Lions’ McLane, Mazzone make second in state tennis doubles – Riverside-Brookfield Landmark

Lyons Township High School senior Jack McLane enjoyed a top-12 Class 2A boys tennis state doubles finish with senior Mason Mazzone in 2023 and came close to doing even better.

McLane began this season thinking he’d like to give singles another try at state.

“I could have done fairly well (in singles), but ultimately I wanted to play for a state title and I realized I was only going to have a shot at that if I played with Mason,” McLane said.

The Lions nearly pulled that off Saturday.

The undefeated No. 1 seeds recorded five straight-set victories and opened with one of their best sets before losing to New Trier junior Chris Ackerman and sophomore Jovan Morales 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 for the state championship at Palatine High School.

“We’re just happy overall how we ended because we’re seniors. (Second in state) is almost as good as you can do to end your season so we’re happy about that,” said Mazzone, playing in his fourth state tournament, all in doubles.

“We were obviously a little disappointed but we know we got outplayed in those last two sets. In a way, it’s better than having a tight third set, knowing we had a chance at it.”

McLane and Mazzone (22-1) improved upon their 3-2 record at state last year and 19-5 overall record.

Senior Luke Howell and sophomore Shay Sweigard (19-6) were top-eight doubles finishers with a 4-2 record as a No. 9-16 seed.

With those two entries, the Lions finished fifth (19 points).

“I’m so proud (Howell and Sweigard) were seeded 9-16 but made top eight. They deserved it,” first-year LTHS coach Clint Buetikofer responded.

“(McLane and Mazzone) were tremendous all year, overcoming adversity in some very tough matches and earning that No. 1 seed. They came up against an incredible New Trier team in the final. I couldn’t be prouder of them and the legacy they leave behind.”

Mazzone and McLane were fueled by losing last year’s quarterfinals in a 7-5 third-set tiebreaker and their next match on a third-set, 10-7 tiebreaker.

After an exhilarating 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 semifinal victory over Fremd’s Amaye Shyani and Shashwat Srivatsa in Friday’s semifinals, which included a two-hour rain delay, McLane attended prom that night at the Field Museum but bypassed the post-prom boat ride.

“I was super tired after our match, but I had to go,” McLane said. “I still got home fairly early and got a good night’s rest.”

Entering the final, Ackerman and Morales won a tiebreaker set but lost just 10 games in their other nine sets, including 6-0, 6-2 over Howell and Sweigard in the quarterfinals.