After wrapping up her fourth trip to the state girls tennis tournament, Timothy Christian’s McKenna Byrne recalled that it all began with lessons at age 8 at Courts Plus in Elmhurst.
Byrne ended her career on Friday, Oct. 23, as perhaps the best singles player in Trojans history. She went 6-8 in her four state meet appearances and finished 2-2 last weekend in her final competition. Byrne was eliminated by Normal U-High’s Christina Su 6-1, 7-6(5) in the fourth round of the consolation bracket at Wheeling.
“I’m proud of getting to go all four years,” Byrne said. “I’ve been playing for so long. I’m proud of being able to play with my teammates.”
Bryne, an Elmhurst resident, played softball, golf, volleyball and tennis growing up. Tennis became her favorite sport when her mother, Marla, took McKenna and her brother, Logan, to lessons through the park district at Plunkett Park. McKenna Byrne became serious about playing in middle school at Timothy Christian.
As a freshman, she qualified for state at singles after placing third at the York Sectional. After losing both matches that year, she went 2-2 in singles every state meet afterward.
“I like to play alone. I like to be in control of the game,” Byrne said about her preference toward singles.
The left-hander was the Metro Suburban singles champion all four years. She won the York Sectional singles title over freshman teammate Abygale Ahn, 6-1, 6-1, to go along with the sectional trophy she captured as a sophomore.
According to Timothy coach Keith Mills, Byrne owns the school record with over 100 victories.
“She is easy to coach and the nicest kid,” Mills said. “I’ve never worked with a kid who worked so hard at something. This year, she took such a leadership role.”
Another class
After winning its first sectional title and sending six players to the girls state tennis tournament, Timothy Christian has a very bright future.
Mills said he was surprised when the Illinois High School Association voted earlier this month to create a second class for boys and girls tennis state tournaments starting in 2016.
“I couldn’t believe it, to be honest,” Mills said.
Timothy, which has an enrollment of 350 according to the IHSA’s website, will be one of the benefactors of the change.
“Being in Class A will help the program and give us a chance to go to the state tournament every year,” Mills said. “We should have more kids interested (in tennis).”
According to an IHSA press release on Oct. 14, 1,378 is expected to be the enrollment cutoff for the girls state tournament. The total number of total qualifiers — 128 — will remain the same, with 64 singles and doubles teams. Instead of 32 sectionals, each class will have 16.
The Trojans won their first sectional title on Oct. 17 at York by scoring 31 points and beating the Dukes by two points. Byrne defeated freshman teammate Ahn for the singles title. Timothy’s doubles team of juniors Danielle Beard and Maddie Monat placed third by beating teammates Toni Paterno and Ellie Wiener.
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Beard and Monat, who went 1-2 at the state meet, are expected to return next season, along with Ahn.
Top dogs
York’s No. 1 doubles team of seniors Abby Brigman and Alex Hennessy had a successful outing at the state meet by finishing 3-2 and advancing to the fourth round of the consolation bracket.
“I thought Abby and Alex played their best tennis of the season at the state tournament,” York coach Tres Heimann said. “They complemented each other very well throughout the year and ended on a high note.”
Twitter @geomwilcox