The Wheaton North boys tennis team entered the season with high expectations.
With 9 of their 11 starters back, the Falcons were primed to be among the top teams in DuPage County.
Through the first 10 days of May, the Falcons have lived up to their goals this season by winning 16 of their 17 matches this season, including defeating St. Charles East in DuKane Conference play on Monday. The Falcons are currently in first place in the conference, four points ahead of Wheaton Warrenville South. The conference tourney is scheduled for this weekend.
“We started the season with three goals: winning the DuKane Conference, qualifying three, if not four positions, for the state tournament and winning a sectional title, and then having those state qualifiers going deep in the state tournament with those qualifiers,” Wheaton North coach Eric Laird said. “With so many returnees, we have great depth and experience. This weekend, we’re hoping to not only maintain, but build on our lead to finish the regular season in dominant fashion.”
At the top of the list among Laird’s talented returnees is singles player Henry Ros. He’s won 16 of his 20 matches this season, and remains undefeated in conference play.
“Henry is a smart, all-court grinder with an amazing work ethic and determination,” Laird said. “We truly have two doubles teams, Niku Cowart and Vaughn Smith, at No. 1 doubles. They’re 19-3 overall, undefeated in conference and a smart, active doubles team with great positioning and strategy. Then, we have Devon Jones and Will Parrilli, at No. 2 doubles. They’re 16-4 overall, and undefeated in conference. They’ve played together last year and have amazing court coverage and communication. Our doubles have been a strength for us all year.”
The Falcons gained a big momentum push last weekend by winning the York quad. Ros finished with two wins in three matches, and Dylan Wallace and Bharath Sudharsan also had solid showings.
“I had to shift my lineup and put my normal No. 2 singles player, Dylan Wallace, at No. 2 doubles and shift my No. 3 singles player, Bharath Sudharsan, up to No. 2 singles,” Laird said. “They both did an awesome job contributing at their new spots on that day.
“This has been a fabulous season so far with an amazing group of young men. They’re great students, hard working, encouraging, respectful and competitive with great energy and enthusiasm.”
Willowbrook update:
Willowbrook tennis coach Ed Delacruz is ready for some normalcy this spring. After numerous matches were rained out combined with the heavy wind, mostly sunless afternoons and spate of cold weather, Delacruz said his program is aiming to finish the season on a positive note.
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