Neuqua’s Baiocchi a team player

Updated: April 29, 2011 12:16AM

Add character to the list of attributes that make Neuqua Valley’s Michael Baiocchi one of the more impressive tennis players in the area.

Baiocchi, a state qualifier last year at singles, worked hard on his doubles game in the offseason and he was looking forward to playing doubles.

But he agreed to go back to singles for the good of the team, due to lineup changes made necessary by the unexpected loss of two starters.

“Michael really worked on his volley game because he enjoys the doubles game,” said Neuqua Valley coach Trudy Bennorth. “He had his heart set on playing doubles. But he’s doing this for the team. He’s really being a good sport by moving over. He never complains, and he helps out wherever we need him. I really appreciate him.”

At singles, Baiocchi is 6-0 this season, which includes three wins last weekend at the Downers South Invitational, and plans are to keep him at singles for another run at state, where he finished Top 24 last year.

“The work on doubles really helped his singles game,” Bennorth said. “He had been a little shy about coming to the net. Now he’s confident on his volleys. And his serve has improved as well. He’s getting a lot of points off his serve.”

Bennorth also had high praise for Nick Anderson and Tyler Wall, who are playing good tennis at first doubles. Wall is a two-time state qualifier whose partner graduated, and Anderson, who was at second singles, but played doubles last year, has proved to be the perfect replacement.

Freshman steps in

Freshman Wesley Lo is an answer to Naperville Central coach Dan Brown’s prayers.

With a doubles lineup depleted by the graduation of five players, Brown was in need of immediate help, and Lo turned out to be that rare highly skilled freshman who loves to play doubles.

Lo moved right in to first doubles where he’s teaming with senior Chris Harrison to make an effective duo that has produced a 13-2 record.

“Wesley has really fast hands,” said Brown. “He has a strong serve and great court awareness. He’s exactly what we needed.”

“I played a lot of singles in USTA tournaments,” said Lo. “And I liked that, but I really have more fun playing doubles.”

Lo said he prefers doubles because he just enjoys playing with a partner.

“I like the idea of two people using our strengths to make something better,” Lo said. “You rely on each other and you trust each other. You have to stay really active and get to everything. Chris and I have good communication. We work well together and we’ve developed a friendship.”

Lo and Harrison’s skills mesh perfectly for a doubles team.

“He’s got great groundstrokes and I have good volleys, which makes for a great combination,” Lo said. “That allows me to poach and move about at the net. He sets me up perfectly. Hopefully we can make state, which would be great for Chris in his senior year.”

“It’s unusual for a freshman and a senior to work together so well,” said Brown. “They look like they’ve been playing doubles together for quite some time.”

Staying in rhythm

Tennis isn’t the only extra-curricular activity Lo has jumped right into his freshman year.

He is also active in Drum Show, which completed its performances recently after three months of intensive practice.

Although he takes his turn at different instruments, Lo’s favorite is the marimba.

“I have a piano background,” he said. “On marimba I can sight-read and hit different tones and different notes. It was fun practicing to work with different people and then to go out on stage and perform what we’ve been practicing for months.”

He sees similarities between tennis and Drum Show.

“Everyone gets along well, and we go out and perform or play,” said Lo. “You can be serious and enjoy time with friends. Last semester I really had to juggle my activities, but everything settled down and I’m managing my time better.”

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