Aurora won't represent in finals

Oswego East's Kylee Jackson executes a backhand during her doubles match with sister Jourdan on Tuesday against Oswego.
(Mary Beth Nolan/For the Beacon News)

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On Day 1 of the 16-team NaperValley Tournament, the three local boys tennis teams found the going tough.

Against some of the most elite talent in the state, Geneva, Waubonsie Valley and West Aurora have all been knocked out of the championship bracket of all five flights. Geneva does have three entries still alive in the consolation bracket to fight for third place, while Waubonsie has two and West Aurora one.

Waubonsie Valley had a frustrating start to the day, with senior Sean James at No. 1 singles winning the first set of his consolation match against Benet's JP Sullivan, 6-1, only to drop the final two, 6-4, 6-0, eliminating him from a shot at third. The frustration continued at No. 1 doubles, as sophomore Max Botbol and freshman Nick Ohl held a lead in the first set of their consolation match against Palatine, only to see it evaporate with a 6-0 loss to follow.

But the Warriors did salvage two shots at third place today at No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles. Seniors Greg Keating and Cole Eisses fell in the first round at No. 2 doubles in three sets to St. Charles North, but bounced back for a 6-2, 6-4 win over Quincy sophomores Alec Oshner and Austin Brown.

"They lost the first in three sets and felt that they should have won that," Waubonsie coach Phil Galow said. "They're starting to show a little more consistency. They've played a little more together. They have more confidence in the second set."

Sophomores Zach Nygren and Kevin Muthu are also alive in the fight for third place at No. 3 doubles after a 6-3, 6-2 win over Benet's Matthew Nelligan and Andrew Herrmann in their consolation match.

Geneva freshman West Adelman won a thriller in the first round at No. 2 singles, dropping the first set, 7-6 (6-1) to Quincy's Drake Bellis before rebounding for consecutive 6-4, 6-4 wins. He then fell to top-seeded Krishna Ravella of Hinsdale Central, 6-0, 6-0.

The Vikings also remained in the running for third place at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Seniors Rich Michaels and Greg Adelman handled West Aurora's Corey Koskinen and Michael Holm, 6-1, 6-2, in the consolation round at No. 2 doubles. And at No. 3, seniors Mike Fellicelli and Mike Tourte took care of West Aurora's Aaron Grecco and Kennan Johnson, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round before being sent back to the consolation bracket after a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Tim McAdams and Camron Uslander of Oak Park-River Forest.

At No. 1 doubles, senior Wes Kappel and sophomore Collin Rapp had a great shot of advancing for a chance to play for third place after taking the first set against Wheaton Academy's Charles West and Devin Moore, 6-3. But Wheaton Academy roared back to take the next two sets, 6-4, 6-0.

"We had a lot of chances that we should have taken advantage of," Kappel said. "There were a lot of points that could have gone either way, and most of them went their way."

West Aurora's lone entry still alive in the third-place bracket is No. 1 singles player Matt Kuntzi. The freshman won the first set of his opening-round match against Lawson Barter of Loyola in stirring fashion, 7-6 (7-6). But Barter came back to blank Kuntzi in the next two sets. But Kuntzi rebounded with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Avery Bellis of Quincy to remain in the third-place bracket.