Benet’s Siemann shows skills on court, on stage

Updated: May 7, 2011 9:17PM

If you hear Benet’s Chris Siemann talking about sets, you may need clarification.

He could either be speaking of tennis or musical theater, both areas where he’s made quite a name for himself in his four years of high school.

Siemann, who has played second singles the past two seasons for the Redwings, has also taken on the challenge of performing in the school musicals, usually in major roles.

“I really love both activities,” said Siemann. “And I’m really appreciative that coach Michael Hand and music director Brian Wand understand my interests and have worked together to minimize the time conflicts.”

After months of auditions and rehearsals, the school’s production of “Oklahoma” in which Siemann played Ado Annie’s father, finished its last performance in March, freeing him to devote the rest of the semester to tennis.

“It was hectic there for the first few weeks of tennis practice,” he said. “But it’s working out fine. I was raised in a ‘if you want something go out and get it mentality’ so working at both has become second nature by this time.”

Siemann’s mom, Georgia, got him into singing when he was in grade school, and he started appearing in shows in junior high.

As a freshman at Benet he had one of the leads in “Beauty and the Beast.” And, as a junior, he got his favorite role as Cinderella’s Prince in “Into the Woods.”

He took singing lessons during his sophomore year and now considers himself a singer and actor who dances — and plays tennis.

“I like musicals because you get to sing and act,” Siemann said.

As one of the Redwings’ top two singles players, Siemann just missed making state last year when he was beaten in the sectionals by Naperville North’s Gordon Zhang. This year the Redwing senior is hoping to get over that last hurdle to qualify for state.

“As a tennis player, Chris is a counterpuncher,” said Hand. “He’s consistent and he keeps the ball in play. His game is to hit as many balls as he can and frustrate the opponent.”

“I’m going to grab every point I can,” Siemann said. “No matter what the score I’m going to pound that ball and get that point.”

Does Siemann see any similarities between his work on the stage and tennis?

“In both you have to think and react fast,” he said. “Tennis is like improv in that with every comeback you have to instantly determine what you’re going to do and where you’re going to hit it.”

Siemann, who also sings and cantors at St. Procopius Abbey, plays at the Naperville Tennis Club in the offseason, but admits he didn’t play as much as he wanted to last year due to his volunteering commitments with community theater and summer theater. He also serves as a camp counselor where he shares his knowledge of theater with children.

Oh, and he carries a 94 GPA and scored a 32 on the ACT. In college he plans to double major in business and theater and also play club tennis. He’s been accepted at Purdue.

“I would like to stay in the industry even when my performing days are over,” Siemann said. “When I started, I had no idea that it would be as big a part of my life as it has become.”

Chatterjee is Warriors’ anchor

In a year marked by defections, suspensions, ineligibilities and players missing time because of outside activities, Deep Chatterjee has been a godsend for Waubonsie Valley tennis coach Phil Galow.

“Just as he was last year, Deep is a rock,” said Galow, whose Warriors sport a 10-1 record despite all the personnel problems. “He’s always there and you can count on him. He’s coachable and you don’t have to worry about his grades or whether he’s coming to practice.”

The coach also appreciates Chatterjee’s versatility.

“He can play singles or doubles and he’s eager to play wherever he’s needed,” Galow said. ”He’s going to play somewhere in the lineup at the top.”

At second singles Chatterjee has a 15-3 record and he moved up to No. 1 at the Lincoln-Way East Tournament filling in for Abhi Singh who was attending a business conference. Chatterjee was 1-2 in the tournament.

“Playing No. 1 was a good experience for Deep,” Galow said. “He played aggressively and with confidence. And he’s the kind of kid who learns something that he can add to his game in every match and in every practice. I think the experience at first-singles will help him when he goes back to No. 2 singles at the Naper Valley tournament this weekend. “

Last year Chatterjee and Patrick Zhao finished third in the Upstate Eight Conference at second doubles, despite going into the tournament unseeded.

“Deep did a lot of work in the offseason,” Galow said. “We still don’t know where he’s going to play at sectionals because he’s good at either singles or doubles. Right now, I’d say he has a better chance of qualifying for state at doubles.”

At Lincoln-Way East Zhao and Sam Raymond finished third at second doubles.

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