Local Players Headed To State (ADDING INFO ON D.J. BRUMMER)

The Effingham area continues to show its dominance in the tennis community by sending three local girls in singlegs and two doubles teams to the state tournament this week.

From a field of nine teams at the Sectional finals Saturday, the three left standing in singles were first-place Lauren Hoekstra from Effingham High School; second-place DJ Brummer from St. Anthony; and third-place Elena Breer from Teutopolis.

All three girls will participate in the singles division at the state tournament starting Thursday in the Chicago area. 

Hoekstra will be making her fourth trip to the IHSA Girls State Finals Wednesday after winning the Singles Sectionals Tournament last Friday. Hoekstra has amassed a record of 106 singles wins during her high school career at No. 1 singles. She has won 11 high school tournaments and had three second place finishes.

Her dual singles record is 37-3, and  she is 30-3 in doubles. She has been the Apollo  Conference champ for four years.

"To win the Apollo Conference as a freshman and each year since is rare (if not a record)," said EHS Coach Angela Woods. "Her game has matured as she's now the sectional champ for the second time. Lauren, as a team captain has been a strong leader, a good instructor and example for our younger players."

Hoekstra will be playing for the SIUC Saluki women's tennis team next fall.

As for St. Anthony's D.J. Brummer, this will be her third trip to State, but first in the singles' division.  D.J. is a doubles specialist, winning the Sectional Doubles Title her sophomore and junior years, with two different partners.

As a sophomore, Brummer and her partner Anna Mitchell made it to the fourth round and came home with a winning record from the state tournament.  Her junior year, D.J. and her partner lost the first round and then the tournament was canceled due to rain.

"During her senior year, D.J. chose to focus on improving her singles' game.  She has always been an aggressive doubles player, but has matured to a more thoughtful player with an arsenal of shots to add to a wicked first serve," said St. Anthony Coach Darlene Esker.

Doubles teams heading to state are Anna Utz and Lexie Niebrugge from St. Anthony and Allison Vogt and Cheyenne Lueken of Teutopolis.