Bob Tomasino, Katie & Annie Payne, Nina Bertino, Madison Wyss, Terry Wrona, Maddie Bauer, McCoy Hutchison

Top-seeded singles player Nina Bertino placed 3rd in the Plainfield East Sectional on Saturday while Maddie Bauer and McCoy Hutchison netted 1st place in doubles. In addition, Joliet Catholic Academy was named Team Champion.

Bertino, Hutchison and Bauer will be competing in the State Tournament sponsored by the IHSA on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Good luck Angels!

Below is an article published in The Herald-News/Shaw Media on Saturday, October 18.

Joliet’s Carney wins an emotional singles title; JCA gets team honors
JCA take team title as Bauer, Hutchison take doubles crown

PLAINFIELD – For some people, it’s more than just a tennis match.

After knocking off the top-seeded singles player Nina Bertino from Joliet Catholic in the semifinals Saturday, Joliet West’s Eileen Carney beat Plainfield North’s Gabby Ochalik to take first place in the Plainfield East Sectional. And she did it all for her grandmother, who died recently.

“They’re two amazing players, I never thought I could beat them,” Carney said with tears forming in her eyes. “Last time I played her [Bertino], my grandma was there. So it was really important for me to win for her.”

The emotional 7-6, 6-5 win against Bertino set up Carney for her 6-2, 6-5 victory over Ochalik. The sectional championship matchup could be repeated for three more years, as the impressive top two finishers are only freshmen.

The two also know each other well and welcome the friendly competition.

“I knew Eileen for a few years now. She’s a good friend of mine,” Ochalik said. “Obviously, she’s very good competition. It was a great match. I remember earlier in the season I won, but we go back to the USTA and we had good matches. Today was her day to shine.”

“I’m so excited; I love playing her [Ochalik],” Carney said. “Usually she wins. I’ve only beaten her twice. It’s always exciting to see what the score is.”

The two could play each other next year, but nobody is counting out a certain junior from JCA. After losing to Carney, Bertino bounced back to beat Morris’ Megan Davy, 6-3, 6-3, to take third place and help the Angels claim the team title. The three-time state qualifier aims to improve this year on her state performances.

“We both put our hearts out there and did our best,” Bertino said. “She [Carney] played outstanding. All I did was play my heart out, and that’s all I can ask for. I have very high expectations for myself at state. I want to make the top 32. I want to make it to the second day.”

Meanwhile, JCA sophomores Maddie Bauer and McCoy Hutchison beat Morris’ Monica Davy and Leah Lines, 7-6, 6-4, to place first in doubles.

“All of our matches this entire year have been leading up to this,” Bauer said. “This is the greatest feeling ever.”