The other day, while planning my schedule for the upcoming spring weeks, I found myself focusing on tennis.
After only a few minutes, I had a thought (insert laugh here). It’s possible that two players from the same team could meet for the state championship.
That’s how good New Trier’s Robert Stineman and Jared Hiltzik have been this season. Of course, seeding plays a big part in this as these teammates could collide before the final.
So that got me thinking again (OK, pull yourself up off the floor). Have two teammates ever played for a state title in tennis? After reviewing the IHSA’s archives, indeed two teammates have played against each other for a championship.
And, surprisingly, it wasn’t that long ago.
In 1990, West Aurora’s Paul Pridmore beat teammate Jim Panagopoulos in three sets for the title. Has it been done prior to that? Don’t know. I stopped looking.
Although nobody outside of New Trier wants this to happen, I do enjoy when history is made or rare feats are accomplished.