News

Jerricka Boone Wins State Title

The pained expression is her constant companion, her unwillingness to accept perfection obvious with every grimace.

Nobody was as tough on Jerricka Boone as she was on herself this weekend, and nobody played better tennis.

Boone, a Morgan Park Academy freshman, won two three set-matches Saturday before defeating Deerfield's Julia Fellerhoff 6-2, 6-3 in the state singles final at Centre Court Athletic Club in Hanover Park.

She is the sixth freshman champion and first since Naperville Central's Elizabeth Lumpkin won the first of her four titles in 2000.

Hinsdale Central (32 points) won the team title for the fourth consecutive year, and Prairie Ridge's Allison Murphy and Carolyn Huerth captured the doubles crown. Deerfield (28) finished second as a team, followed by Lake Forest (25), Barrington (22) and New Trier (20).

"I didn't expect to win the whole thing," said Boone, who was in the group seeded 5-8. "My back was sore. I had a cramp in my right hand. I did not want to play a third set again. I just wanted it to be over."

It almost ended before Boone really got started. She dropped a 6-0 set to top-seeded Hanna Mar of Hinsdale Central in the quarterfinals before rebounding to win the next two 6-4 and 6-1.

"Hanna is a really, really good player," Boone said. "I did not expect to beat her."

Boone's 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Stagg's Melissa Kopinski was no easier.

She trailed 5-2 in the first set and overcame a slew of forehand winners by Kopinski. Fellerhoff -- seeded 9-16 after winning last year's doubles title with Misia Krasowski -- pulled off her share of upsets on the other side of the bracket, as none of the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals.

The Deerfield senior defeated No. 2-seed Nida Hamilton -- of Hinsdale Central 7-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals and 5-8 seed Tina Harazin -- of Lyons 7-5, 7-5 in the semis. Harazin placed third.

"I wasn't supposed to make it to the quarterfinals, so I thought I did well," said Fellerhoff, who will play next season at Louisville. "Everybody knows me as a doubles player, but I think I proved I can play singles too."