Sweeney continues dominance

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CRYSTAL LAKE – Sam Sweeney made it four-in-a-row at the McHenry County Tennis Classic, defeating John Cincola, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, on Sunday in the men’s open championship.

Sweeney, a former Prairie Ridge standout who plays at North Central College, won the past three championships against Cincola, a teaching professional at the Racket Club in Crystal Lake.

Cincola came out strong in the opening set and had Sweeney down, 4-1, on the strength of two service breaks.

That was all Cincola would manage as Sweeney won five consecutive games to win the first set.

Sweeney stepped up his play after getting down and was able to take advantage of strong forehand winners. He said he tried to be more consistent in his play.

“It’s always good when you can come back,” Sweeney said. “I just wanted to stretch the points out.”

The second set was all Cincola as Sweeney struggled with inconsistency and unforced errors.

Cincola said he was not happy with his play overall, and he felt as though he was trying to hang on the whole match.

“I was just trying to keep it in play,” he said. “I just tried to put pressure on his serve and hold mine.”

Sweeney found his rhythm in the third set.

After losing his service in the opening game, Sweeney held it the rest of the way while breaking Cincola twice.

“I wasn’t serving too well coming out, Sweeney said. “It took me until the third set to get my percentage up.”

After playing against each other for the first time in the finals two years ago, Sweeney and Cincola have become regular practice partners.

“We practice a lot,” Cincola said. “There’s no surprises there [now].”

The Classic field included many siblings and parents playing in various age and gender divisions.

Marisa Thome defeated Hannah Locher, 6-0, 6-1, to win the Girls’ 15-year-old championship.

On Saturday, Julia Thome, Marisa’s sister, won the Girls’ 12-year-old title.

Fred Thome, the girls’ father said that he grew up playing tennis and was thrilled that his family had taken up his passion for the game. Fred lost to Cincola in the semifinals of the Men’s Open Division.

“I’ve been playing tennis all my life,” Fred Thome said. “I love tennis.”

In the Boys’ 15-year-old division, Evani Prado defeated Brandon Jarva, 6-2, 6-2, in the championship match. Also on Sunday, Steve Blackmore won the Men’s Intermediate, and Pat Gummerson won the Men’s 55-year-old title.

In women’s play, Tricia Saylor defeated Cindy Goulet, 6-4, 6-1, to win the Women’s Intermediate singles championship.

On Saturday, Garrett Locher won the boys’ 12-year-old singles championship, and Cam Laktash won the title in the 18-year-old division. The Girls’ 18-year-old Singles Championship was won by Bonnie Kelly.