Sports
Niles West Sports Roundup: Boys Track Wins Notre Dame Relays
Baseball tacks on another victory while boys tennis is getting its lineup set for the stretch run.
Tennis: Coach Andrew Suarez has seen his team rally to win an inordinate number of three-set matches this year. Against Maine East, the Wolves’ 2nd and 4th doubles teams both pulled out third-set tie-breakers, helping the team to a 4-3 win in a CSL crossover match.
But as with every good coach, Suarez sees where his team can improve down the stretch.
“I am glad we have been able to pull out the matches, which shows our experience and mental toughness, Suarez said. But we can make things a lot easier on ourselves if we are focused and ready to go from the beginning of the match.”
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From the start of the season Suarez has switched around his lineup, putting players in different spots and mixing up the doubles teams.
With the calendar soon turning to May, Suarez thinks he’s found a lineup that can help the Wovles get some big wins. Daniel Langer and Simon Kim have settled in to the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots while Robert Marohn is currently one of the athletes that Suarez will use in No. 1 doubles.
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“My singles players, Daniel Langer and Simon Kim, are starting to move the ball around, mixing it up, and being more aggressive.”
A recent loss to Francis Parker, 6-1, on April 20 dropped Niles West to 4-2 on the season, but Suarez is pleased with his team’s play so far. The Wolves took second place at their own invitational and behind the traditional conference powers of New Trier and Glenbrook South, Niles West looks to be in good position.
“Our team goals are to finish with a winning record and take third in conference,” Suarez said. “I am pretty confident that with the team's play we should achieve them.”
Boys Track: Competing against the likes of Glenbrook North, Notre Dame and Fenwick, Niles West came away with a team title in last week’s Notre Dame Relays.
The Wolves dominated the relay events, winning the 4x800 (8:42.2), 4x100 (43.8), Middle-Distance (3:45.3), 4x200 (1:35.4) and Low Hurdles Shuttle (52.31).
Niles West also got individual event wins from James Williams in the 110 Hurdles (15.7), Lavelle Jordan in the 100 Dash (11.0) and Demonte Hill in the long jump (20-3).
Baseball: Niles West (13-2, 2-0 CSL South) got another dominant pitching performance from Jason Meger, who’s now 3-0 on the season, in a 3-2 win over Highland Park. Meger allowed only five hits while striking out nine batters and Max Markoff had a two-run double in the seventh to lead the Wolves’ offense.
Niles West was tied at 5-5 with Maine South on April 21, but the game was suspended due to darkness. It will be resumed on Wednesday at Niles West.
Boys Water Polo: Even in a loss, Niles West is showing great signs of improvement with the season winding down. Backed by strong play from Max Romanelli, Ryan Miller and Nick Giffen, the Wolves lost a close match, 9-6, to Maine South on April 19. Earlier in the season Maine South annihilated Niles West, 18-2.
SCOREBOARD WATCHING:
Girls Soccer:
Glenbrook North 7, Niles West 0 on April18
Highland Park 2, Niles West 1 on April 21
Boys Volleyball:
Maine South defeats Niles West 18-25, 25-10, 25-13 on April 20
Softball:
New Trier 13, Niles West 1 (5 innings) on April 20
Evanston 4, Niles West 3 on April 21
Boys Gymnastics:
Glenbrook South 143.6, Niles West 135.8 on April 19
