillips.