Skyhawks on rise

Johnsburg’s Dan Martin returns the ball during an exhibition match Tuesday against Huntley in Johnsburg. Earlier, Martin beat Huntley’s Byungsung Yoo, 6-0, 6-0, in the No. 1 singles match, and the Skyhawks won, 6-1. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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JOHNSBURG – Until recently, Johnsburg boys tennis coach Rick Bailey had planned to juggle his lineup heading into sectionals and move No. 1 singles player Dan Martin to doubles.

Now Bailey is leaning toward leaving his lineup intact when his team plays May 22-23 at the Lakes Sectional in Lake Villa.

The Skyhawks defeated Huntley, 6-1, on Tuesday to improve to 10-3 overall and 5-3 in the Fox Valley Conference. With three conference matches remaining, Bailey is hoping to take an 8-3 FVC record into the conference tournament May 15-16 in Crystal Lake.

That would be the best regular-season conference showing for Johnsburg since it joined the FVC three years ago and probably would result in some Skyhawks players being seeded at sectionals.

Johnsburg’s improved play was an influence to keeping the status quo, but Bailey said a bigger reason was to allow Martin, a junior, to gain more singles experience.

Last year, Bailey paired Martin with Jon Frantz at the end of the season, and the duo came within one match of qualifying for state in doubles.

“He’s got to learn how to play [No. 1] singles,” Bailey said. “And he’s not going to learn unless he plays it.”

Against Huntley, Martin defeated Byungsung Yoo, 6-0, 6-0. Frantz and Chris Goulet won their No. 1 doubles match, 6-1, 6-0.

Martin (12-6) said playing at the top singles spot has been a good experience but challenging in always going up against a school’s best player. That challenge has been particularly true in the FVC.

“All of the other [FVC] schools have really good [No.] 1 players – kids that hit harder and are more consistent,” Martin said.

Martin also will face some strong competition at the Lakes Sectional from Gurnee Warren, which finished sixth in the state last year, and perennial power Lake Forest. Warren brings back Denis Bogatov, who won state last year as a junior.

Martin looks at the high level of competition as a positive that will improve his play.

“We actually play better against teams that we know are really good,” Martin said. “I just play more consistently.”

Mike Habrat and Ian Stellmach won at No. 3 doubles, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, to earn Huntley’s only win.

The Red Raiders (4-9, 1-8) have improved from last year when they won only one dual meet. Huntley coach Barry Wells said he is especially encouraged because six or seven of his varsity players are sophomores.

“We’ve gotten better as the season has gone on,” Wells said. “I think our program is moving in the right direction.”