Naperville Central senior Elizabeth Lumpkin is one state championship away from destiny.
She has won three consecutive girls tennis singles titles and is on the cusp of setting a state record. Besides Lumpkin, three other girls have won three singles titles since the inaugural tournament in 1972, including Glenbrook South’s Chrissie Nolan (1997-1999), but no one has won four.
Will anyone dethrone Lumpkin?
“I don’t think anyone will touch Elizabeth,” Highland Park coach Steve Rudman said. “She never misses a shot. Her footwork and preparation are amazing. She’s just a big-time player.”
Lumpkin’s road to destiny started Wednesday, when Naperville Central opened the season with a loss to Hinsdale Central, which finished third in the state last year. The Redhawks tied for fourth last year with West Aurora.
Lake Forest is the two-time defending state champion. “I think the season’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Lumpkin, who had a 96-5 record heading into her senior season. “To be honest, I don’t think there’s that much pressure?on me or the team.
“I’m just trying to play well all season, take it one match at a time, because when you think or look ahead, that’s when you get ahead of yourself. And that’s not good. If I just try to play my best, hopefully I’ll be pretty satisfied how it ends up.
“The state finals are so far off and, sure, it would be cool [to win a fourth singles title], but there are so many things that I can’t control. That’s why it’s really hard to think so far ahead.”
Lumpkin’s competitive drive and positive mental approach seem to always give her an edge.
“She’s one of the most mentally tough kids I’ve ever seen in the state tournament,” Lake Forest coach Robert Wagemann said.
Ranked 34th nationally in the under-18 division by the United States Tennis Association, Lumpkin defeated Lake Forest’s Alexis Prousis 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) to win last year’s state title.
This fall, her toughest challengers could be New Trier’s Jesse Adler and Morgan Tuttle. Adler, a sophomore, and Tuttle, a senior, finished fourth and fifth last year. And Hinsdale South’s Bryce Marable (ranked 83rd nationally) is back on the Hornets’ roster for her senior year after skipping last season?and Marable holds two victories over Lumpkin.
Other challengers to Lumpkin’s four-peat include Lake Forest senior Chelsea Nusslock, West Aurora junior Lin Waterford, Morgan Park Academy junior Barb Zidek and Glenbrook North junior Stephanie Heller.
“Elizabeth is an outstanding player, an outstanding competitor. She’s very impressive to watch,” New Trier coach Jerry Morse-Karzen said. “Winning four state titles would be quite a feat. She definitely will be tough to beat.”
An aggressive player, Lumpkin uses a high-pressure game. And this year, she said, “I’m trying to add more variety to my game, so I’m not just one-dimensional.”
As if being one-dimensional has been a problem for her in the past.