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Warren JFK’s Abdul-Aal in state tennis semifinal
By doug chapin
It is a given that Warren JFK senior Jad Abdul-Aal is enjoying his experience this weekend at the Division II state tennis tournament in Columbus.
Earlier this week Abdul-Aal said he was nervous last year during the state meet when he lost his opening match. He said he planned to be more relaxed and enjoy the experience this year from start to finish.
Two victories on Friday have at least extended his opportunity to enjoy the trip.
“I went in there and didn’t focus too much on winning,” he said. “Obviously, I was focused on winning but it wasn’t the only thing on my mind. I wanted to play my game, win or lose, and have fun. I’ve had a good season and this just adds to it.”
Abdul-Aal, who finished second in the Canton district, defeated Ryan Bibo of Columbus Bishop Watterson, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4, then stopped Matt Brumbaugh of Milton-Union, 7-5, 6-2.
“I played Bibo in January (in USTA competition) and beat him pretty easily and I didn’t expect him to come out the way he did,” Abdul-Aal said. “He had a lot of fans in the stands hollering at me and that’s kind of tough playing on someone’s home court.”
The Mahoning Valley’s other two state tournament qualifiers weren’t as succesful.
Poland junior Garrett Gardner, who beat Abdul-Aal three times this season including in the sectional and district finals, was beaten by John Larkin of Cincinnati Seven Hills, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Larkin qualified for state as the third-place finisher from the Cincinnati district.
Rain hit the Ohio State University outdoor courts during the first point of their match and they had to move inside at the Elysium Tennis Center.
Lakeview junior Aaron Paczak dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Asher Hirsch, a sophomore from Cincinnati Country Day School, who won the Cincinnati district.
Abdul-Aal will meet Patrick Wildman, a junior from Cincinnati Country Day, today in the semfiinals. Wildman was the runner-up from the Cincinnati district. Hirsch and Larkin will meet today in the other semifinal.
“It is definitely going to be my toughest match of the year,” Abdul-Aal said. “I’m just going to go out and play relaxed like I did in my second match and hope for a good result.”