Edwardsville doubles partners Jade Dynamic and Michael Karibian have come a long way since first meeting each other at the YMCA four years ago.
“We were at a summer camp and I saw this kid throw the tennis ball all the way up to the roof and it hit it,” Karibian said, laughing. “That was the first thing I tried to correct with his serving.”
Dynamic offered a rebuttal, saying, “it didn’t hit the roof. He’s exaggerating.”
Regardless of how high the tennis ball went that day, a friendship was formed between the two.
“I liked the guy right off the bat. He was one of the nicest people there and was the most consistent,” Karibian said.
Four years later, Dynamic and Karibian are Southwestern Conference and Class 2A Belleville West Sectional champions in doubles and headed to the state tournament this weekend in Chicago.
The pair went 3-0 at the Belleville West Sectional, including a 6-4, 6-4 win over Belleville East’s RJ Miksell and Ben Harris in the final.
“This is the best feeling ever. I’m so pumped up right now. I’m ready for state. I’m going to love it up there,” Karibian said.
Edwardsville, which won the sectional championship as a team, is also sending the doubles team of Jace Ackerman and Adrian Norcio and a singles entry in Colton Hulme to the state tournament after third-place finishes at Belleville West.
Dynamic, a freshman, and Karibian, a sophomore, will try to add to Edwardsville’s run of strong play from doubles at the state tournament. Of the six entries to earn state medals, five have been doubles, including the program’s lone state championship from Zach Trimpe and Alex Gray in 2017.
“I’m ready for state. I’m pumped up. I can’t wait,” Dynamic said.
This will be the first state tournament appearance for either player.
Karibian, though, did soak in the atmosphere when he went with his sister, Natalie, who was a sectional champion in doubles and singles and was a four-year state qualifier with a fifth-place finish in doubles with Abby Cimarolli in 2018.
“I visited her up there a couple of times. It was a great experience,” Karibian said. “I’m very excited to now get the chance to play great competition.”
The success doesn’t come as a surprise to the two teammates.
“We just have a special bond,” Dynamic said.
Karibian also offered his insight, adding, “we can motivate each other to play better and when we’re out there we can talk to each other as friends or teammates. We can play better from just talking to each other.”
Communication will be key this weekend at the state tournament, which will start Thursday and run through Saturday.
And the discussion will continue well after the state tournament.
“I’m so happy to be playing with a good teammate, a good player and one of my best friends,” Karibian said. “I’m happy to go to state with him.”
Edwardsville’s other doubles entry of Ackerman and Norcio advanced to the state tournament with a third-place finish at the sectional.
After losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to Miksell and Harris in the semifinals, Ackerman and Norcio rallied for a 7-5, 6-3 win over O’Fallon’s Vollmer and Strobel in the third-place match.
Ackerman and Norcio, both juniors, trailed 5-2 in the second set before storming back to win in two.
“We just focused on playing tennis. We tried not to care about the score and just focused on playing each point. There were some tough points but at the end of the day we were able to gather ourselves and finish the point, then the game, then the set and ultimately the match,” Ackerman said.
Now, it’s on to the state tournament.
“I’m pumped, especially after not having a season last year. This is my time going to state, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Ackerman said.
In singles, Hulme recovered from a marathon 6-4, 7-6 (2) loss to O’Fallon’s Gavin Sohn in the semifinals to win 6-1, 6-3 over Quincy’s Caleb Vonderheide in the third-place match.
The freshman Hulme is ready to make the most of his first trip to the state tournament.
“I’m really excited,” Hulme said. “This is an experience I will cherish. It’s so nice to have this opportunity, especially since last year there wasn’t a season. I’m just so happy to be going to Chicago.”
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