O’Fallon boys tennis team posts big showing at IHSA sectional in Edwardsville

The O’Fallon High School boys tennis team enjoyed an excellent showing at the recent IHSA sectional tournament Friday, May 20, and Monday, May 23, at Edwardsville High School.

The Panthers finished third as a team with 20 points behind first place Edwardsville (31 points) and second place Belleville East (23 points).

OTHS also qualified three individuals for the state tournament, including Gavin Sohn, who was the sectional champion in singles.

“He played his best tennis — A++ tennis — and beat Colton Hulme from Edwardsville in straight sets in the semis and then beat RJ Miksell from Belleville East in the finals in straight sets,” O’Fallon coach Erin Thoman said. “Big congrats to Gavin and I’m very proud of him.”

Sohn is a three-time state qualifier, with the only time not qualifying being his sophomore year when there was no season due to COVID.

“This makes back-to-back sectional champions for us in singles! Evan Potter was the sectional champion last year and played Gavin in the finals,” Thoman said.

Kaden Vollmer and Nic Strobel also advanced to state in doubles with a fourth place finish at sectionals and are both two-time state qualifiers as Thoman noted they went to state last year.

The state tournament is scheduled to take place Thursday, May 26, through Saturday, May 28, at Arlington Heights (Hersey) High School and surrounding area courts in the Chicago suburbs.

This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 4:33 PM.