Ryan Stites

Grant Rodenberg

The amazing season for the Waterloo High School doubles tennis pairing of Grant Rodenberg and Ryan Stites ended at state last month.

The top doubles team for the Bulldogs advanced to the IHSA state tennis tourney by virtue of a fourth place showing at the Belleville East sectional.

The state tourney began May 26 in Arlington Heights, and the WHS tennis duo posted a first round win.

Rodenberg-Stites topped the St. Thomas (Champaign) doubles team of Connor Gross and Drew Waddell, 6-3, 6-2.

That put them in a second round match that same day against the Benet Academy (Lisle) duo of Patrick McGuigan and Jack Carroll, which they lost, 6-2, 6-0.

In the second consolation round, Rodenberg-Stites dropped a close match to the St. Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) team of Matthew Sherlock and Ian Waller, 6-2, 2-6, (10-6).

Rodenberg recently signed a letter of intent to play tennis next season at Kaskaskia College.