By Randy Whlalen

The Joliet Township boys' tennis team hosts a lot of events. 

Of course, there are the Southwest Prairie Conference matches. In addition to those, the team hosts a couple of quadangulars and also has a big invite coming up on Saturday, April 26, with matches also held at Joliet Catholic Academy. 

That's always nice, but this season's home meets are very special to Paul Coffey. That's because he wants to enjoy all the time he can playing on his home court to cap his 4-year varsity career.

"I've won all my matches at this quad the last three years," Coffey said. "It's still pretty early in the season for us, but things went well for us (in the quad). We like to do well on our home court."

Coffey and No. 2 singles player, fellow senior Christian Alexander, each went 3-0 on the day in the April 12 quad. As a team, Joliet went 2-1, defeating Coal City and Plainfield South 3-2. But then losing to JCA by that same 3-2 count.

"It was a really good day for tennis," Joliet coach Cristina Hackett said. "Paul is just smart, intelligent, and works hard. He's a strong, smart player who is versatile.

"We are incredibly proud of Paul Coffey and David Contreras. They have earned acceptances to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, demonstrating their unwavering dedication to academics. This academic excellence reflects the team's overall commitment to discipline and achievement."

Coffey didn't even play competitive tennis until his freshman year at Joliet. But he was so good that he went to first doubles right away. He's played varsity as the No. 1 singles player since. 

"I love winning and I hate losing," Coffey said. "I'm a fast learner. I tried other sports when I was younger, but I like tennis the best. I like to play singles because I feel more in my element. As a single player, it's on you."

One goal that Coffey, who was 13-8 overall last year, has is to qualify for the Class 2A State Finals. He hasn't done that yet, and this is it.

"This is my last chance and I'm going for it," he said of state. "It would mean a payoff of all the hard work. I feel like our team, chemistry-wise wise is still progressing. Last year, we got a new coach, and there were some growing pains. 

"But we have improved, and it feels like an established program now."

Last season, the team was 4-11 and 2-8 in the  SPC. But after the quad and a narrow 4-3 loss in an SPC match on Tuesday, April 15, at Yorkville, Joliet fell to 3-7 and 1-4 in the league on the season. 

"We battled," Hackett said of the Yorkville match. "We lost 4-3 on both varsity and JV. But our first doubles went double point tiebreaker, and it was very exciting!"

While the team is still under .500, they are building. That all started last season.

"Last year's team demonstrated resilience and achieved several notable individual victories," Hackett said. "While the numbers don't fully reflect the team's dedication, we're using those experiences to fuel our growth this year. We're also excited to welcome a talented group of new players who are contributing fresh energy and skill to the team. We are focused on building upon last year's successes and are optimistic about achieving even greater results this season.

"This marks my second year coaching the boys' tennis team, and I'm incredibly excited to build upon the foundation we laid last season. Last year's experiences have given me invaluable insights into our returning players, enabling me to refine my coaching approach. More importantly, I'm committed to fostering a team culture built on respect, support, and a shared passion for the game."

Alexander had a winning record of 11-10 last year. The No. 3 singles player is junior Caleb Price. 

Senior David Contreras and junior Dimitris Kourtidis are at first doubles. Senior Isaiah Flores and sophomore Angelo Noriega-Bueno are the No. 2 doubles team, junior Fernando Chavez Guzman, along with sophomores Bao Le and Brian Nguyen, are at third doubles, and the fourth doubles team consists of junior Exavier Rodriguez and freshman Rocco Jones. 

"I played a lot over the summer with my dad," Kourtidis said of his improvement this season. "I also play on the soccer team at Joliet Central. David and I met at the court before the season started, and we started playing together. I was on the No. 4 doubles team last year, and now I'm up to No. 1."

While that's impressive, it might be even more so for Contreras. He never played tennis before last season. So in just over a year, he's moved up to the No. 1 doubles spot.

"I wouldn't have believed them," Contreras said when asked what he would have thought if someone told him at the start of March of 2024 that he'd be part of the top doubles team. "I had never played a racket sport. I no longer play soccer, but I used to and got a lot of my footwork from doing that. 

"We're hoping to do well at conference and make a run for state."

The last time that Joliet Township had someone make it to state was in 2017. There, junior Morgan Red qualified in singles, while seniors Luiz Diaz and Tim Spesia made it in doubles.

"We're excited about the energy and talent our newcomers bring," Hackett said. "Beyond academics, we have ambitious athletic goals. This season, our primary focus is to achieve a positive winning record, building on the foundation we've established. We are also committed to developing players who can qualify for the state tournament.

"We believe we have the talent and drive to make significant strides in both team results and individual achievements. Furthermore, we are aiming to create a team culture that fosters long-term success. We are looking to create a streak of positive winning seasons."

Joliet Township is one of 10 teams at the Lincoln-Way East Sectional, which will take place on Friday and Saturday, May 23 and May 24, in Frankfort. The other teams there are Bradley-Bourbonnais, Crete-Monee, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way East, Kankakee Co-op, Minooka, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way West, and Rich Township. 

"This season is a journey of growth, marked by perseverance and teamwork," Hackett added. "We are confident in our players' talent and skill, and we are committed to overcoming obstacles to achieve a winning season. Our core values of toughness, integrity, greatness, energy, and responsibility will guide us every step of the way. We are excited to see the progress we make."