Highland Park wins CSL North title

PARK RIDGE — With rain clouds threatening late Saturday morning and early afternoon, Highland Park finished up its work just in time to capture the CSL North girls’ tennis title in a race that went down to the wire. The Giants nabbed the championship trophy by finishing with 51.5 points, slightly better than Glenbrook North’s second-place total of 47. Deerfield (31.5), Niles North (14), Maine East (13) and Maine West (6) rounded up the six-team competition. Glenbrook North sophomore Maddie Kahn took home the No. 1 singles title with a straight-sets victory over Highland Park’s Casey Frommer (6-2, 6-4). Her teammate, Colette O’Regan, also captured the No. 2 singles crown. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Giants. Highland Park’s tandem of Nicole Berkman and Janine Cooper — both seniors — captured the No. 1 doubles title with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Glenbrook North’s Maggie Keller and Gail Mar. Berkman and Cooper didn’t allow their opponent (Maine West) to win a game in the semifinal round, either, playing nearly flawless tennis over the weekend. “Winning a conference title is something we’ve really wanted and really worked so hard for,” said Berkman, who has been on varsity since freshman year. “I think everyone on our team has put in a lot of effort into making that happen.” The pair was just reunited this season after qualifying for state together two years ago. “They qualified as sophomores and made it downstate, then each played with different partners last season,” Highland Park coach Steve Rudman said. “Nicole wound up qualifying with a different partner (last year), and since playing together again, they’re 19-4 or 20-4 overall coming into today.” The Giants had two other first-place doubles winners. Kimberly Rhum and Lizzie Raab won the No. 2 doubles crown, with Ashley Levin and Rachel Retsky picking up the No. 3 doubles title. Other CSL North finishers Deerfield’s Jessie Arenson wrapped up second place in No. 2 singles, while teammate Ariel Lozovsky was third overall in No. 1 singles. Jordan Abt took home first place in No. 3 singles for Highland Park, with Glenbrook North’s Isabelle Piekarczyk and Varoline Chatus taking home the No. 4 doubles crown.