Glenbrook South senior Bryce McClanahan is a finesse tennis player who grew up in an era when power serves and crushing forehands have become ubiquitous.
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The Titans’ singles player has gained physical strength through a four-year varsity career, but his game is still more art than brute force.
“When I was younger and shorter I had to play more defensive,” McClanahan said. “I’d play the slice and come to the net, and it would make people angry. I relied a lot on the fact that I knew people would get angry and not know how to deal with it.
“It’s very helpful on the court. People get really mad when they don’t know how to deal with it and if someone’s frustrated, you keep using whatever it is that’s getting them (angry).”
One of the main tools in McClanahan’s arsenal has been his backhand.
“His backhand is one of the best,” Glenbrook South coach Larry Faulkner said. “At the last fraction of a second, he can go down the line or cross-court and it’s very difficult to read where he’s going with it.”
A returning three-time all-conference player, McClanahan currently plays the No. 1 singles spot for the Titans, although he’ll be challenged to hang on to that role.
Like they did last year, McClanahan and Michael Bukhalo will push each other for the top singles spot. Bukhalo is a sophomore this season.
As a sophomore, McClanahan played on the Titans’ No. 1 doubles team with his then-senior brother, Gavin. The McClanahans were state qualifiers in 2015 and reached the fifth round of the consolation bracket
But once his brother graduated, Bryce McClanahan set his sights on playing singles, which he prefers.
“With singles there’s a lot more individuality and I can focus on my own game and it provides the one-on-one element that I really like,” Bryce McClanahan said.
Last year’s Highland Park Sectional included three of the eventual top six state finishers in singles, including 2016 state champion Vuk Budic of Deerfield. Bryce McClanahan lost to Budic in his first sectional match.
“The goal is to get downstate,” Bryce McClanahan said. “They changed the sectional this year so there’s a great chance to make state. I’m really excited.”
Glenbrook South is in the Class AA Buffalo Grove Sectional this spring with Hersey, Buffalo Grove, Prospect, Glenbrook North, Fremd, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.
While Bryce McClanahan will continue to utilize his finesse game, he has developed more power in his senior year.
“I’m stronger now, which allows me to be a little more authoritative in my game. I’ve improved my forehand and my serve a lot,” Bryce McClanahan said. “I can also use (opponents’) power pretty well, to where I don’t have to generate as much of my own, and I can net-finish a lot of points off and try not to get bullied around too much.”
Bryce McClanahan plans to play for DePauw, a Division III program in Indiana, next year. But first, Faulkner believes Bryce McClanahan has what it takes to compete for a downstate singles spot in his senior year.
“He doesn’t have that big serve but he’s very quick on the court and he reads and anticipates very, very well,” Faulkner said. “He knows the angles and he’s a very smart guy.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
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