Boys Tennis: Andrew’s singular duo poised to break through
By Jeff Vorva For Sun-Times Media March 15, 2013 9:20PM
Kevin Karczynski (left) and Brian Moy, of Andrew. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media
Boys Tennis 2013
FIVE TEAMS TO WATCH
Andrew: Thunderbolts are ready to build off last year’s SouthWest Suburban Red title, their first in 10 years.
Homewood-Flossmoor: Young talent ready to blossom this season.
Lemont: Perennial South Suburban Blue champ ready to make noise at state.
Marian Catholic: Losing elite singles player Julian Childers (second in the state in 2012) hurts, but don’t count the Spartans out.
Sandburg: How far can three-time state qualifier Eric Pontow take the Eagles?
FIVE INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH
Kevin Karczynski, Andrew: Eyeing the elusive sectional title after three straight third-place finishes.
Eric Pontow, Sandburg: A three-time state qualifier who went deep into the tourney a year ago.
Lucas Randall, Lockport: Another strong state player who will be heading to University of St. Francis next season.
Kyle Scheffers, Marian Catholic: Had a deep run in state in doubles in 2012.
Nick Urban, Lemont: A sophomore with tremendous upside who made it to the final 32 as a freshman.
Updated: April 18, 2013 6:30AM
In 2010, Marian Catholic sophomore Julian Childers beat Homewood-Flossmoor sophomore Brad Holt for a sectional title while Andrew freshman Kevin Karczynski beat teammate Brian Moy for third place.
In 2011, Childers beat Holt for a sectional title while Karczynski beat Moy for third place.
In 2012, Childers — on his way to a state runner-up finish — beat Holt for yet another sectional title while, yes, Karczynski again beat Moy for third place.
Unless Childers and Holt, who have graduated and are playing college tennis, can find a way to have the IHSA grant them a fifth year of eligibility, it appears the sectional in which these three area schools compete finally will have a new story line.
Karczynski and Moy are hoping to make it an all-Andrew sectional singles championship.
“That would be great — that would be fun,” Moy said. “We’re pretty good friends. He’s in some of my classes. I’ve known him since middle school. We’ve played for a while. I usually don’t play against him unless it’s in the sectional.”
“The past three years, (Childers and Holt) have had the sectionals held down,” Karczynski said. “Even though I came close against Brad, he always topped me. This year it would be great if we could play each other in the final. We haven’t had any hard feelings after our matches. We’re still friends.”
Andrew coach John Tadla said he would like to see his two aces go head to head for a sectional title but isn’t taking anything for granted.
“It’s nice to see Julian and Holt and those guys gone because we could never get through those guys,” Tadla said. “Marian still has Kyle Scheffers and those boys and H-F still had (Jeremy) Miller, so I’m not going to go on the limb and say that we’ll be in the title match. We have a long way to go before we get to that.”
Despite the lack of individual sectional titles with his two players, Tadla said he’s amazed to have two players in the same grade dominate as the Judson-bound Karczynski and Moy have.
“Karczynski has about 90 career wins already and Brian has 70,” he said. “So they have 160 wins between them. They are going to eclipse 200 before they graduate and get maybe 220 or 225. I don’t know if anyone has had two kids like that. Maybe New Trier. That’s really good for high school tennis.
“If you can rack up 200 or 220 wins like that ... I know I’m not going to see that in my career. I’m not. I can coach another 17 years and we’re not going to see that. And if I do, I’m going to be doubly blessed to have it. To have two guys come in at the same time and be this good is really something.”
The Thunderbolts won their first conference title since 2002 when they claimed the SouthWest Suburban Conference Red and are eyeing a repeat.
Sophomores Alan Wang and Austin Wabi figure to make a big splash at doubles this season and seniors Mike McGrath and Mark Sivak have formed a solid team that can pick up some points for the Thunderbolts.
