Chatham Glenwood won the J.D. Sinnock Invitational boys tennis tournament for the first time under the tutelage of head coach Sonthana Thongsithavong, and the Titans completed the goal with a stacked lineup.
Glenwood got to the championship match in each flight and won the title at No. 2 doubles. The Titans took second place in the Nos. 1-2 singles draws and were runner-up in the No. 1 doubles flight. The one-day tournament took place at various sites with tournament central being held at the Velasco Tennis Center in Washington Park on Saturday, April 25.
Thongsithavong, in his eighth season as Glenwood coach, described the game plan after his team celebrated its third tournament title of the season.
“It was a deep draw this year. I think maybe it was deep because all four of our teams made it (to the finals),” Thongsithavong said. “It was a good challenge for us. We played well, and our goal was to go to the finals. We felt like we had enough depth as a team.”
Senior Talha Arshad and freshman Aarav Patel defeated Springfield High rivals Jai Khurana and Shrihan Aleti 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the No. 1 doubles semifinals.
“We started off strong and it got a little shaky, but Aarav has nerves of steel,” Arshad said. “He brought us through and we fought. We’ve been pulling through all season and fighting and coming back. I was really happy with that win.”
The Titans duo lost the championship match to Champaign Central’s Daniel Canivez and Sohum Gurrapu 6-4, 6-3. Thongsithavong admitted the title match would be a grind.
“We knew coming into the championship match we were the underdogs,” Thongsithavong said. “They (Arshad and Patel) put a lot in that semifinal match, but that championship match — especially in that second set — it looks like they ran out of gas there.”
Arshad and Patel have experienced much success as a doubles tandem so far this season. They won four matches to sweep the Alton Invite on April 18 and have accumulated a 10-1 record.
“It’s been great; he’s been able to coach me up,” said Patel of Arshad. “Having an upperclassman to teach me has been great.
“Ever since I’ve been playing with (Patel) — other than how we’ve been playing — it’s so much fun,” Arshad said. “After a match, we’re never upset. We’re always smiling on the court and celebrating.”
Glenwood senior Ben Loeffler, the 2025 Central State Eight Conference singles champion, reached the title match and fell to Peoria Richwoods sophomore Daniel Nathan 6-1, 6-0.
Loeffler failed to hold his serve but had some ripping groundstrokes to stay close in each game. It was Nathan’s solid play to go with some brilliant passing shots that kept Loeffler off balance.
“Fantastic player, he’s a really good player,” said Loeffler of Nathan. “I played really good, I thought.”
After winning last season’s CS8 singles title, Loeffler missed the Class 2A Springfield High Sectional because of an inflamed shoulder. His main mission this season is to stay on the court.
“Definitely trying to stay healthy, it’s been a big priority,” Loeffler said. “I’ve been taking care of my body a lot more because I don’t want to repeat last year at all.”
Senior Connor Pollitt competed in one of the longest matches of the tournament. Pollitt reached the No. 2 singles championship match and fell to Peoria Richwoods’ Kace Tyler 6-2, 2-6, 10-2. The spirited match could be heard throughout the park.
“I like to yell and it keeps me focused more than anything,” Pollitt said. “I think I surprised myself. We’ve seen that (Richwoods) team before at another meet. They’re a good squad. I’m pretty proud of us.”
Glenwood senior Nikash Madanagopal and junior Tripp Tomko beat Mascoutah’s Jaden Gniotczynski and Luke Beck 7-6 (3), 6-3 for the No. 2 doubles championship in Chatham. The finished players from Washington Park joined Madanagopal and Tomko and rooted them on to the finish line.
“This is the greatest team I’ve had since we’ve been here,” Loeffler said. “It’s just the love and support we give one another.”
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Here are the rising stars on the Chatham Glenwood boys tennis team
Reporting by Trevor Lawrence, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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