MONROE - As far as rivalries go Al Schroeder's rivalry on the tennis court with Kevin Monahan may not get as nasty as a Packers-Bears feud, but bragging rights were at stake Sunday at the 39th all-city singles tournament.
Schroeder defeated Monahan 6-1, 6-3 to win his fifth straight Monroe Class A Men's singles tournament title at Recreation Park.
"I don't know how many more of these I have in me," Schroeder said after wrapping up the weekend tournament. "I just try to cherish every one."
It's the fifth time Schroeder and Monahan have met in the title match. The last time Schroeder lost at the all-city singles tournament came in 2005 when Monahan beat him in three sets to win the championship.
"Every match with Kevin is special because we have played each other in so many championship matches," Schroeder said. "It wasn't one of our best matches. We came out and competed today."
Schroeder went 4-0 at the tournament over the weekend. He defeated Monroe's Taylor Soddy in the semifinals 6-1, 6-1. Joe Soddy then defeated his brother, Taylor Soddy, in a third-place match 6-3, 7-6.
Monahan went 3-1 during the tournament and advanced to the championship match after Ben Main, an Illinois state doubles tournament qualifier this year on Freeport high school's No. 1 doubles team, couldn't return because he had a freshman orientation at the University of Illinois.
Monroe senior Kristin McArdle, for the third straight year, captured the women's championship defeating by Lily Priewe, 6-3, 6-1 Saturday. The women's bracket featured just five players and was completed Saturday.
McArdle defeated Kelsey Erickson in the semifinals, 7-5, 6-3 and Priewe defeated Emily Grossen, 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals.
"She's in a class by herself in Monroe," said Jim Bartholf, Monroe city singles tournament director, of McArdle. "Whether the class was larger or smaller, she (McArdle) still would have won. She's steady."
Eric Bush, who will be an eighth-grader at Monroe Middle School in the fall, beat Jeremy Miller 6-3, 6-2 to win the 14-and-under division. Bush, who finished second last year to Kevin Noriega, was excited to win the title.
"I wanted to redeem myself from last year," Bush said.
He said the best part of tennis is the long volleys.
"It tests your physical strength," he said.
Bush said the key to winning the match was worrying about the shots he didn't hit.
Bartholf said there are about six middle school tennis players who have bright futures.
"Tennis will really take a boost in a couple of years in Monroe," Bartholf said. "The future of boys tennis looks really good."
Kevin Noriega defeated Jess Hager, 4-6, 6-2, 10-4 to win the Class B Men's championship. Hager beat Christian Noriega, 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals. Kevin Noriega defeated Frank Meier, 6-2, 7-6 in the semifinals.
Christian Noriega won the third-place match in the Class B Men's division defeating Meier, 6-1, 6-3. In the 14-and-under division, Matt Miller beat Matt Monahan in a third-place match, 6-4, 3-6, 12-10.
The Class A Men's division included 16 players and the Class B Men's tournament had 10 players. Bartholf was excited with the turnout.
"This is probably the best and most quality tournament I have had overall," Bartholf said of the Class A Men's division.
Schroeder defeated Monahan 6-1, 6-3 to win his fifth straight Monroe Class A Men's singles tournament title at Recreation Park.
"I don't know how many more of these I have in me," Schroeder said after wrapping up the weekend tournament. "I just try to cherish every one."
It's the fifth time Schroeder and Monahan have met in the title match. The last time Schroeder lost at the all-city singles tournament came in 2005 when Monahan beat him in three sets to win the championship.
"Every match with Kevin is special because we have played each other in so many championship matches," Schroeder said. "It wasn't one of our best matches. We came out and competed today."
Schroeder went 4-0 at the tournament over the weekend. He defeated Monroe's Taylor Soddy in the semifinals 6-1, 6-1. Joe Soddy then defeated his brother, Taylor Soddy, in a third-place match 6-3, 7-6.
Monahan went 3-1 during the tournament and advanced to the championship match after Ben Main, an Illinois state doubles tournament qualifier this year on Freeport high school's No. 1 doubles team, couldn't return because he had a freshman orientation at the University of Illinois.
Monroe senior Kristin McArdle, for the third straight year, captured the women's championship defeating by Lily Priewe, 6-3, 6-1 Saturday. The women's bracket featured just five players and was completed Saturday.
McArdle defeated Kelsey Erickson in the semifinals, 7-5, 6-3 and Priewe defeated Emily Grossen, 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals.
"She's in a class by herself in Monroe," said Jim Bartholf, Monroe city singles tournament director, of McArdle. "Whether the class was larger or smaller, she (McArdle) still would have won. She's steady."
Eric Bush, who will be an eighth-grader at Monroe Middle School in the fall, beat Jeremy Miller 6-3, 6-2 to win the 14-and-under division. Bush, who finished second last year to Kevin Noriega, was excited to win the title.
"I wanted to redeem myself from last year," Bush said.
He said the best part of tennis is the long volleys.
"It tests your physical strength," he said.
Bush said the key to winning the match was worrying about the shots he didn't hit.
Bartholf said there are about six middle school tennis players who have bright futures.
"Tennis will really take a boost in a couple of years in Monroe," Bartholf said. "The future of boys tennis looks really good."
Kevin Noriega defeated Jess Hager, 4-6, 6-2, 10-4 to win the Class B Men's championship. Hager beat Christian Noriega, 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals. Kevin Noriega defeated Frank Meier, 6-2, 7-6 in the semifinals.
Christian Noriega won the third-place match in the Class B Men's division defeating Meier, 6-1, 6-3. In the 14-and-under division, Matt Miller beat Matt Monahan in a third-place match, 6-4, 3-6, 12-10.
The Class A Men's division included 16 players and the Class B Men's tournament had 10 players. Bartholf was excited with the turnout.
"This is probably the best and most quality tournament I have had overall," Bartholf said of the Class A Men's division.
