Boys Tennis: Hinsdale Central edges New Trier for Benet-Downers South title

Updated: April 7, 2012 6:51PM

The tennis season is still young and coaches are trying to find their best lineups. Even with that, New Trier and Hinsdale Central gave a glimpse into what the state championship might bring as the two battled for the championship of the Benet-Downers Grove South invitational at Hinsdale Central.

The two storied programs have each won 20 state titles including the last five and a natural rivalry has resulted. The Red Devils came away with the championship Saturday with a 3-2 victory over the Trevians.

‘‘Alex [Hagermoser] and Peter [Heneghan] really performed in crunch time,’’ Hinsdale coach John Naisbitt said. ‘‘We battled today against the best team in the state.’’

Hagermoser and Heneghan won their No. 1 doubles match against Rob Jacobsen and Nate Jacobsen 6-3, 6-4 in the last match of the day that proved to be the tie-breaker that clinched the title for Hinsdale Central.

In the No. 1 singles match, the Red Devils changed their lineup to pit freshman Martin Joyce (2-1) against the top player in the state in Jared Hiltzik. It was the first time that two have ever played against each other and Hiltzik (6-0) prevailed 7-6(5), 6-4, but not before Joyce took him deep into both sets.

‘‘I was very impressed with [Joyce],’’ New Trier coach Tad Eckert. ‘‘There are not many kids that can go toe-to-toe with Jared like that. ‘’

‘‘They are our biggest rival,’’ Hiltzik said. ``It seems like it’s always us and them at the top. We have respect for them and I hope they do for us.’’

Downers Grove South captured third place behind a strong day from top singles player Joe Leto. The senior, who improved to 10-0, won all three of his matches including a victory over Hinsdale Central’s Sam Bloom (2-1) for the first time in several matches between the two. Leto was ahead in the first match before Bloom reeled off six straight games for a 6-2 win. Leto came back with a 6-1 second-set win and a 10-7 tiebreaker to capture the match.

‘‘The tiebreaker was a see-saw with both of us having the lead,’’ Leto said. ‘‘Sam is a great player. I tried to play smart and just concentrate on each point and not worry about anything else.’’

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