Area Roundup: Ottawa’s Walker and Linde, Streator’s Rashid see IHSA State Tennis runs come to an end

SUBURBAN CHICAGO — The area’s three state qualifiers all saw their remarkable seasons come to an end Thursday on the opening day of the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet held at various suburban locations.

But not without getting one last win in the books.

In singles play, Streator’s Davey Rashid triumphed 6-4, 6-7 (2), 12-10 over Springfield’s David Lu to open his day. In the second round, the Bulldogs ace fell 6-1, 6-0 to Chicago Latin’s Will Benford; then was eliminated with a 6-0, 6-3 defeat to Dunlap’s Venil Tummarakota.

The Ottawa doubles team of Sam Walker and Regan Linde followed a similar path, opening Thursday by winning a three-set opener 6-4, 2-6, 10-5 over Mattoon’s Josh Ramage and Pierce Farmer. The Pirates duo then was defeated twice — 6-0, 6-0 by Chicago Latin’s Sam Cutinho and Antonio Feliciano, then 6-1, 6-0 to Belleville Althoff’s John Nester and Cole Curtis — to see its postseason run ended.

Boys track and field

Marrs, McCulskie-Green take sectional titles: At the Rochelle Class 2A Sectional, Sandwich jumper Jayden McCulskie-Green and sprinter Michael Marrs each captured two sectional titles and qualified for next week’s IHSA State Finals.

McCulskie-Green was victorious in both the triple jump (14.00 meters) and high jump (1.87). Marrs won both the 100-meter dash (10.99 seconds) and the 200 (:22.12).

Sandwich’s 4x200 team of Noah Klossing, McCulskie-Green, Ethan Weeks and Marrs also won their event (1:31.23) and will compete in Charleston.

Also qualifying for state with second-place finishes were Wyatt Miller (3.36 in pole vault) and Steve Aguilar (51.93 in the 400).

Softball

Marquette supersectional tickets all-digital: Tickets for Monday’s Illinois Wesleyan Class 1A Supersectional game featuring Marquette Academy are only available digitally. There will be no cash sales at the gate.

Fans can download the GOFAN app or click the GOFAN logo at ihsa.org to purchase tickets, which cost $7. Fans can show use cell phones with the link provided after purchasing to gain entry.

Area coaches receive IBCA honors: A number of basketball coaches from the area were honored this week by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) as High School Coaches of the Year for their and their teams’ success during the COVID-abbreviated 2020-21 season.

High school boys head coaches named IBCA Coaches of the Year include Somonauk’s Curt Alsvig, Ottawa’s Mark Cooper, Streator’s Beau Doty, Indian Creek’s Joe Piekarz, Princeton’s Jason Smith and Fieldcrest’s Matt Winkler.

High school girls head coaches named IBCA Coaches of the Year include Serena’s Jim Jobst and Seneca’s Ted O’Boyle.

Woodland junior high girls basketball coach Kevin Derossett and Flanagan junior high boys basketball coach Josh Rich were also honored as IBCA Coaches of the Year.