Lemont’s Nick Urban reaches second day of IHSA Boys’ Tennis State Finals

5/25/2012

Lemont freshman Nick Urban won three of five matches at the 2012 IHSA Boys' Tennis State Finals and finished among the top 32 players in the state.

For the seventh straight season, Lemont High School’s boys’ tennis program was represented at the 2012 IHSA Boys’ Tennis State Finals. And for the second straight year, the program saw one of its student-athletes reach the second day of state finals play. Freshman Nick Urban won three of five matches in the singles competition and finished among the top 32 players in the tournament. Additionally, senior Jonathan Pacheco and junior Alex Vasic teamed to advance to the second consolation round of the doubles competition.

Urban (33-4) came out strong in state finals play, capturing the first set of his opener in a tiebreak, but ultimately came up short in three sets (7-6 [0], 0-6, 1-6) against Jake Elliott of Lyons. However, Urban bounced back in a big way, winning in straight sets in each of the first three consolation rounds, toppling Marion’s Pablo Cuartas (6-0, 6-2), Glenbard North’s Matt Krzyaniak (6-4, 7-5) and Payton’s Darrell Robbins (6-2, 6-2). Urban settled for a 3-2 record in his state finals debut when he fell short against Auburn’s Brandon Metzler (4-6, 2-6) in the fourth consolation round.

After a first-round loss (0-6, 1-6) to Morton’s Trent Reiman and Grant Reiman, Pacheco and Vasic rebounded to win their first consolation round contest. The duo got past Danville’s Tyler Ellis and Logan Nelson in straight sets (6-4, 6-3). Pacheco and Vasic came up short in three games (5-7, 6-4, 3-6) against Benet’s Bobby Martin and Matt Rurka in the second round of consolation play. They finished the year with a 29-6 mark.

Pacheco appeared in state finals play for the second straight year. As a junior, he became the first player in school history to reach the second day of state finals competition, and finished among the top 32 players in the state, a feat Urban matched this year.

IHSA Boys' Tennis Web Site

Pacheco, Urban and Vasic all earned All-South Suburban Conference honors this year while helping head coach Jon DeGuzman’s team to a 19-1 record in dual matches and its sixth straight SSC Blue team title. Lemont just missed capturing the team crown at the IHSA Joliet West Sectional; the Indians totaled 24 points, trailing sectional titlist Joliet West by just two points.

Boys’ tennis is the school’s seventh athletic program to compete at the state level this year. The boys’ golf team finished third in the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; the cheerleading squad was third at the IHSA Medium Division State Finals; the girls’ cross country team was 21st at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; senior Emily Lejman competed at the IHSA Class AA Girls’ Golf State Finals; senior Elissa Bitterman took part in the high jump at the IHSA Class 3A Girls’ Track and Field State Finals; and ten individuals - seniors Bobby Bromberek, Mike Devitt, Jake Kaminsky (2nd-152), Eric Kirkman (2nd-170), Mark Kirkman (4th-160), Jake Latanski (5th-126), Glenn Malecki (4th-132) and John Tomala (3rd-195); junior Chris Giatras (5th-182) and freshman Jimmy Brennan - all qualified for the 2012 IHSA Class 2A Individual Wrestling State Finals.

For more information, contact Director of School and Community Relations Tony Hamilton at (630) 243-3280.