Aces up their sleeve
Senators have plenty of talent to win CS8 tennis title and more
Mike O'Keefe left, Collin Chapman, center, and Dan O'Keefe
want to lead Springfield High School to its third consecutive conference title.
By TREVOR LAWRENCE
STAFF WRITER
In the past two years, Springfield High School has become the dominant boys tennis team in the Central State Eight Conference.
The Senators are thinking even bigger.
“This year (we're) playing for nothing else but a state title," says third-year coach Ross Graham, whose team tied for 19th at state last season. "We're trying to win it all."
The Senators' work and dedication in the off-season, along with their outstanding talent, have been the keys to their success.
It all started when Graham took over in 2000. His first SHS team, consisting of freshmen and sophomores, edged Jacksonville for the CS8 title and finished in a tie for first place with the Crimsons in the Springfield Sectional.
Last year the Senators repeated as CS8 champions, then dismantled the competition in the Quincy Sectional.
Graham says the Senators have evolved from a young, average group of players to a more mature, talented squad.
"They've put a lot of time in it with off-season tournaments and camps," he says. "They're a close-knit group, and that always helps because they push each other along."
Armed with seasoned veterans and a new group of freshmen, Springfield is the odds-on favorite to earn its third-straight CS8 crown. The Senators have 17 players on the roster compared to last season's nine.
All of the starters return, including the No. 1 doubles tandem of Collin Chapman and Mike O'Keefe. Up-and-comers include junior Eric Schafer and freshmen Mark Nelson and Nick Boltuc.
"There is no standout guy that just dominates the other guy," Graham says. "They're all just really good players. Right now, it's hard telling who is playing singles and who is playing doubles."
Chapman and O'Keefe enter their third season as doubles partners, and they're shooting for their third straight state berth.
"We're going to give it all we have," said Chapman, a senior. "At state, there aren't too many teams that we are really scared of. We know what the competition's going to be like, and we're looking forward to proving ourselves."
When asked about conference and sectional competition,
O'Keefe said most of the teams from last year will be back, but he emphatically
made a prediction on those tournaments.
"We're going to dominate conference and sectional, I'll tell you that right now," said O'Keefe a junior. "We're going to clean house on those."
In singles, Mike O'Keefe's twin brother, Dan, will be tested in holding down the No. 1 seed.
Dan O'Keefe has become the CS8 tournament favorite after the graduation of three-time champion Joe Kula of Sacred Heart-Griffin.
"It's going to be tough," Dan O'Keefe said. "(Chatham Glenwood's) John Lin's still here; he's going to be a challenge."
Dan O'Keefe advanced to state in singles for the second straight season, but was hampered by tendinitis in his right arm. Last year, he had to forfeit his match with Lin in the semifinals of the Quincy Sectional and sat out the state tournament.
Springfield lost valuable points at state without O'Keefe. With his services, the Senators could have had a chance to finish in the top 10.
"Dan had a great draw," Graham said. "He had a shot to win at least two matches or maybe three. Just that difference in points would've moved us up."
As for the tendinitis, Dan O'Keefe said, "I'm over that"
Tyler and David Robinson, who aren't related, give the Senators an outstanding No. 2 team as they enter their second season as doubles partners.
Tyler has become Springfield's most versatile player and has been able to rack up important points for the Senators in dual meets and tournaments. He already has shown his importance this year by picking up two victories in matches against Peoria Richwoods and SHG.
"My role on the team as a doubles partner is to work as one with Dave," Tyler Robinson said. "I'm just a team player."
And how will the team fare this season?
"We should probably do a lot better this year with better players and a better game plan," Tyler Robinson said.
Springfield got off to a 5-1 start this season, with the only loss coming to Dunlap.
The Senators have victories over tough Metro East schools Belleville East, Belleville West and 0'Fallon. The most difficult competition at state will come from defending champion Winnetka New Trier and a host of other schools from the Chicago area.
