Alton Boys Tennis Shows Strength In Recent Matches

ALTON — Erick Humphrey outlasted Belleville West’s remaining singles player in a late, rain-delayed match Tuesday night, April 28, 2026, to lift Alton High to a 5-4 win on senior night.

Alton led 2-1 after winning two of three doubles matches, then the teams were tied 4-4 with one singles match left. Humphrey won the deciding match at No. 3 singles 6-4, 6-4, and the marathon ended at 8:30 p.m. after a short rain delay.

“That was a great high school match. Both players dug in and really grinded out every point,” Alton coach Jesse Macias said.

Macias said the moment carried added weight because it came on senior night.

“It was worth the wait, especially on senior night. The whole team wanted to carry Erick off the courts after his match, but I think everyone was too tired,” he said.

In doubles, Joe Ventimiglia and junior Erick Humphrey won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles, and Alton’s No. 3 team of Connor Cochran and Griffin Clark also won 8-4. Alton’s singles wins came at Nos. 3, 5, and 6 from Humphrey, Cochran, and Clark.

“Obviously, we got great performances from Erick, Connor, and Griffin, who each got two wins,” Macias said. “Joe had a great first set in singles, too, but had to retire in the second set. He has been rolling lately. Everyone was playing hard tonight because they really wanted a win for Nik and Joe. Those two seniors mean a lot to our program, and I’m glad we got to celebrate a win today.”

Last week, Alton defeated Granite City 9-0 in Granite City, sweeping all singles matches to take a 6-0 lead before completing the shutout in doubles. Double winners for Alton were Carter Hanebutt, Nik Tuetken, Erick Humphrey, and Clark. Owen Braundmeier won at No. 3 doubles with Cochran, and Ventimiglia had a singles win at No. 4.

Alton was listed at 5-7 and also competed this past Saturday at the Springfield JD Sinnock Invitational, where the Redbirds finished eighth. Ventimiglia led Alton with a fifth-place finish at No. 2 singles, and Clark and Cochran finished tied for seventh.

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