Eagle(s) of the Week

2020-2021

Sectional Week

John Kaiser, Justin Cunningham, Kyle McNally, Thomas Nelson, Jed Sia, Justin Brzeski

What a return to postseason play it was! The boys played great tennis across the board, with all six earning State berths. In singles, it was an all Golden Eagle final as Kyle played a magnificent match to take the individual title over Thomas. In doubles, Jed and Justin fell to Huntley's top doubles pair in the semifinals before bouncing back to beat their second doubles team for bronze. John and Justin, playing in their third and first sectionals, respectively, rolled through the draw, leaving no doubt they are the top doubles duo as they captured the title.

FVC Week

Thomas Nelson, Kyle McNally, John Kaiser, Justin Cunningham, Jed Sia, Brandon Japkowski

With so many variables entering the end of season conference tournament, the result was very much in doubt. Undeterred by the daunting challenges, the team fought hard all weekend to eek out another FVC tournament title. Thomas (1st singles), Kyle (2nd singles), John & Justin (1st doubles), and Jed & Brandon (2nd doubles) led the way with individual championships, all without dropping a single set in the two day event.

Week 6

Thomas Nelson

Thomas has been steadily compiling another tremendous season as he's led the team from the top singles position. This week, after contributing to a pair of team conference the junior found himself in the state's most prestigious field, the Pitchford Invitational. The Pitchford, referred to as "Mini State," features sixteen of the state's top twenty programs and is often a great predictor for the post-season. With a pair of wins and a narrow 3-set loss to Fremd, Thomas definitely gave notice that he'll be a factor in the State discussion!

Week 5

Kris Shah & Aidan Talreja

This was a tough choice, with honorable mention going to John Kaiser & Justin Cunningham, who knocked off GBS for the Maine South title at first doubles. Though it was a short week, Kris & Aidan made the most of it, bouncing back from a tough finish to the Prospect Invite which meant withdrawing from their final match. On Monday, the senior-junior duo took a big step up in competition, playing second doubles against St. Charles North. Despite trailing much of the match, Kris & Aidan dug in, fought back, and captured a tie-break victory to clinch the team victory, helping keep the team's lengthy winning streak intact.

Week 4

Andrew Fulton

Andrew has continued to have a great season after making the move to doubles from singles. He remains undefeated in conference play and and had a great tournament in the prestigious Prospect Power 8 Invite. As impressive as the gritty wins were that he and Jubin recorded over Prospect and Highland Park, Andrew's Eagle of the Week honors have nothing to do with his wins and losses. In the championship match Saturday, trailing state powerhouse New Trier 7-9 in the third set super tie-break, the Trevians hit a ball that just caught the outside of the doubles sideline. Initially called out, Andrew correctly overturned the call. Having been in tennis for over twenty years, I can tell you just how rare, and just how special this is. Yes, winning a title would have been great, but having a player show that much character, integrity, and sportsmanship in such a high-stakes pressure situation? That's something special.

Week 3

John Kaiser & Justin Cunningham

We knew this pair was poised to have a solid season, but this senior/junior pairing is already exceeding expectations with some tremendous results early in the season. This week, after a straight set win over Hampshire in the conference opener, the duo faced perennial state power Edwardsville. Tremendous team play carried them through to an 8-4 result against a talented Tiger pair. Transitioning into singles, an admitted weakness for both, Kaiser & Justin each played inspired tennis, pulling out a pair of gritty wins (7-5, 4-6, 10-7 & 7-5, 7-6, respectively) to clinch a huge team victory over the visiting St. Louis squad. Our team's success will undoubtedly hinge on the performance and leadership of these two outstanding young men. From what they've shown so far, we're in for an outstanding season!

Week 2

Kyle McNally

Sophomore Kyle McNally had a tremendous start to his high school career. In the first action of the season, Kyle recorded a pair of lopsided singles wins and a hard-fought doubles result. Only just the beginning!

Week 1

Bobby Puente

After more than a year away, anticipation and trepidation were present in equal parts as we returned to the courts for the 2020-2021 season on Monday. Any anxiety we may have had, however, was quickly put to rest as Bobby arrived, enthusiastically greeting everyone. Throughout the week, Bobby continued to demonstrate exemplary character and enthusiasm; constantly complimenting and cheering on his teammates. With his attitude and positivity, it'll be tough to beat Bobby for this season's Sportsmanship Award!

2018-2019

Fox Valley Conference Tournament Week

Varsity - Alex Luy & Chris Kastritis

Despite being given the top seed at fourth doubles, Chris & Alex couldn't have had a tougher draw. A semifinal matchup with Huntley, a team Chris lost to in lopsided fashion with a different partner earlier in the season, looked to be a tremendously consequential one. Huntley took the opening set 6-0, but, undeterred, Kastreudel and Luy bounced back to take the second set and, ultimately, the match, winning the third set 7-5 with a tremendous performance. The win did prove to be the decider, mathematically clinching the team title over the Red Raiders.

Week 8 (CLS, Jacobs & Freeport Invitationals)

Varsity - Ben Cannon & Justin Brzeski

In a rain shortened week, Ben and Justin made the most of their opportunities, winning the week's lone FVC matchup over the visiting Crystal Lake South Gators before our own home invitational. The junior-freshman combo continued to gel recording lopsided wins over St. Viator and Rockford-Auburn at third doubles as they helped Jacobs reach the finals. In the championship match, Ben and Justin fought back from a set down, winning back to back tie-breaks for a three-set win over Lake Forest Academy in a thrilling match!

Week 7 (PR, Marian, CG, Marengo, Pitchford Invitational)

Varsity - Ethan Schmidt & Brandon Dinh

It was a big week for the junior pair, who recorded dominant wins over Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove at second doubles and Marian at first doubles before heading into the prestigious Pitchford Invitational. The Pitchford, often referred to as "Mini State" brings in most of Illinois' top programs. With such a rich collection of talent, wins are hard to come by. Ethan and Brandon finished the snow-shortened tournament with a 2-1 record and even garnered attention from other coaches in their loss. One coach shared "your boys played an incredible match with Barrington, it was just 'pop, pop, pop!' The Barrington kids thought they could just blast through your team, but your boys just play such great doubles and had such tremendous hands, they were holding their own! I even got yelled at by my players for watching that match instead of our match!"

Week 6 (McH, Streamwood, Oswego, Downer's Grove South Invitational)

Varsity - Kyle Burton

Kyle is having another dominant season at second singles position this year, where he remains a dominant force. This week, he had the opportunity to test himself against the top singles players from Streamwood, Oswego, and Batavia. High quality matches led to close losses to state tournament veterans Sardo midweek and Bremner in the Maine South championship match, but it was a win over Veltkamp that proved a highlight for the season. As a sophomore, Kyle suffered a tough loss, but avenged that result with a hard-fought win on Wednesday.

Week 5 (HUN, DC, HAM, Elgin, Maine South & Freeport Invitationals)

Varsity - Kevin Burton & John Kaiser

What a week for the one doubles pair! On Tuesday, they opened up Fox Valley Conference play with a crucial three-set win, helping to clinch a 4-3 decision over the defending conference champion Red Raiders. After following up with a win over Dundee-Crown, Kevin and John overcame brutal conditions to record another three set win to preserve a 7-0 win over Hampshire. At the Maine South Invitational, the duo had a tough opener, but after dropping the first set to York 0-6, Kevin and John roared back to take the second set and take the win with a 13-11 third set tie-break!

Week 4 (Triad Invitational & Jacobs Quad)

Varsity - Kyle Burton & Thomas Nelson

Kyle and Thomas had a strong showing in our first weekend of play. On Friday, the two singles players paired up in a college format match at first doubles to face Normal University's standout duo. In a dramatic three setter, the Golden Eagles played phenomenal tennis to capture a thrilling win. On Saturday, in the Triad Invitational, bouncing between singles and doubles, the senior and freshman set the tempo for the team, winning in straight sets over Centralia, Rock Island, Washington, and O'Fallon as they matched up with the toughest competition the opposing schools put on court.

Week 3 (Spring Break)

Varsity - Brandon Japkowski (9)

First year Brandon Japkowski has had a frustrating start to his freshman season. Knee discomfort has sidelined him for a couple weeks, but that hasn't stopped him from contributing to the program and putting the team first. Over spring break, Brandon has tied nets, fixed brooms, fed balls, and even occupied Coach Betts' extremely busy children. Great attitude, Brandon. We can't wait to have you back contributing fully on the court, too!

Week 2 (IntraSquad Tournaments)

Varsity - Grant Stelton (11)

Second year player Grant Stelton had an outstanding week in our Brown & Gold Challenge intrasquad tournament. The junior recorded impressive wins, frustrating three returning varsity competitors along the way, to capture the title in his flight. With some of the best hands and reflexes on the team, Grant is putting himself in position for a great debut season!

Week 1 (Hanover Double-Header: Barrington & Fremd)

Varsity - Chris Kastritis (11)

Junior Chris "Kastreudel" Kastritis earned the first Eagle of the Week honors this spring for his efforts on and off the court. In our recent double-header, Chris was asked to step out of his comfort zone to compete in a singles match with MSL power Fremd. After dropping a lopsided first set, Chris found his feet in the second set, making excellent adjustments. Though his rally came too late to capture the result, he pushed his opponent in a competitive second set. More importantly, Chris has picked up where he left off last spring, taking on a leadership role in the program. This has led to a much smoother and more efficient start to the preseason. With the hard work apparent in his game, the results are sure to come, but the dedication to his teammates is where the biggest impact will be felt. Way to take initiative, Kastreudel!

2017-2018

Week 8 (State Week)

Varsity - Kerwin Chong (12)

Kerwin wrapped up his unprecedented high school career in fittingly impressive fashion. Kerwin is a four time (undefeated!) conference champion and four time state qualifier (twice each in doubles and singles). In his fourth trip to the state finals, Kerwin drew a tough first round opponent in Waubonsie Valley's Anthony Nguyen. After falling in the opener, Kerwin bounced back, winning four straight matches in the backdraw (including a dramatic 15-13 third set tie-break over Highland Park's Jeremy Learner). I loss in a rare state rematch with Nguyen eliminated Chong, whose efforts were good enough for a top-16 finish.

Week 7 (Sectionals Week)

Varsity - Kyle & Kevin Burton (11)

Kyle & Kevin have spent countless hours together, but it wasn't until Tuesday when the twins recorded their first official IHSA high school doubles match together. With a focus on a successful state bid, the pair got going with a capable win over Prospect HS. Entering the postseason with a paltry 1-0 record is maybe less than inspiring, but the Burton Brothers quickly put any concerns to rest. In their IHSA Sectional tournament debut, Kyle & Kev dispatched Cary-Grove's second doubles team without dropping a game. In the state qualifying match, the boys seemed undaunted as they proceeded to send home Huntley's FVC runner-up duo 6-2, 6-4. In the semifinal, the 5th seeded brothers dropped the first set 2-6 before rallying. After taking the second set in a tie-break, they punched their ticket to the final with a 3-set win over a strong Barrington team. Though they ultimately came up short in the final, Kyle & Kevin certainly made coaches take notice that they have the potential to play some outstanding tennis and are only getting better. It's going to be a lot of fun at State!

Week 6 (FVC Week)

Varsity - Luke Esswein (12)

Fox Valley Conference Tournament week was full of many exceptional performances. Kerwin Chong picked up his fourth consecutive FVC title to cap off a 56-0 FVC record, Kevin Burton & John Kaiser avenged a loss to McHenry, and upset the fourth seed from DC to reach the final four at first doubles where they fell 9-11 in the third set tie-break to the second-seeded Huntley team, and Jacob Bielawski & Alex Luy upset a seeded Prairie Ridge team and pushed their semi-final and third place match opponents to dramatic third-set tie-breaks. Despite all of the great tennis, the biggest win came from senior Luke "Lukie-Poo" Esswein at third singles, whose incredible come from behind win put an exclamation point on his high school career. Playing in the fifth place match (an 8-game pro-set due to weather), Luke trailed 0-5 to a solid Cary-Grove opponent. Undeterred, Luke demonstrated the grit that has always defined his game. When it was all over, Luke had earned a 5th place conference finish with an 8-6 win!

Week 5 (McH, DC, Jacobs & Freeport Invitationals)

Varsity - Chandler Marchi (11)

As Loverboy once said, "Everybody's workin' for the weekend." This declaration certainly applies to EoW honoree Chandler Marchi. After a businesslike but unremarkable week on court, Chandler dug deep in the Freeport Invitational. Playing in the second singles position, Chandler won his first three matches before facing host Freeport. Trailing by a wide deficit, he rallied back to capture a tie-break victory that proved the deciding point in a 3-2 team affair, and earning the Golden Eagles the honor of hoisting the championship trophy in the land of the pretzel.

Week 4 (CG, PR, & Pitchford Invitational)

Varsity - Kerwin Chong (12)

Kerwin impressively extended his lifetime FVC unbeaten streak this week with wins over Cary-Grove and Prairie Ridge. More impressively, he announced himself to the state tournament seeding committee with a strong showing at the prestigious Pitchford Invitational. The tournament, which brings together the who's who in Illinois tennis, is often a preview of what to expect in the IHSA State Finals. Kerwin made an immediate statement by dispatching his first round opponent from Lake Forest, following the win up with several tough matches, including a win over Deerfield, all before heading off to Prom.

Week 3 (CLS, HUN, & DGS Invitational)

Varsity - Ethan Schmidt & Brandon Dinh (10/10)

The sophomore duo, affectionately known as "E$" and "DinhDinh" have been asked to take a big step up in competition from their freshman season. In their first year, the pair played mostly Frosh-Soph singles, occasionally partnering up at the Frosh-Soph 2nd doubles position. This week, they recorded a 3-set varsity first doubles win over perennial rival Crystal Lake South as well as a 3-set varsity second doubles win over Rolling Meadows in the DGS Invite. It seems that Ethan and Brandon improve with every match they play, a trend that makes us very excited about this young team!

Week 2 (CLC & HAM)

Varsity - John Kaiser (9)

Freshman John Kaiser was thrown right into the mix, playing first doubles in his FVC debut against Crystal Lake Central. Despite a tough 3-set loss to an aggressive Tigers pair, Kaiser bounced back with a huge performance against Hampshire on Thursday. In a meet where every team point was at an absolute premium, John came up clutch against a tough Whip-Pur opponent at the 3rd singles position. Falling behind 1-5 in the first set, he raced back to steal the set 7-5. Kaiser then found himself on the short end of a 4-6 second set. Heading into the deciding set, every other match had already been decided. With enthusiastic supporters in both gold and purple at the fences, there was no shortage of excitement or pressure. In this environment, against a tough opponent, Kaiser played the most mature set I've seen from a freshman in a long time, adjusting his strategy to capture the third set and help Jacobs top Hampshire 5-2.

Week 1 (Troy-Triad Invitational)

Varsity - Kyle Burton (11)

Kyle picked up where he left off, ending 2017 and starting 2018 as the Eagle of the Week. After over a month of less than stellar weather, far too many days spent indoors, and a handful of rained (and snowed) out matches, Kyle made the most of the sliver of playable weather he had in St. Louis this past Saturday. In the first two rounds, Kyle dominated his competition, knocking off his Hillside and Triad opponents without dropping a game. In his final match, Kyle was tested, battling back from a set behind to move to 3-0 on the season with a 3rd set tiebreak win.

2016-2017

State Week

Varsity - Kyle Burton

Though he failed to record a victory, Kyle showed well in his first state trip as a singles player. Facing a draw that couldn't be much tougher, Kyle competed hard in losses to Glenbrook South and Bradley-Bourbonnais and showed why we're so excited to have him returning in 2018.

Sectional Week

Varsity - Kerwin Chong, Kyle Burton, Matt Kastritis & Winston Yau

It was another successful Sectional campaign as the Golden Eagles brought home a fifth consecutive sectional team title. Though the weather didn't cooperate and graduation ceremonies made for some interesting scheduling, the boys responded well. In singles, Kerwin cruised to the final, earning Runner-Up honors and his first state trip in singles. Kyle played some of his best tennis of the year, neatly dispatching two tough opponents to qualify before a competitive loss to the eventual champion. In doubles, Matt and Winston had a nervy qualifier before coming back and putting their best tennis on display for the semifinals and finals, topping the 1st and 4th seeds in one-sided matches to claim the doubles championship.

FVC Week

Varsity - Ryan Elliott & Jack Nickoley and Brandon Jones & Mauricio Martinez

The Fox Valley Conference Tournament proved a perfect sendoff for these four seniors.

At 3rd Doubles, Ryan and Jack opened with a dominant first round win before facing a tough challenge from Crystal Lake Central in the semifinal. The pair pulled off a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win to advance to the final, where they defeated Cary-Grove 6-2, 6-3 to take the title.

In the 4th Doubles position, Mauricio and BJ found themselves at the brink of defeat in their semifinal with Cary-Grove where, down 2-5 in the third set and facing double match point, the duo came roaring back, reeling off five straight games to win the third set 7-5 and advance to the finals, beating McHenry for the championship.

The incredible runs by these four helped drive the overall race as the Golden Eagles captured their second straight team title.

Week 6 (5/1-5/7)

Varsity - Jacob Moser & Jakub Sobkowicz

The duo kicked off their new pairing in style, going 5-1 this week. In conference play, a nail-bitingly close three set loss was bookended by dominant performances against McHenry and Dundee-Crown. Jacob & Jakub brought their 2-1 record into the weekend, where they clinched a first round win for the team in a hard-fought victory over Rockford Auburn. They followed up that clutch victory with wins over St. Viator and Lake Forest Academy to remain a perfect 3-0 on the day.

Week 5 (4/24-4/30)

Varsity - Kyle Burton

In what may be an Eagle of the Week first, sophomore Kyle Burton earned the honor for the second consecutive week! Despite the rain limiting us to one conference match (a win over FVC power Cary-Grove in which he erased a deep second set deficit to seal the win), Kyle put together an impressive run in the prestigious Pitchford Invitational. In the 32-team tournament, Kyle opened with a dominant win before falling to the top seed and eventual champion. Undeterred, Kyle remained mentally strong in the backdraw, winning his next three matches (beating Edwardsville, Neuqua Valley, and Hinsdale Central) to finish the two day event with a stellar 4-1 record.

Week 4 (4/17-4/23)

Varsity - Kyle Burton

In a busy week, Kyle was up for the challenge. His 7-2 record for the week included several strong wins, namely a comfortable result over a long-time rival from Marian Central. As we progress into the heart of the season, it's clear that Kyle's transition to singles his sophomore year is off to a successful start as he sets his sights on some big end-of-the season goals.

Week 3 (4/10-4/16)

Varsity - Jakub Sobkowicz & Winston Yau

Seniors Jakub & Winston went 5-1 on the week with great play throughout. On Tuesday, they knocked off Crystal Lake Central & St. Charles East in decisive fashion at second doubles. On Thursday, they held off a second set surge from the visiting Whip-Purs to record a first doubles victory. At Saturday's Maine South Invitational, the pair opened with a win before running into the top-seeded Loyola Academy pair at the first doubles position. Undaunted, Jakub & Winston battled the Ramblers, ultimately falling in a close third set in the semi-final match. In the third place match, they battled windy conditions and a tough Batavia team, ultimately closing things out with a lengthy second set tie-break.

Week 2 (4/3-4/9)

Varsity - Jacob Moser & Tip Elliott

Picking up where they left off in 2016, the returning doubles pair had a great weekend of competition in St. Louis, knocking off tough opponents from Alleman, Batavia, and O'Fallon, to go undefeated in the Triad Duals Invitational.

Week 1 (3/27-4/2)

Varsity - Kevin Burton

Sophomore Kevin Burton had a strong start to his high school career by following up a strong performance in South Carolina with a championship effort in our own Golden Eagles Invitational. Though, in his first singles match as a Golden Eagle, Kevin fell in a hard-fought three-setter to his Beaufort (SC) High School opponent, he regrouped to take the 3rd singles title in the 8-school tournament field. In the final, Kevin trailed a set and 0-3 before fighting back to capture the top spot with a 6-7, 7-6, 10-8 scoreline.

2015-2016

Week 8 (5/23-5/29)

Varsity - Kailash Panchapakesan

Kailash wraps up the season as our final Eagle of the Week performer with a performance that undoubtedly ranks as the most impressive turned in by a Jacobs player in the program's history. On Thursday of the state tournament, Kailash opened with a win before facing a tough challenge from his determined Edwardsville opponent. After dropping the first set, Kailash maintained his composure, crafted a plan, and stuck to it to win the following two sets. After that important main-draw win, Kailash's reward was a meeting with the state's second-seeded singles player, Brandon Ancona. Playing at an extremely high level, Kailash was able to take a set before falling in the third. Advancing to Friday with his 2-1 record, Kailash kicked off the overcast morning with a big hitting player from Streamwood followed by another talented competitor from Mascoutah. Kailash masterfully absorbed their pace, putting both players on the run as he dictated with his forehand to win both in straight sets, planting him firmly in a top-24 position. With a chance to earn top-16 honors on the line, Kailash squared off with Naperville Central's phenom, Ryan Roegner, a recent transfer from North Carolina. Despite having played five matches in just over twenty-four hours, Kailash willed himself to stay strong in an emotional back and forth battle. When the first set went to a decisive tie-break, Kailash quickly found himself down 3-6 and facing three set points. Undaunted, Kailash saved each point against him, ultimately prevailing 13-11 in the tiebreak. That gutsy save proved enough for the match as his opponent abruptly retired, sending Kailash on to the round of 16 and earning Jacobs a crucial team point that would ultimately result in a top 10 finish, the best ever for Jacobs Tennis.

Week 7 (5/16-5-22)

Varsity - Riley Rowan

Although it's hard not to give Eagle of the Week honors, once again, to Matt and Kyle for their 6-1, 6-0 win over Cary-Grove's top doubles team to qualify for the state tournament in their first ever sectional, Riley's performance left no doubt that he deserved the recognition. After making quick work of his first opponent, Riley faced Marian's top singles player in his qualification match, which he won 6-2, 6-0. On Saturday, Riley faced Prairie Ridge's Hayden Dzurisin in the semifinals. The two are regular hitting partners and good friends. Riley started in a deep hole, dropping the opening set 0-6. Despite the lopsided result, Riley fought back to even the match with a 6-2 second set. Maintaining momentum, he continued on through the third set and hung on to win 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 over one of the state's best competitors. Oh, and did I mention it was his birthday?

Week 6 (5/9-5/15)

Varsity - Jacob Moser & Ryan Elliott

This week, Jacobs captured its first ever Conference Title in Boys Tennis. That incredible achievement required substantial contributions from every member of the program, but, most notably, Jacob & Ryan. The pair, after having played with a number of different partners throughout the season, only recently joined one another on the court. With their limited record, the duo entered the tournament unseeded, but came up with big upset wins, in succession, over the second-seeded Crystal Lake South team, Grayslake Central, and the third-seeded Grayslake North pair. Though they fell in a competitive championship match to Cary-Grove, Jacob & Ryan's performance proved essential in clinching the team title.

Week 5 (5/2-5/8)

Varsity - Matt Kastritis & Kyle Burton

The pair's repeat selection for Eagle of the Week honors was a no-brainer. On Tuesday, in a match with important sectional implications, Matt & Kyle didn't disappoint. Moving up to the top doubles position, they moved past Huntley in straight sets. After adding another straight set win over Marian Central on Thursday, they put in a strong weekend of work knocking off Rockford Christian and Hononegah to face New Trier in the final. Though they fell in the championship match, their three-set performance showed plenty of upside for the junior and freshman, as they look ahead to the conference tournament and the post-season.

Frosh/Soph - Chandler Marchi

For the second time this season, Chandler Marchi is the F/S Eagle of the week. On Tuesday, he had the lone victory in our Huntley match with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 performance at 3rd singles. He continued his success with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Woodstock North winning points from both the baseline and at the net. Chandler is undefeated in conference play at 3rd singles with victories over Huntley, Woodstock North, and Prairie Ridge.

Week 4 (4/25-5/1)

Varsity - Kailash Panchapakesan

In a repeat of the 2015 FVC Championship match, Kailash held off a strong challenge from Prairie Ridge's Hayden Dzurisin. The 6-4, 6-4 win helped the Golden Eagles record their first team win over the visiting Wolves in program history. Kailash continued his strong play into the rain-shortened weekend. At the prestigious Pitchford Invitational, Kailash fell in a tough opening round to Jack Bernstein of Lyons Township but bounced back with three convincing wins over Moline, Naperville North, and Edwardsville to reach the consolation championship match, which was suspended in progress due to rain.

Frosh/Soph - Jakob Bielawski & Trent Daley

The duo make a rare second appearance on the Eagle of the Week list after an undeniably strong set of results. Jakob and Trent started off the week with a nail-biting 3-set win over conference powerhouse Prairie Ridge. Their scores (7-5, 1-6, 12-10) fail to show that they trailed 4-9 in the third set tie-break, but fought off 5 straight match points before capturing the win. On Thursday, the pair again played the most compelling match, a 5-7, 7-5, 10-7 win, the only victory Jacobs was able to record over cross-town rivals Dundee-Crown. Before the rain shortened their weekend of competition, they recorded one more win, this time in less dramatic fashion, over Schaumburg.

Week 3 (4/18-4/24)

Varsity - Matt Kastritis and Kyle Burton

The junior-freshman duo hasn't taken long to get comfortable playing together. The duo extended their strong play with a pair of straight set wins over tough competition from Crystal Lake and Grayslake Central. Over the weekend, though they fell to Naperville Central and Glenbrook South, they picked up victories over both Waubonsie Valley and Rolling Meadows to finish the week with a 4-2 record in the second doubles position.

Frosh/Soph - Chandler Marchi

At Grayslake Central, Chandler moved to singles where he recorded the lone victory for the Eagles over the Rams. He carried that success into the weekend where he captured the title in come-from-behind fashion at the Freeport Invitational.

Week 2 (4/11-4/17)

Varsity - Riley Rowan

Despite playing with an abdominal injury, Riley had another stellar week. After a win Tuesday over Cary-Grove, he was called up to the top singles position as teammate Kailash Panchapakesan was away. In the first singles spot, Riley recorded a win over Grayslake North on Thursday before heading to the Maine South Invitational where he won a first round match before losing in the semifinals to Rolling Meadows' Mack Galvin, one of the state's best. In his third place match, Riley found himself a set down to Loyola, but continued to play smart, controlled tennis to prevail in the third set to take home medalist honors.

Frosh/Soph - Vinay Rao

With the team split between Freeport and Maine South, Vinay was called up to the varsity level to play third doubles at the Freeport Invitational. Despite never having played with his partner before, Vinay and Braedon went a remarkable 4-1 to help lead the team to a third place finish.

Week 1 (4/4-4/10)

Varsity - Kendrick & Kerwin Chong

The Senior/Sophomore brothers kicked off the season with strong suggestions of the potential they have to make a deep run in the state tournament. The duo is undefeated and have only dropped a grant total of 10 GAMES! Impressive court coverage and incredible movement helped them to a dominant run through the Triad Invitational, where they knocked off Jerseyville, Triad, Belleville East, and O'Fallon.

Frosh/Soph - Jacob Bielawski & Trent Daley

Jacob and Trent, both in their first year with the program, have wasted no time. The pair has regularly stayed after practice to put in extra work and it has paid off. In their first week of competition, Jacob & Trent have picked up two straight set wins at the second doubles position. On Tuesday, they were the only match to finish before rain shortened the season-opener with Hampshire and on Thursday, they added a win over Crystal Lake South. Hard work pays off!

2014-2015

Week 8 (5/18-5/24)

IHSA Huntley Sectional Tournament - Kailash Panchapakesan

Though the doubles draw brought us an exciting all-Jacobs championship match with the Chong brothers edging out teammates Matt & Riley, the singles side held the most drama. After both breezing through their semifinal matches, Kailash and his Belvidere North opponent, Anderson Park, were set to meet. Kailash, who already holds a third and second place sectional finishes, and Anderson, who recently moved from Washington state, were both seeking their first IHSA sectional title. In the first set, Kailash found himself behind 3-4 before reeling off three straight games to take the set 6-4. In the second, Anderson's aggressive game proved too much as he captured the second set 6-1. After taking the ten minute intermission to re-focus, Kailash returned to the court for the deciding third set. The momentum went back and forth with both players dominating at times. Ultimately, Kailash re-discovered the attacking forehand that served him well early on and was able to dictate points in the final games to take home championship honors with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 win in the most competitive and entertaining sectional final anyone on hand could recall.

Week 7 (5/11-5/17)

FVC Conference Tournament - Kevin Searle & Matthew Kastritis

With three conference titles, there were many players to choose from for the Conference Tournament's top performer. Having received the fourth seed heading into the tournament, few expected Kevin and Matthew to dominate the field so thoroughly. In pool play, the boys played well to defeat Dundee-Crown, Crystal Lake Central, and Crystal Lake South. They then went into the championship draw where they made quick work of Hampshire, Cary-Grove, and Prairie Ridge to win the fourth doubles flight in Kevin's final competition as a Jacobs Golden Eagle. During the regular season, we had lost matches to Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove, and Prairie Ridge at the fourth doubles position.

Week 6 (5/4-5/10)

Varsity - Kendrick & Kerwin Chong

The brothers continued their dominant conference run with two more lopsided wins before heading into the Rockford Christian Invitational. In Rockford, Kendrick and Kerwin turned away their first two opponents dropping only four total games. In the finale, they met up with New Trier, who had already captured the individual titles at each of the other flights. In one of the most entertaining matches of the season, the Chongs knocked off New Trier in a thrilling three-setter, denying the Trevians the clean sweep of the tournament.

Week 5 (4/27-5/3)

Varsity - Riley Rowan

With Prairie Ridge, Dundee-Crown, and the Pitchford Invitational, this was by far the biggest week of the season for Jacobs Tennis. Riley rose to the challenge at every turn. From 0-4 down to fellow unbeaten Prairie Ridge, Riley and partner Matt Toomire made an impressive 12-1 run to hand the Wolves duo their first loss. On Thursday, the success continued with a win over a tough DC pair, but with Prom depleting the weekend lineup, Riley was forced into the second singles position for the two day "Mini-State." The Pitchford Invitational, unquestionably the state's premier tennis event, draws the elite of the elite in high school tennis. Unintimidated, Riley took advantage of the opportunity, winning a spot in day two action and finishing an impressive 3-2 for the weekend.

FS - Vinay Rao

In his first year, Vinay has bounced around the lineup and worked with many doubles partners. Throughout, his effort has been a great benefit to his team. This past week, Vinay began to reap the rewards of his hard work, posting back to back victories for the first time in his career. On Thursday, he dispatched rival Dundee-Crown 6-0, 6-4 before picking up a Saturday win over Schaumburg, 6-4, 6-3.

Week 4 (4/20-4/26)

Varsity - Jacob Moser & Patrick Murphy

After a tough weekend, Jacob and Patrick were challenged to push themselves to adopt a more assertive style. On Tuesday, the pair played explosive, attacking tennis to record a lopsided win over a very tough Grayslake Central team and continuing with a routine dismissal of Crystal Lake Central. With the weekend's rainout, Moser and P-Murph are rested and ready to play their best tennis against Prairie Ridge on Tuesday.

FS - Mauricio Martinez & Ryan Elliott

Mauricio and Ryan have had a stellar year as new partners. Playing in the top doubles spot, the duo has provided dependable leadership. In addition to the great results they've recorded when called up for varsity action, they are currently on a 4 match conference winning streak. With 6-3, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-3 wins, respectively, over Grayslake and Crystal Lake Central, the pair is looking to extend their run of success with two big matchups this week.

Week 3 (4/13-4/19)

Varsity - Kailash Panchapakesan

Kailash extended his Fox Valley Conference regular-season win streak to 30 with dominant wins over Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, and Grayslake North this week. Unfortunately, Kailash was unable to compete in Saturday's Maine South Invitational as he was representing Jacobs in a a far more important event, the State Finals of the Science Olympiad!

FS - Brandon Jones

BJ had another strong week playing at the frosh-soph first singles position. Bouncing back from a tough loss to Cary-Grove, BJ pulled off a big win over Crystal Lake South in which he fell behind early before rallying for an 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. On Saturday, BJ made a personal sacrifice in order to attend the Freeport Varsity Invitational, where he added another three wins splitting time between singles and doubles.

Week 2 (4/6-4/12)

Varsity - Kendrick & Kerwin Chong

The brothers continued their excellent run in doubles this week, tallying a double-bagel conference crossover win over Hampshire before taking the show on the road. In St. Louis, Kendrick and Kerwin not only set the tone in video game competition, but on the court as well. Their 4-0 record through the Triad Invitational was a steadying force as the Golden Eagles captured a second place finish.

FS - Ryan Elliott

In a rain-shortened week of conference competition, Ryan and his partner picked up a win over the Whip-Purs before being called up for a trio of varsity matches in split-squad action. Ryan picked up his game to earn straight set victories over both Round Lake and Grant at the second doubles spot. Though he fell just shy of a perfect week, losing a tight three-setter to Lasalle-Peru, it's clear that Ryan's hard work is paying off.

Week 1 (3/30-4/5)

Varsity - Matt Toomire & Riley Rowan

After a dominant performance against McHenry on Thursday, the duo battled for a share of 5th place in Saturday's Golden Eagles Invitational. The pair knocked off Fremd in the opening round before falling to a standout York team. Disappointed but not discouraged, Matt & Riley bounced back to capture a much needed win over Lake Zurich before clinching the team title with a clutch nailbiting performance over a three-time state qualifying Andrew HS team with a 7-6, 6-7, (10-5) result.

FS - Mauricio Martinez

Mauricio opened up his sophomore season by winning his season opener (with partner Ryan Elliott) over McHenry at first doubles. Over the weekend, he partnered with Eric Ritzel to finish in third place in a very competitive varsity fourth doubles field at our own Golden Eagles Invitational, recording wins over Andrew and Carmel. It should also be noted that Mauricio currently leads the team in articles of clothing left at the tennis courts (2) so far this year!

2013-2014

Week 8 (5/19-5/25)

FVC Conference Tournament-Kailash Panchapakesan, Lucas Bieneman & Patrick Murphy

Following an undefeated regular season of conference competition at the top singles position, Kailash entered the tournament as the favorite. With the two previous conference champions, Josh Pudlo and Elisha Hougland, awaiting him in the draw, the title was far from a certainty. On the road to the final, Kailash played stellar tennis, dismissing Grayslake Central's Miguel Tolentino and Prairie Ridge's Ryan Kohl (both state qualifiers), in routine straight-set victories. In a repeat of last year's epic finale, Kailash found himself across the net from Hampshire's Elisha Hougland. In the 2013 title match, Hougland bested Kailash in a three-set classic. After Kailash raced out to capture the first set and Elisha fought back to take the second, it looked like a repeat of the old script. (Earlier in the season, the pair had gone three sets in their conference dual meet, with Kailash earning the win.) Playing a 10-pt. tie-break in lieu of a full third set, Kailash quickly established himself, negating Hougland's momentum, but when rain delayed play at 5-2, it threatened to let Hougland back into the match. Moving the match indoors to avoid the fast-approaching storm, the two familiar opponents resumed play at the Crystal Lake Racquet Club. After ten more points, the match was decided, with Kailash capturing his first conference title, 6-1, 3-6, (10-7).

Also at the conference tournament, senior Lucas Bieneman and freshman partner Patrick Murphy provided one of the most interesting story lines as the unseeded team battled past two seeded opponents (CLS in the quarterfinals and GLN in the third place match) to finish third in the fourteen team tournament. The two upset wins kept Jacobs' hopes for a conference title alive going into the second day of competition.

Sectional Tournament - Matt Toomire & Riley Rowan, Kyle Powell & Will Liby

In their first sectional tournament Matt and Riley competed like veterans. In their four matches, the duo never so much as faced a set point. En route to the sectional title, the pair dispatched each of their opponents in straight sets and will look to head into Thursday's state tournament playing their best tennis.

Also playing in their first sectional tournament, KP and Willy faced an uphill battle as the sixth seed. Down 4-5 in their first match with Elgin, the Golden Eagles raced back to take the set 7-5 before rolling through the second set. That win earned KP and Will a match with Hampshire's Jake Dahlberg and Chad West, a 2013 state qualifier and one of the area's top doubles teams. In the state qualifying match, KP & Will played fearless, attacking tennis to earn the upset win.

Week 7 (5/12-5/18)

NA-Conference Tournament Rescheduled

Week 6 (Cinco de Mayo-Mother's Day)

Varsity - Matt Toomire & Riley Rowan

In the pair's biggest week of the season, Matt and Riley played some strong, resilient tennis. On Monday, the pair went toe to toe with Prairie Ridge's top doubles team, breaking late in each set to dismiss their opponents. On Tuesday, Jacobs traveled to Huntley to face another of the conference's leading pairs. in a dominant performance, Matt and Riley sent off the Red Raiders with a 6-2, 6-0 result. On Friday, the Golden Eagles' duo matched up with their crosstown rival, Dundee-Crown, who boasts one of the area's hottest doubles teams. Playing at Crown, Matt & Riley held off an emotionally charged DC pair to, again, win in straight sets. Saturday's trip to Wisconsin started off with a matchup against Badger's previously undefeated first doubles team. Playing strong, aggressive doubles, the Golden Eagles handed the Badgers their first loss. After cruising past Wisconsin's Watertown HS, Matt and Riley found themselves in the championship match across the net from a Hononegah team playing explosive, attacking tennis. After dropping their first set in weeks, the Jacobs pair remained calm, steadied themselves, and fought back for a a narrow three-set win.

FS: Jake Schlicht

Jake has earned Eagle of the Week honors for the second time this season as a result of his outstanding effort and tenacity on court. Coach Scheurich says that, as one of the hardest working athletes in the program, Jake has a "never say die" mentality. During this past week, that mentality helped him to earn three straight victories at the second singles position, with wins over Huntley, Woodstock North, and Dundee-Crown.

Week 5 (4/28-5/4)

Varsity - Kendrick Chong

After a week of rain washed out our scheduled conference matches, Kendrick made the most of his time in the Lincoln Way-East Invitational. Undeterred by windy conditions, Kendrick marched through the field winning all four matches in straight sets, to capture the title of the 24-team event. Kendrick's strong performance led the way as the team took home the third place plaque.

FS: Andrew Morris

Andrew has earned Eagle of the Week honors both for the great improvements he has made in his game and the outstanding team attitude he brings every day. Not only does Andrew keep his opponents off balance with a tough first serve and heavy topspin groundstrokes, but he also keeps his teammates motivates as a vocal supporter during matches and practices.

Week 4 (4/21-4/27)

Varsity - Kailash Panchapakesan

In a repeat Eagle of the Week performance, Kailash started with a strong pair of conference matches. On Tuesday, he held off a strong challenge from Grayslake Central's Tolentino before Thursday's marquee matchup with Crystal Lake Central's Josh Pudlo. Pudlo, who went undefeated in conference and captured the FVC crown and player of the year honors his freshman year returned this year after sitting out of high school tennis his sophomore season. In a battle between two of the area's best, Kailash proved to be too much, winning in straight sets. At the Downer's Grove South Invitational, Kailash played a murderer's row of opponents, starting off with losses to Rolling Meadows' Galvin and Fremd's Pohl. Recovering from those tough matches, Kailash found himself across the net from a familiar face, Brendan Peterson from York. The two have played several times, most recently in the title match at our own Golden Eagles Invitational. Though Kailash has struggled with Peterson, he came out with a great mindset and battled to an emotional straight set win to clinch the team victory over York. In his fourth match of the day, Kailash fought off fatigue for a dominant win over Downer's Grove North's top singles player to finish the week with a 4-2 record.

FS: Brandon Jones

Playing at second singles, Brandon picked up hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over his Crystal Lake Central opponent in conference competition. That weekend, in tournament play, Brandon moved to the second doubles position where he displayed great placement and consistency as he finished in second place in the eight team field.

Week 3 (4/14-4/20)

Varsity - Matt Toomire & Riley Rowan

Though the new duo got off to a great start in conference play, Matt & Riley had struggled to put together a solid Saturday in their first two weekends. After knocking off Cary-Grove and Grayslake North in dominant matches earlier in the week, the two entered the Maine South "Hawk" Invite ready to compete. Drawing the top-seeded doubles team from Loyola, Matt & Riley were unintimidated. Intelligently neutralizing their opponents' big serves and sticking to a gameplan of consistent net pressure, the Jacobs pair upset the Ramblers' duo. Consolidating the victory with a semi-final win over the host Hawks, Matt & Riley found themselves in the title match where they came up just short of capturing the championship, falling in a third set tie-break to Batavia.

FS: Jake Schlicht

Playing with three different doubles partners, Jake recorded four big doubles wins for us this week. On Thursday, he and partner Ryan Elliott had the match of the day in a 7-6(5), 7-6(2) win over the visiting Grayslake North Knights. On Saturday, Jake was tapped to fill in at the Freeport Varsity Invitational, where big serving and aggressive net play helped him pick up wins over Rockford East, Belvidere North, and Rockford Keith.

Week 2 (4/7-4/13)

Varsity - Jacob Moser & Matthew Kastritis

Though the two got off to an inauspicious start in their first week of tennis (the pair lost 2-6, 0-6 to Johnsburg's 4th doubles team), this freshman pairing has had a breakout second week. To kick off the week, Jacob & Matthew dismissed Hampshire and followed it up with subsequent wins over McHenry and Crystal Lake South. On the St. Louis trip, the pair went 2-2 playing in the third doubles position. Both wins were crucial to the team's success however as each win (6-7, 6-3, 10-4 over Belleville West and 6-4, 7-5 over Belleville West) broke a 2-2 match tie to advance Jacobs to the quarterfinals and championship matches, respectively.

FS: Vishwa Patel

Vishwa was a consistent bright spot in a difficult week of competition for the Frosh-Soph team. The sophomore moved between doubles and singles, recording the Golden Eagles' lone victory at Crystal Lake South. Pressed into service at third singles in a varsity matchup at Hoffman Estates, Vishwa fought hard, falling in three sets in a well played match.

Week 1 (3/31-4/6)

Varsity - Kailash Panchapakesan

Weeks of miserable early-season weather wreaked havoc on the start, leading to several cancellations and postponements. In spite of the conditions, Kailash, maintained his focus for a strong start to his sophomore campaign. On Friday, in historically bad conditions (snow flurries and wind gusts upwards of 30mph), Kailash wasted no time in dispatching his opponent from Johnsburg, recording the team's first win of the season in fashion. After thawing out, Kailash returned Saturday for a big day of competition. In our own sectional-style invitational, Kailash entered a field with some of the state's top performers. After an efficient quarter-final win, Kailash outlasted Barrington's Ishaan Jaglan for a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-4, (10-8) win and a spot in the championship match. In the final, Kailash found himself across the net from Brendan Peterson, a York junior primed for a breakout season. Fighting through the fatigue from his epic semifinal, Kailash battled for every point. But in what was undoubtedly the most entertaining match in a day packed with high-level competition, he ultimately fell 3-6, 4-6.

FS: Sam Smith

One of the newest additions to the program, Sam has been hard at work learning the ins and outs of the game. Sam's effort has been exceptional and he proved his dedication to the team Saturday where he stepped in at the last minute as an alternate in the Downer's Grove North Invitational after a teammate had to bow out with an illness. The effort and willingness to put his team first Sam has demonstrated are clearly traits that will help him find great success as a Golden Eagle.