Belleville East seniors Jacob Hamilton and Chase Stumne capture players of the year tennis honors

Rolling along with a 4-0 record in early April after a top 12 finish in doubles at the state tennis tournament the previous year, Belleville East seniors Chase Stumne and Jacob Hamilton were asked what their goals were for the end of the 2015 season.

After thinking for a few seconds, Hamilton said his were a top four finish. The immensely talented Stumne, not missing a beat, didn’t take nearly as long with his response.

“Jacob said his goal is to be in the top 4. Well, mine is to be in the top 1,” Stumne said. “You have to believe it and have confidence that you can do it. If we get hot and play like we can, I think we can play with any team in the state.”

Six weeks later on a warm weekend in May in suburban Chicago, Hamilton’s prediction came true and while Stumne’s hopes came up two wins short, the words he uttered were right on the money.

“If we get hot and play like we can, I think we can play with any team in the state.”

Becoming just the second doubles combination in Belleville East history to reach the state semifinals, Stumne and Hamilton concluded their high school careers with a fourth place finish at the state finals and secured their spots in the Lancers record books forever.

“As a sophomore I was more focused on just trying to get to the state finals. Then last year when we placed in the top 12, we actually realized that we had a shot of really doing something special,” Hamilton said earlier this week. “This year when we got to the top 12, we thought we might as well really go for it. We played very well.”

“I think the official goal was to be in the top 4 and when I think about it, its really kind of unreal. It’s a dream come. To want to do something and work towards achieving it is one thing. To actually want something, work towards it and actually have it become a reality is something else.”

Winners of the Southwestern Conference and IHSA Sectional Doubles titles this season, Hamilton and Stumne join some exclusive company with their fourth place finish. Only the Lancers team of Robb Rickett and Bobby Farmer placed higher in the state finals. The Farmer-Rickett combination placed second in the 1986-87 state tournament.

For their fourth place finish, Stumne and Hamilton have earned the honor as the Belleville News-Democrat Tennis Players of the Year.

Of the few losses, Stumne and Hamilton suffered this season, two came at the Pitchford Tournament in suburban Chicago. The mid-season event is considered one of the top events in the state and annually features many of the top players and teams in the state.

“Playing in an event such as Pitchford is good because it gives you an indication on who the best players in the state are and who might be the top seeds heading into the state finals,” Hamilton said. “Playing so well at other tournaments and doing well at Pitchford helped us during the season.

“Whereas before we may have gotten nervous and maybe not played the big points as well, this season we had more confidence in our own abilities and we were able to play better in the pressure situations.

But what made that happen?

“What was the difference this season for us. Well, like I said, we been to the state tournament before and we knew what to expect and how to handle diffrent situations when they came up,” Hamilton said. “Plus, Chase and I have known each other for a long time and we have somewhat similar styles.

“But I think another important part of it was that we both had high goals and expectations and we worked very hard to achieve them. Sometimes, when one player wants something more then his doubles partner, the goals don’t get met. We both wanted this and we knew that we had the ability to do very well at state again if we just played our games.”

Stumne, also one of the top singles players in the St. Louis area, said hard work and that Hamilton’s and his own abilities, paved the way for their success

“I’ve worked hard on my game over the last few years and have really improved my serve and my mental game over the last year,” Stumne said ealier this Spring. “You have to have a positive outlook and the confidence that if you work hard and believe that you can be successful.. My serve has gotten more consistent and Jacob and I are both good at the net.”

Chase Stumne is the second family member to earn all-state status in doubles. Older brother Corey Stumne combined with Drew Feder to place seventh in the 2009 state finals.

Seeded in the 5-8 group heading into the state finals this year, Chase Stumne and Hamilton rolled to three straight set wins and lost just five games during the first day of competition, then defeated the unheralded duo of Colin Sandgren and Lucas Horve of Decatur Lutheran 7-6, 6-1 in the round of 16.

“That was a tough match because the team from Decatur was from a small school and nobody knew very much about them. But they were a very good doubles team,” Hamilton said. “The first set was very close. We beat them in a tiebreaker and after we won the first set I think they got a little discouraged and we were able to maintain our level of play.”

The quarterfinal round match was much more difficult. Going up against second-seeded Lope Adelakun and Michael Czlonka of Hinsdale Central, Stumne and Hamilton overcame the pressure, two rain delays and the fact that they were going up against the top players on one of the top high school programs in the midwest to record a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win and move into the semifinals.

“I remember we came out and played great in the first set. I think we may have caught them (Hinsdale Central) a little bit by surprise. Then they raised their level of play to win the second set even though it was close,” Hamilton said. “The rain delays didn’t bother us. We just got something to eat and tried to relax a little bit.

“The third set there were a lot of close games and I think we got up 5-1. Again, we just played the points very well. When we won the match we were happy, but we were playing so well. At that point with four teams left, anything can happen. We had a chance.”

But going up against eventual state champions Chris Casati and Niko Wasilewicz, of Deerfield, it just didn’t happen in the semifinals as Stumne and Hamilton dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision.

Both players will continue to play tennis at the college level. Hamilton will attend Milliken University in Decatur and will major in pre-pharmacy. Stumne will attend Harding University in Searcy, Ark. where he will major in biology.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Belleville East seniors Jacob Hamilton and Chase Stumne capture players of the year tennis honors."