Knights finish seventh at IHSA Tennis
By Anthony Jones
sports.times.tribune@gmail.com
Triad boys tennis recorded their best state finish ever at last week’s IHSA State Finals.
The Knights finished in a tie for seventh overall after scoring 15 points. Their total was only three points away from earning a third place trophy.
Eight of the team’s total points came from the doubles pairing of Marc Froidcoeur and Dillon Henderson.
The senior duo recorded wins in their first three matches in two sets. Their victories came against Sacred Heart-Griffin, St. Viator and Dunlap pairings.
Froidcoeur and Henderson suffered their first defeat in the quarterfinals, losing 6-0, 6-3 to Goldstein and Tismensky of Chicago Latin. That duo ultimately finished second overall.
Triad’s top doubles squad responded with wins over Chicago University and Hinsdale South to reach the consolation championship.
In their fifth place battle with St. Ignatius, Froidcoeur and Henderson ultimately fell 6-1, 6-3. Their sixth place finish made them the first in Triad history to earn an IHSA State medal.
Senior Jake Stewart rounded up five points for the Knights from singles play. The senior standout began his state play with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Yin of Normal University and a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Waslik of Crystal Lake Central.
Stewart fell 6-0, 6-1 in the next round to Garapati of Chicago Latin. Garapati finished the tournament in third place.
In his first consolation match, Stewart added a 7-5, 6-0 win over Todorov of Schaumburg Christian. A subsequent 6-1, 6-1 loss to Burke of Benet Academy ended Triad’s top single player’s season.
Finishing in thirteenth place overall, Stewart tied for the highest singles finish in school history.
The doubles squad of Andrew Carter and Ethan Stewart tallied the Knights’ two other points at the tournament. Those points came from an opening round 6-1, 6-1 victory over Rockford Christian.
Freshman Joe Cass also competed for Triad at the season-ending competition. He 6-2, 6-0 in his opening match before suffering a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 defeat in consolation play.
