Chagrin Falls player wins state title

The Chagrin Falls boys tennis team had never had a state qualifier in singles heading into the 2019 season.

Not only do the Tigers now have a qualifier, they also have a state champion.

Freshman Andrew Zimcosky won by injury default over Youngstown Ursuline’s Greg Morgione in the Division II singles championship match on May 25 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.

“It feels pretty good,” said Zimcosky of his accomplishment. “It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but it’s pretty cool.”

Zimcosky’s heart experienced a few rapid beats when he was summoned to the head table prior to what was supposed to be his championship match. He wasn’t sure what was going on when he was then sent to the trainer’s room.

There he saw Morgione on a trainer’s table, being treated for severe cramps after his 7-5, 6-2 semifinal.

“He wanted to talk to me. He wanted to congratulate me,” Zimcosky said of his talk with Morgione. “He said he wasn’t going to be able to play. He was going to taken to the hospital for IVs. That was tough to see.

“I have a lot of respect

for him for what he did. That was pretty awesome of him to (congratulate him before going to the hospital).”

Even though Zimcosky did not have a championship match in which to play, he dominated throughout the tournament. After winning 6-0, 6-0, in both of his preliminary rounds on May 24, Zimcosky defeated Preble Shawnee’s Pierce Elliott, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the championship match.

The loss in his semifinal opening set was the first set Zimcosky lost all season.

He finished the season 29-0 — and Elliott was the only person to take a set from him.

“There was some panic there,” Zimcosky said of the lost set. “There have been USTA matches where

I lost, got down in the second set and it didn’t go my way. That was a tough mental challenge.

“I just had to take it one point at a time, give it everything I had. If it wasn’t enough, it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t sure (the win) would happen, but before I knew it I was up 5-3 and did it.”

Coach Leslie Lozon said once she saw Zimcosky’s fight re-emerge, “he stopped the negative thoughts and he skated from there.”

Lozon added: “This young man is an incredible athlete. He did get down on himself, and we talked about that. He said, ‘I feel the fight now.’ At that point, the semifinal match turned around.

“He’s a great player, but he’s also a great young

man.”

With the championship trophy secured, Zimcosky and his caravan celebrated in style.

“We were going to this ice cream place,” he said. “But there was a Chick-filA at that exit. Had to go for the Chick-fil-A.

“The ice cream? I went with cookies and cream. I was feeling it.”

Zimcosky won’t have too much time to celebrate. He heads back to school after the Memorial Day holiday to finish up his freshman year at Chagrin Falls. But he admitted the feeling will be different than last week.

“I hope I do well in my finals,” he said. “But I have to admit it’s going to be cool to go back to school knowing I brought home a state championship.”

Zimcosky