Lincoln-Way East on a roll in boys tennis sectional

FRANKFORT -- Things are looking bright for the Lincoln-Way East High School boys tennis team.

After Friday's competition, the Griffins are well on their way to capturing top honors in their sectional tournament. Entering today's final day, East has 16 first-place points among eight teams.

Lincoln-Way East has already advanced two singles players and two doubles team to the state tournament next week in Arlington Heights.

East's top singles player, Eshwar Murthy, the No. 1 seed, defeated Coal City's Luke Lyons 6-0, 6-0 and Bradley-Bourbonnais' Shaun Mulani 6-0, 6-0 to advance into the semifinals. The Griffins' Matt Rossetto defeated Lincoln-Way Central's Stephen Tompkins 6-0, 6-0 and Bradley's Ajah Haryani 7-5, 7-6 (7-6) to make the semifinals.

Both Murthy and Rossetto will advance to state, as will teammates Dan Villegas-Keenan Lindley and Blake Lindley-Luke Curran in doubles

The Villegas-Lindley duo, seeded No. 1, defeated Coal City's Colton Wiegand-Kevin Allen 6-1, 7-5 in the quarterfinals.

Lindley and Curran downed Bradley's Tom Smith and Juan Santoliva 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals after having downed Crete-Monee's Carl Ikins-Andrew Moruzi 6-0, 6-0 in the opening round.

In singles play, Lincoln-Way Central's Jeremy Dodge will advance to state by virtue of making today's semifinals which begin at 9 a.m. Dodge defeated Kankakee's Andre Tucker 6-0, 6-0 and Crete-Monee's Mike Nelson 6-2, 6-4.

Marian Catholic 2, Lincoln-Way Central 1 -- At the Lincoln-Way Regional, the top-seeded Knights finished the season 12-8-3. Providence Catholic wins 2 -- At the Chicago Catholic League Tournament, the Celtics (27-1) won twice in pool play. Providence defeated Fenwick 25-15, 25-13 and St. Ignatius 25-16, 25-15.

Action continues today at Loyola Academy in Wilmette.

Reed-Custer wins -- At the Class A Seneca Sectional, the Comets won the eight-team championship with 138 points. Seneca was second with 83.

Pacing the Comets' charge was senior Mike Eller, who captured three first places. Eller won the long jump (22-10), pole vault (13-0)and 200 (22.909). Also winning for Reed-Custer were its 800 relay team (1:31.5), Jason Baker in the shot put (52-6), Mike Redmann in the discus (141-0) and Judah Wessman in the 800 (2:00.642). Others advancing to state for Reed-Custer will be Redmann in the shot put (48-8 1/2), Baker in the discus (133-6), Troy Ehringer in the 3200 (10:51.54) and Steven Davis in the 200 (23.4).

Coal City captured firsts in the 400 (44.157) and 1600 relays (3:32.185). The Coalers' 800 relay team advanced by virtue of its second-place time (1:31.837) in the 800 relay.

Seneca will advance freshman Drake Stuedeman in the 110 high hurdles (1st place, 16.314), Luke Collins in the pole vault (2nd, 12-6) and Ben Paulsen in the triple jump (2nd, 43-3).

Wilmington's Trevor Howard advances in the 1600 with a second-place time of 4:55.097.