Tennis wins sixth consecutive sectional title
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By Anthony Jones
sports.times.tribune@gmail.com
For the sixth season in a row, Triad boys tennis won an IHSA Sectional title.
Their plaque securing performance began on May 19 as the team traveled to Alton Marquette for the state qualifying rounds. The Knights gathered enough points on the first day to clinch the team sectional crown.
Triad also proved to be the only team with multiple state qualifiers, as all four of their entries advanced to the IHSA Championships.
Jake Stewart qualified for the Knights at the top singles spot after scoring 6-2, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-0 victories in the opening rounds. He was crowned sectional champion the following day after a 6-1, 6-1 semifinal win and a 6-0, 6-0 outing in the title match.
With the win, the Triad senior became only the second player in program history to repeat as sectional champion. His state qualification also marked the third time he advanced beyond sectionals in his three season career.
Triad’s other singles competitor, Joe Cass, advanced through qualifying day with 6-4, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-0 decisions. Cass became the second Knight in history to advance to state during his freshman campaign.
In his semifinal match, the first-year standout fell 6-4, 6-3 to Marquette senior Stetson Isringhousen. Cass ultimately finished fourth at the sectional after dropping his placement match 6-2, 6-1.
In doubles play, seniors Dillon Henderson and Marc Froidcouer took home the doubles crown for Triad. Their title marked the third consecutive sectional championship for the doubles pairing, a stretch that saw them amass a 24-0 set record.
Their first day of the tournament featured a 6-0, 6-0 and a 6-1, 6-3 win for the dynamic duo. They closed out the sectional with 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-4 decisions the following day.
Sophomore Ethan Stewart and senior Andrew Carter also teamed for the Knights in doubles action. The third seeded pairing opened with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Althoff and a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Waterloo clinched their state qualification.
Suffering their lone loss of the tournament, Carter and Stewart fell 6-3, 6-1 to a second seeded Mascoutah unit in the semi-finals. The Knights responded with a 6-1, 7-5 win in the third place matchup.
Triad’s list of advancers, who tout a combined nine previous state qualifications, advances to the IHSA State Finals tournament that begins May 25. The season-ending event will be played at Palatine High School and surrounding area courts.