The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Avon Lake wins crown at tourney on home courts
Coming into the Lorain County Athletic Administrators Association tournament at Avon Lake on April 8, it was important for the Shoremen to continue their run of dominance on their home courts. Mission accomplished. For the fourth year in a row, Avon Lake took the team crown, garnering 38 points, ahead of runner-up Avon (35) and Lake Ridge (22). Elyria (21) and Amherst (21) tied for fourth, while Oberlin (16) was fifth in a nine-team tournament. Avon Lake and Avon went head-to-head in all of the final matchups, except 1st doubles, with the Shoremen winning three out of the four matches.
“It’s really big for our program,” Avon Lake coach Adam Slabodnick said. “It’s one of our goals we set forth every single year for Avon Lake. I had not seen the other schools, but we did see Avon this week and we knew they were a great team. We knew there was potential to set up a lot of finals matches. To carry on this tradition of winning is a testament to our program. This is probably the hardest working team I’ve ever had.”
In first singles, Shoremen sophomore Spencer Gray beat Avon’s Jack Thorne, 7-5, 6-2, to claim his second LCAAA title after winning it on a second doubles team last season.
“I was just trying to be consistent and hit it deep,” Gray said. “That seemed to work. It’s a great feeling to come here and win. I’m looking forward to the SWC tournament in a couple weeks.”
The second singles title was captured by Avon Lake freshman Aidan Shoop over Avon’s AJ Sumser, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1. Shoop struggled initially in the first set before composing himself.
“I had a mental lapse in the first set, but Sumser hits pretty good,” Shoop said. “I didn’t move my feet and I double-faulted a lot. Coach helped me out in the second set and said I needed to be more aggressive at the net. To come here and win was a great experience in my freshman year. It’s a lot of hard work and I’m glad I won.”
Shoremen senior Chris Bailey was the third singles champion, defeating Avon’s Matt LeHoty, 6-2, 6-0. Bailey transferred from St. Ignatius after his first two years and it’s the first time he has competed at the LCAAA.
“It feels really good,” Bailey said. “I’ve never really been a part of any other tournaments like this. I was just really consistent with my hits and I didn’t try to go for anything crazy.”
Oberlin’s girls 1st doubles team pulled off a big win. Sisters Claudia and Isabelle Olaes topped Avon Lake’s Austin Goetz and Noah Lendal, 6-2, 6-1.
It was the first time The Olaeses played with each other on the doubles team, as they each are typically singles players. But the oncourt chemistry between the sisters was obvious and the win wasn’t anything they didn’t expect.
“Isabelle and I always practice with each other,” senior Claudia said. “We tried our best and it was fun. It’s my last year playing with my sister and we hope to go to state.”
Isabelle, a sophomore, echoed her sister’s sentiments.
“It was a good experience,” she said.
First-year Oberlin coach Airyn Hunter said she
hopes that a championship at a signature tournament like the LCAAA can help put her program on the map.
“It’s a joy to watch them play,” she said. “They know what the other one is thinking and that’s chemistry you cannot create or teach. Hopefully this can help build the program so we can get more and more players. Hopefully it also starts building stuff in the county because tennis is going down and it’s not as popular as it once was. Stuff like this can bring some excitement and show people they can do this.”
Avon’s second doubles tandem of Trent Garner/ Clay Heilman topped Avon Lake’s Charlie Anderson/ Matt Furrer, 6-2, 6-3, and were the Eagles’ only champions.
“This is a big deal for us because it’s our first year on varsity and have never been in this tournament,” Heilman said. “We gave it our all and made something of it.”
Both players are seniors and are undefeated (8-0). They said the “positivity” with each other was the key to a win.
“A lot of doubles teams aren’t great friends,” Heilman added. “But in school and on court, we’re always high-fiving each other and it’s been working all year.”
Their goal for the season is to make it to at least the districts, but a title at the LCAAA is a memory that will always stick with them.
“We’re just so glad that we won this today,” Garner said. “We’ve put so much dedication into it and it boosts our confidence. It’s a great accomplishment for all of us.”