Quincy 3.5 men’s tennis team advances to USTA state finals in Aurora

August 8, 2021 | By Muddy River News

USTA Mid-South Illinois District Champs 2021 copy

Pictured from left holding the district flag are Drew Koester, Sam Shumake and Barney Bier; back row, Bob Soltys, Doug Mallet, Bryan Fasano, Martin McCarthy, Joe Laws and Jim Pitney. Not pictured are Bob Catalpa, Jim Kase and Jeff Zellerman. (Photo courtesy of Bob Soltys)

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Quincy men’s 3.5 tennis team defeated Champaign 5-0 on Saturday at Evergreen Racquet Club to win the United States Tennis Association Mid-South Illinois District championship, earning a spot in the Illinois state finals next weekend at the Vaughn Athletic Center in Aurora.

Drew Koester defeated Arthur de Oliveira Lima 6-3, 7-5 at No. 1 singles, and Sam Shumake defeated Michael Bantz 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.

Quincy swept all three doubles matches. Barney Bier and Bryan Fasano split the first two sets at No. 1 doubles with Christopher Gratkins and Robbie Bauer 5-7, 6-3 before winning the tiebreaker. Martin McCarthy and Joe Laws did the same at No. 2 doubles, splitting the first two sets with Thomas Wilson and Joseph Reiter 6-3, 6-7 before winning the tiebreaker. Doug Mallett and Jim Pitney defeated Walter Wilson and Timothy Ellis 6-1, 7-5 at No. 3 doubles.

The Quincy team will play against the winners of the Northern District and the Chicago District in the state finals.