For the first time in 10 years, the Oak Park and River Forest High School girls tennis team is a sectional champion.
On Oct. 19, the Huskies won their IHSA Class 2A sectional with 24 points — three more than runner-up Fenwick. It’s their first sectional crown since 2014, when they tied with Chicago Latin. Moreover, it’s their first outright sectional title since 2013, and it continues the program’s late-season momentum.
“We started the season kind of rough, and [assistant coach] John [Morlidge] and I thought we weren’t getting the most out of the girls,” said OPRF coach Fred Galluzzo. “But lately, we’ve picked it up and had a good run. We had good tournaments at Buffalo Grove and Prospect; we had a great day against Fenwick (6-1 dual-meet victory, Oct. 5), and finished second at the [West Suburban Silver] tournament, which was a great achievement. I feel gratified, and the kids have had fun.”
OPRF sophomore Lucy Stein, the #2 seed, won the singles title and improved her record to 29-2 with a 7-6, 6-0 victory over Fenwick senior Lily Brecknock (24-4), the third seed, in the final. Both advanced downstate, along with third-place finisher Maya Kasza of Lane Tech and fourth-place finisher Leena Manadan of Whitney Young.
Galluzzo feels the experience Stein gained last year when she qualified for the state finals will help this time around.
“She’s had a really solid season; 29-2 is pretty good, but it’s even better than that,” he said. “She’s grown through some of the matches she’s struggled with, and the two matches she lost, she learned from them. Lucy has a stronger mental approach, and I feel she’ll have a good tournament.”
The Huskies also advanced both of their doubles entries. Seniors Alice Cadwell and Maeve Marzec (7-3) made it to the final, where they lost to Nicola Kupczyk and Malia Chen of Chicago Latin 0-6, 0-6. In the third-place match, seniors Anika Gupta and Sophie Welch (15-14) fell to Fenwick senior Caroline Gruber and sophomore Emma Louderback 3-6, 2-6.
“We haven’t had three entries [since 2019],” Galluzzo said. “That’s different. Just the fact that we’re going with a team is going to be a big plus and will feel good.”
The OPRF sectional singles’ top seed, Fenwick senior Megan Trifilio, suffered a foot injury in the quarterfinals versus Manadan and subsequently was defeated 2-6, 0-6. It was just the second loss of the season for Trifilio, who finishes with a 23-2 record.
“They did their best to treat Megan, but it was difficult for her to move from side to side,” said Fenwick coach Ron Rogala. “I know she’s disappointed. She worked to get back into the match, but she just couldn’t overcome that injury.”
However, Rogala was happy to see Brecknock, Gruber, and Louderback advance.
“Lily played a couple of terrific days of tennis,” he said of Brecknock, who won the Class 1A singles title in 2022. “Caroline and Emma were terrific together as a team and competed hard all year. They had a very fine sectional.”
Rogala also saluted his other doubles team, seniors Rachel Abraham and Mia Menendez, for their sectional effort.
Fenwick sophomore Emma Louderback follows through on a shot during a recent tennis match. Louderback along with her partner – senior Caroline Gruber – finished third in doubles at the Class 2A OPRF Sectional Oct. 19 to qualify for the IHSA state finals this weekend. | Carol Dunning 
Oak Park-River Forest senior Maeve Marzec returns a shot during a recent tennis match. Marzec, along with classmate and partner Alice Cadwell, qualified for this weekend’s IHSA state finals in doubles as the duo took second at the Class 2A OPRF Sectional Oct. 19. | Carol Dunning
“Rachel and Mia played some great tennis against Whitney Young,” he said. “They fought tooth and nail with that team (6-7, 6-7 second-round loss) and it doesn’t get much closer than that. A bounce here and there, they would’ve advanced to the quarterfinals and anything could’ve happened. They had an outstanding year as a team and became close friends, which to me is really important.”
Rogala expects Brecknock, Gruber, and Louderback to “play hard and smart” at the state finals, which are hosted by Hersey in Arlington Heights, Oct. 24-26. And he’s also hoping for some divine intervention.
“I will keep my fingers crossed, say a little prayer to the tennis goddess, and ask that the bounces be kind for us,” he said. “We’ll see what happens, but I know we’ll play hard.”