URBANA - Urbana High School’s boys tennis team dropped its home match to visiting Morton on Tuesday at Blair Park, falling 8-1 in a nonconference contest. The lone win for the Tigers came courtesy of Samuel Sherwood at No. 3 singles.
Sherwood earned a straight-sets victory over Morton’s Max Roosa, winning 6-4, 6-2, to account for Urbana’s only point on the day. He later paired with Xander Ashley in a closely contested No. 1 doubles match, falling to Morton’s Ryan Klopfenstein and Joal Larson in a super tiebreaker, 1-6, 6-2, 13-11.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana Sam Sherwood follows through on a shot while playing against Uni-High earlier this month. The junior walked away Wednesday's match against the Potters with a victory.
Morton swept the remaining singles and doubles matches, though Urbana pushed the Potters in several spots. At No. 2 singles, Karl Bonita took the first set before falling to Larson, 5-7, 6-2, 10-2. Zach Olson came within reach of a second team point at No. 5 singles, forcing a third-set tiebreak before ultimately dropping a 6-1, 1-6, 16-14 decision to Tate Darcy.
In doubles, Urbana’s No. 2 team of Theodore Nevins and Gus Rund lost 6-2, 6-4, while Olson and Kavi Patel came up short at No. 3 doubles in a tight first-set tiebreaker before falling 7-6 (1), 6-2.
Urbana is scheduled to return to the court today, facing St. Thomas More at the Atkins Tennis Center on the University of Illinois campus. First serve against the Sabers is slated for 4:30 p.m.
University High's Robert Gao celebrates after grueling doubles victory against Urbana's Karl Bonita and Santi Lleras. Narrowing taking the first set, and dropping the second, Gao and partner Kyle Fan won the tiebreak, 10-7. See more match photos below.
URBANA - Despite less-than-favorable weather conditions—a steady breeze and temperatures in the mid-40s—at Atkins Tennis Center, the Uni High boys tennis team swept all six singles matches Tuesday in a home contest against crosstown rival Urbana High School, cruising to an 8-1 victory.
Freshman Jameson LaFave defeated Urbana junior Xander Ashley 7-6 (5), 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Ashley bounced back in doubles, teaming with Sam Sherwood for the Tigers' lone win of the day. The Urbana duo rallied past Josh Persiani and Ian Pan at No. 2 doubles, winning 2-6, 6-1, 10-7.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana's Sam Sherwood lines up backhand shot during his double match with partner Xander Ashley at No. 2 doubles.
At No. 1 doubles, Urbana’s Santi Lleras and Karl Bonita dropped the first set 7-6 (5) but made dozens of sharp plays and dominated serve-plus-one points to take the second set 6-2. However, Uni High’s Robert Gao and Kyle Fan showed resilience in the third-set tiebreak, capturing the final three points after a 7-7 deadlock to close out the match.
Urbana returns to action Wednesday for a nonconference match against St. Thomas More at Atkins. The Illineks will travel to Bloomington on Saturday before hosting St. Teresa at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Match Results
Singles:
No. 1 - Jameson LaFave, Uni def. Xander Ashley, Urbana 7-6 (5), 6-2
No. 2 - Swapnil Kumar, Uni def. Karl Bonita, Urbana 6-1 , 6-3
No. 3 - Robert Gao, Uni def. Santi Lleras, Urbana 6-2 , 6-2
No. 4 - Kyle Fan, Uni def. Samuel Sherwood, Urbana 6-2 , 6-2
No. 5 - Josh Persiani, Uni def. Theodore Nevins, Urbana 6-3 , 6-4
No. 6 - Ian Pan, Uni def. Gus Rund, Urbana 6-2 , 1-6 , 10-5
Doubles:
No. 1 - Robert Gao - Kyle Fan, Uni def. Santi Lleras, Urbana - Karl Bonita, Urbana 6-3 , 2-6 , 10-7
No. 2 - Xander Ashley - Samuel Sherwood, Urbana def. Josh Persiani - Ian Pan, Uni 2-6 , 6-1 , 10-7
No. 3 - Collins Rosch - Tristen Ting, Uni def. Theodore Nevins - Gus Rund, Urbana 7-6 (5), 6-2
EAST LANSING — University of Illinois junior Kenta Miyoshi has secured his place in the NCAA Singles Championship following a stellar performance at the ITA Midwest Regional held at Michigan State University. Miyoshi's qualification marks a significant milestone in his collegiate tennis career as he prepares to compete in Waco, Texas, from Nov. 19-24.
The Kawasaki, Japan, native showcased remarkable consistency and poise throughout the tournament, stringing together five consecutive victories before falling in the final to top-seeded and top-ranked Ozan Baris of Michigan State. Miyoshi’s progress highlights the growing competitiveness of Big Ten players on the national circuit. His adaptability and skill against ranked opponents position him as a strong contender in Waco, while his resilience and discipline make him one to watch in the upcoming season at Illinois.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Kenta Miyoshi rips a forehand shot at the 2023 Illini Open. The Illinois junior will play against the top college tennis players in the country at the NCAA Singles Championship later this week.
Miyoshi opened the competition with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Alex Fuchs of Ohio State in the Round of 64, followed by a dominant 6-0, 6-0 shutout against Michigan State’s David Saye. His commanding form continued in the Round of 16 with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory over Michigan’s Alex Cairo.
The quarterfinals and semifinals tested Miyoshi’s mettle against ranked opponents. He outlasted No. 4 seed and No. 13-ranked Sebastian Dominko (Notre Dame) 6-2, 7-6(6) in the quarters and edged past No. 6 seed and No. 70-ranked Alexander Bernard (Ohio State) in a nail-biting 7-6(8), 6-4 semifinal. Despite his valiant effort, Miyoshi succumbed 6-4, 6-3 in the final against Baris, capping an exceptional run at the ITA Midwest Regional.
Miyoshi’s performance in East Lansing adds to an impressive fall season in which he boasts a 10-4 singles record, with seven of those wins coming against ranked opponents. This includes a standout victory in the singles consolation bracket at the Battle in the Bay, where he recorded four consecutive wins over ranked competition.
The junior’s consistency against elite opposition has been a hallmark of his fall campaign. Out of his 14 singles matches, 10 were against ranked players, underscoring his readiness to compete at the highest level. Miyoshi becomes one of just eight Big Ten athletes to advance to the 64-player NCAA Singles Championship draw this fall, a prestigious event now held in autumn for the first time.
Miyoshi will face No. 77 Jack Loutit of Kentucky in the opening round of the NCAA Singles Championship. Loutit, a sophomore originally from Auckland, New Zealand, brings an impressive pedigree with a top-50 ITF Junior ranking and multiple international titles. Their matchup promises to be an early highlight of the tournament as Miyoshi continues to establish presence representing Illinois on the national stage.
Miyoshi is aiming to become the first Illinois men’s tennis player since Amer Delic in 2003 to claim the NCAA singles title. With his recent form and ability to excel under pressure, Miyoshi may be the next tennis star to represent the Illini tennis program.
Sara Kearney hits the ball back over the net during her doubles game against the Urbana tennis team with partner Ella Dietiker. The pair were back in action together Tuesday after Monday's road loss to the Tigers.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
URBANA - Spartans Ainsley Rhoten and Olivia Getty pulled out wins in singles play at Atkins Tennis Center on Tuesday against Watseka. When the ball fuzz had settled, St. Joseph-Ogden came up short, losing to the Warriors, 7-2.
Rhoten defeated Watseka's Annika Greene in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Meanwhile, playing on the #5 court, Getty battled Warriors' Rose Koester in a marathon, three-setter, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 10-4.
The Spartans are back in action this Thursday at Centennial High School.
Final Score:
St. Joseph-Ogden 2 - Watseka - 7Singles:
Sarah Parsons, Watseka def. Samantha Kelso, (SJO), 6-2 , 6-1. Marisa Clark, Watseka def. Madison Clampitt, (SJO), 6-3, 6-1. Skyla Buwalda, Watseka def. Madison Farber, (SJO), 6-3 , 6-0. Ainsley Rhoten, (SJO) def. Annika Greene, Watseka, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Olivia Getty, (SJO) def. Rose Koester, Watseka, 7-6 (4), 6-1 , 10-4. Reagan Anderson, Watseka def. Audrey Benoit, (SJO), 6-3 , 6-1.
Doubles:
Sarah Parsons/Kiaria Wright, Watseka def. MaKennah Hamilton/Lily Rice, (SJO), 6-2 , 7-5. Marisa Clark/Skyla Buwalda, Watseka def. Ella Dieteker/Sara Kearney, (SJO), 7-5 , 6-2. Annika Greene, Watseka/Lili Sorenson, Watseka def. Claire Hartman/Arely Castro (SJO), 6-3 , 6-1.
URBANA - St. Joseph-Ogden's Sami Kelso hits a forehand during her match against Urbana's Grace Coady on Monday at Blair Park. Kelso, who lost to Coady earlier in the season, prevailed via 6-3, 7-6 victory at #1 singles for the Spartans' only individual win. The SJO tennis team dropped the non-conference match 8-1 to the host Tigers. More Sentinel photos from this match are coming soon.
URBANA - Urbana's Grace Coady concentrates on hitting a backhand shot during her #1 singles match with St. Joseph-Ogden's Sami Kelso on Monday at Blair Park on Monday. Coady fell in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6. Later, teaming up with Lillian Hall at #1 doubles, the pair defeated visiting Spartans Lily Rice and MaKennah Hamilton in a scorching three-set match end at 4-6, 6-2, 10-6. After sunset and the dust settled, the Tigers defeated SJO, 8-1. More photos from this match are coming soon.
St. Joseph-Ogden's Lilly Rice stretches to return a volley during the Spartans' tennis match against Urbana on September 3. Rice, along with partner MaKennah Hamilton, went 1-2 in the doubles division competition at the annual Charger Invite in August.
CHAMPAIGN - Central's Estell Shin and St. Joseph-Ogden's Madison Clampitt won one match and lost two to lead the area's girls at last month's Charger Invite.
In her first match, Shin defeated Urbana's Lillian Hall, 6-2, 6-1. She then lost her next two matches, falling to O'Fallon's Natalie Spihlman, 6-0, 6-0, and Conant's Elyssa Rojas Kantcheva by the same score.
Clampitt lost her tournament opener to Warrenville South's Anna Ittersagen, 6-0, 6-0. Recovering from the loss, she earned a convincing win over Central's Mary Kim, 6-2, 6-3.
In her final match of the day, Clampitt took the first set off Danville's Samantha Brown, 6-3. Brown won the second set without dropping a game, 6-0, forcing a third-set tie-break. Clampitt battled for every point but came up short in the breaker, 10-4.
SINGLES RESULTS:
Morgan Seagle, Belleville (West) - Gabrielle Patterson, Belleville (West) def. Sara Kearney, St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) - Olivia Getty, St. Joseph-Ogden, 6-1, 6-0
PONTIAC - People everywhere are conquering their cabin fever and are enjoying the great outdoors after a long, bitter winter. But before you head out for that hike, health care experts remind you to take precautions to avoid tick bites. Read more . . .
CHICAGO - An Illinois law professor is weighing in on what she called a "very public and open test of due process" for immigrants being deported from the United States without court hearings. Read more . . .
CHAMPAIGN - In a show of solidarity against President Donald Trump's trade and immigration policies, which critics say are harming families and retirement savings, more than a thousand protesters gathered Saturday at West Park near downtown Champaign for the Hands-Off! Mobilization rally. Read more . . .
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The quarterfinals and semifinals tested Miyoshi’s mettle against ranked opponents. He outlasted No. 4 seed and No. 13-ranked Sebastian Dominko (Notre Dame) 6-2, 7-6(6) in the quarters and edged past No. 6 seed and No. 70-ranked Alexander Bernard (Ohio State) in a nail-biting 7-6(8), 6-4 semifinal. Despite his valiant effort, Miyoshi succumbed 6-4, 6-3 in the final against Baris, capping an exceptional run at the ITA Midwest Regional.
Miyoshi’s performance in East Lansing adds to an impressive fall season in which he boasts a 10-4 singles record, with seven of those wins coming against ranked opponents. This includes a standout victory in the singles consolation bracket at the Battle in the Bay, where he recorded four consecutive wins over ranked competition.
The junior’s consistency against elite opposition has been a hallmark of his fall campaign. Out of his 14 singles matches, 10 were against ranked players, underscoring his readiness to compete at the highest level. Miyoshi becomes one of just eight Big Ten athletes to advance to the 64-player NCAA Singles Championship draw this fall, a prestigious event now held in autumn for the first time.
Miyoshi will face No. 77 Jack Loutit of Kentucky in the opening round of the NCAA Singles Championship. Loutit, a sophomore originally from Auckland, New Zealand, brings an impressive pedigree with a top-50 ITF Junior ranking and multiple international titles. Their matchup promises to be an early highlight of the tournament as Miyoshi continues to establish presence representing Illinois on the national stage.
Miyoshi is aiming to become the first Illinois men’s tennis player since Amer Delic in 2003 to claim the NCAA singles title. With his recent form and ability to excel under pressure, Miyoshi may be the next tennis star to represent the Illini tennis program.
