Hub netters edge Newman Central Catholic for tournament crown

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity tennis team won a home tournament for the second time this season, finishing first out of four schools in the annual Hub Varsity Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Rochelle totaled 15 points to edge runner-up finisher Newman Central Catholic (14 points) and third-place finisher Princeton (13 points).

Seniors David Wanner and Owen Haas won the No. 1 doubles title with a 3-0 record, opening the tournament with an 8-3 victory over Princeton’s Asa Gartin and Landon Davis before defeating Newman Central Catholic’s Logan Palmer and JP Ryan 8-1. The Hub duo took down Mendota’s Johnny Diaz and Cameron Escatel 8-3 to secure the No. 1 doubles crown.

Seniors John Green and Nolan Fonfara won the No. 2 doubles title with a 3-0 record. The Rochelle combo won 8-4 over Newman Central Catholic’s Raul Reyes-Zamora and Carson Palmer before beating Mendota’s Trekker Klema and Dagen Setchell 8-2. Green and Fonfara cruised over Princeton’s Jackson Mason and Jack Orwig 8-1 for the No. 2 doubles crown.

Seniors Evin Odle and Paul Swartz claimed the No. 3 doubles title with a 3-0 record, shutting out Mendota’s Landon Lee and Trey Lee 8-0 and defeating Princeton’s Levi Boggs and Landon Fairbanks 8-3 to start the tournament. The Hub duo sealed the No. 3 doubles championship with an 8-4 victory against Newman Central Catholic’s Andrew Downs and Sam Neisewander.

Junior Jimmy Chavez went 1-2 in the No. 1 singles competition, scoring an 8-2 win against Mendota’s Matthew Miller. Freshman Mark Green also finished 1-2 in the No. 2 singles competition, earning a hard-fought 9-7 victory against Mendota’s Clayton Buffington. The Hubs (9-6, 1-4 Interstate 8) will travel to Ottawa for the Interstate 8 Conference Championship meet this Saturday.