Lemont's Nick Urban Advances to Second Day of IHSA Tennis State Finals

Prior to the 2011 season, Lemont High School had not advanced a boys’ tennis player past the first day of state finals competition. Now, the Indians have done it three straight seasons.

Sophomore Nick Urban won two of three matches on the first day of competition at the 2013 IHSA Boys’ Tennis State Finals, which are being hosted by High School Districts 211 and 214. Urban will continue play in the tournament’s consolation bracket on Friday, May 24, and is guaranteed to finish among the top 32 singles players in the state.

This marks the eighth straight season that Lemont has been represented in the IHSA Boys’ Tennis State Finals.

Urban (24-5) shook off a slow start in his opening match to triumph over Rockford Christian’s Justin Ancona in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). He had a much easier time in the second round, topping Metamora’s Mitchell Nguyen in straight sets (6-1, 6-2). In the third round, he found himself squaring off against the tournament’s 11th-seeded player, Hinsdale Central’s Michael Lorenzini. Urban dropped a 6-3, 7-5 decision to move into the consolation bracket.

Urban advanced to the IHSA State Finals as a freshman in 2012, and won three matches in the consolation bracket to finish with a 3-2 record in the event and among the top 32 players in the state.

Seniors Jake Smagacz and Alex Vasic took part in state finals doubles competition. The duo started strong in the opening round but eventually fell to Quincy’s Tom O’Connor and Collin Adams in three sets (1-6, 6-1, 6-4). In the consolation round, they dropped a match to Kiran Patel-O’Conner and Zach Settelmyer of Peoria Richwoods in straight sets (6-0, 6-1). Vasic was taking part in the state finals for the second straight year; he teamed with Jonathan Pacheco ‘12 a year ago. The team of Smagacz and Vasic finished the year with a record of 19-7.

Smagacz, Urban and Vasic all earned All-South Suburban Conference honors this year while helping head coach Jon DeGuzman’s team to a seventh straight SSC Blue team title. Lemont captured its first-ever team sectional crown at the IHSA Joliet West Sectional; the Indians totaled 22 points, edging runner-up Joliet Catholic (20) and Joliet West (18). Both Urban and the team of Smagacz/Vasic finished third in their respective flights, while senior Ray Cepele, junior Joe Ziebell and sophomore Nathaniel Burner made important contributions that led to the team title.

Boys’ tennis is the seventh Lemont High School athletic program to compete at the state level this year. The cheerleading squad finished as the runner-up at the IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading State Finals; sophomore Kyra Udziela took part in the IHSA Girls’ Bowling State Finals; senior Aaron Oldanie competed in the IHSA Class 2A Boys’ Cross Country State Finals; sophomore Victoria Salazar and freshman Claire Gagen each took part in the IHSA Class 2A Girls’ Cross Country State Finals; junior Bridget Lynn competed at the IHSA Class AA Girls’ Golf State Finals; and senior Chris Giatras finished third in the 182-pound weight class at the 2013 IHSA Class 2A Wrestling State Finals.

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