Sometimes latching onto a college is all about making connections.
That’s how Hinsdale Central senior Lope Adelakun wound up deciding to play tennis for Wisconsin. Adelakun had met Jake Van Emburgh, the son of Wisconsin coach Greg Van Emburgh, at U.S. Tennis Association tournaments and soon the 14-year-old high school sophomore had Adelakun considering a recruiting trip to Madison, Wis.
Adelakun committed to the Badgers before this season after considering DePaul, Valparaiso and Butler.
“I wanted to stay close to home and play Division I tennis,” Adelakun said. “Besides, it’s also in the Big Ten.”
Adelakun is a three out of five-star recruit by tennisrecruiting.net and is ranked No. 13 in his class in the state based on singles play at U.S. Tennis Association events.
In IHSA competition, Adelakun has made his impact as a doubles player. He combined with graduate Chase Hamilton last season to finish second at state, losing to Stevenson’s Colin Harvey and Andrew Komarov, 6-3, 6-1.
Adelakun has a new partner in junior Michael Czlonka, who, as a sophomore, placed fourth at state with his partner, graduate James Bruning.
Adelakun and Czlonka helped lead Hinsdale Central to third place March 28 in the Deco-Turf Team Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Devils lost to eventual champion Wiregrass Ranch of Wesley Chapel, Fla., in the semifinals.
Hinsdale Central, which took first last year, beat Spartanburg, S.C., for third place. Adelakun and Czlonka went 2-3 against top competition from around the country.
On Saturday, the Devils won the Edwardsville Invitational. With Czlonka away on spring break, Adelakun played a doubles match with Nick Cazalano and also collected an important singles victory that helped give the Red Devils the team title.
With Adelakun, Eddie Grabill and Czlonka all returning, the Red Devils are in good position to win their fourth consecutive state title and seventh in nine years.
“Lope had great chemistry with Chase and he’ll pick it up with Michael,” Red Devils coach John Naisbitt said. “Lope is a nice kid. He’s a funny, friendly kid. It’s not surprising he creates chemistry so quickly.”
Adelakun and Czlonka knew they would become partners long before the season began and worked out together on their own. Adelakun said he has tried to take over the senior leader role that Hamilton filled on last year’s doubles team. Hamilton had state experience that he used to prepare Adelakun for the postseason.
“I’ve been working on increasing my first-serve percentage,” Adelakun said. “I’m also trying to stay aggressive at the net. Those two things are essential to winning the state championship.”
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OTHERS TO WATCH
Peter Alex & Rohan Chinwalla, Hinsdale South: The returning state qualifiers have paired up as doubles partners. Alex, a sophomore, played singles last season, while Chinwalla, a junior, saw his former doubles partner, Greg Murray, graduate. Since the Hornets are in the same sectional as Hinsdale Central and Downers South, coach Steve Snider thinks the path to state is through doubles for his No. 1 combination.
Colin Fitzpatrick, Fenwick: Friars coach Gerard Sullivan preaches patience with his top returning senior, who went 1-2 at state singles last season. Fitzpatrick is improved, but may need time to find his rhythm. “He is our big gun out there,” Sullivan said. “He did not play many offseason tournaments, but worked on his game. He’s better than last season.”
Eddie Grabill, Hinsdale Central: Grabill beat teammate Martin Joyce for the state singles championship last season. It was the first time different Hinsdale Central players won back-to-back state singles titles since Jim Jeffries finished first in 1956 and Marty Riessen grabbed the first of his four titles in 1957. The Ohio State-bound Joyce will not return for his senior season, but Dartmouth recruit Grabill is back to defend his title. Grabill is ranked No. 3 in the state in his class by tennisrecruiting.net.
Alex Ross & Gianni Ross, Lyons: Former home-schooled brothers Alex and Gianni Ross enrolled at Lyons for the second semester and will play high school tennis together for the only time. Their addition makes Lyons an instant state trophy contender. The Vanderbilt-bound Alex, a senior, is state-ranked No. 4 by tennisrecruiting.net. Gianni, a sophomore, is No. 1 for his class in Illinois and No. 3 nationally. Alex Ross last played for Lyons as a freshman and went 4-2 at state singles. State veterans Cuyler Burke and Jack Bernstein now will form Lyons’ No. 1 doubles.
Twitter: @geomwilcox