Ridgway, Szidik make big runs at state tennis tourney

HOFFMAN ESTATES -- It was a historic run for both Herrin's Reagan Ridgway and Marion's Nicole Szidik at the rain-soaked IHSA Class 1A Girls State Tennis Tournament.
Ridgway won her first match before falling into the consolation bracket, then won four straight matches to finish among the state's elite at a tournament delayed several times by rainy weather.
Marion's Szidik and Ana Cuartas both lost their openers and fell into the consolation bracket but made some noise before bowing out. Cuartas won twice and Szidik won three matches before being eliminated.
Ridgway's tournament started with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Sterling Newman Central Catholic's Avery Meyer before getting swept 6-0, 6-0 by Joliet Catholic's Mia Bertino.
Then in consolation play, Ridgway defeated Alton Marquette's Maria Wendle (6-0, 6-1) and then had to play Cuartas and won 6-1, 6-0 -- which eliminated Cuartas after she had swept Highland's Kate Feldmann and Triad's Stephanie Kafer in the back draw.
After that, Ridgway picked up two more wins before a loss to Chicago's Jennifer Lewis.
Szidik, meanwhile, lost her opener to Rock Island Alleman's Lily Schoeck (6-0, 6-1) and then rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Chicago Agricultural Science's Kenya Hill before rallying for a 1-6, 7-5, 10-4 tiebreaker win over Belleville Althoff's Jordyn Roper.
Szidik outlasted her next opponent, Sacred Heart-Griffin's Valeria Pozo by a 6-2, 7-6 score with a six-point tiebreaker, then was knocked out by Maple Park Kaneland's Piper Schrepferman by an 8-3 score as play was quickened.
The finishes by Ridgway and Szidik are the best in their respective schools' history.
Herrin's doubles team of Bryndle Burks and Kelby Weber lost twice but went down swinging as they lost 3-6, 6-4, 10-3 to Abbie Borgstrom and Cheyanne Phillips from Morris in the first consolation round.