The News-Gazette’s 21st All-Area boys’ tennis team: Madigan shines as Player of the Year

Jun. 18—CHAMPAIGN — The Sunday night before Memorial Day was supposed to feature some relaxing moments for Hunter Madigan.

The St. Thomas More senior boys’ tennis standout had just won a Class 1A sectional singles title the day before. His undefeated season had garnered him a top-four seed at the upcoming IHSA state tournament.

And he wasn’t scheduled to play tennis on this particular day. But the sport he cares so deeply about lured him in once again, and getting the chance to play on the clay courts at the Champaign Country Club with a friend was too good an opportunity to pass up. Until it almost wasn’t on a particular set of circumstances while he was playing.

“My foot just stopped at one point, and I could hear my ankle pop,” Madigan said more than two weeks later, able to calmly relate a story that could have drastically altered the end of his superb high school career. “I hit my hand so hard on the court that it left a dent on the court. My friend drove me home, and I just walked in my house limping.”

Madigan had hurt his foot, his ankle and his hand just days before what was supposed to be the crowing achievement on a successful career already with STM. Instead, he wasn’t sure if he would get the chance to play at the state tournament.

“He’s worked so hard for this, and for that to happen, it was a stressful week,” said Nell Madigan, Hunter’s mother. “He did what he had to do. He stayed off it. We did all the things we could to recover from it.”

Especially in a short amount of time considering Hunter was scheduled to play his first state tournament match in the Chicago suburbs only four days after he sustained the injuries.

“I didn’t play tennis until a tiny bit the night before state, and then just went out and played,” Hunter said. “I felt really good all weekend at state. I was surprised. I didn’t play real well, but I wasn’t hurting.”

Didn’t play real well can have different connotations. Because even on a bum ankle and a hurt hand, Hunter cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 first-round win against Jacksonville senior Cole Nebel on May 28. He then defeated Bloomington junior Phillip Haning 6-2, 6-2 in the second round. Had to work a bit more in his third-round match against Triad senior Tate Moore, but still prevailed 6-4, 6-3 to wrap up his first day at state and advance to the quarterfinals.

Where, on May 29, he showcased the mental fortitude he had built up during the past year with a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 6-3 win against Fenwick sophomore Michael Doherty to reach the state semifinals and have a chance at a state championship on the final day of the season.

A moment he had envisioned after three previous trips to the state tournament didn’t end the way he wanted to was finally here. While Madigan ultimately didn’t come away with a state title — losing 6-0, 6-0 to Latin senior Kiyan Alsikafi in the semifinals — he came back to defeat St. Francis senior Umar Bajwa 6-2, 6-3 in the third-place match.

“He didn’t play his best, which makes the third-place finish at state even more amazing,” STM coach Greg Cohen said. “He gutted it out and showed a ton of heart.”

A number of reasons are clear about why Madigan is The News-Gazette’s choice for its All-Area Player of the Year honor during the 2026 season.

His third-place finish at the state tournament is one. His 27-1 record in singles play is another. So is his 17-0 record in doubles play. Add it up, and that’s a 44-1 overall record during a dominant senior season, where he also helped the STM boys’ tennis team win its first sectional title in program history.

“I remember when we were kids, he would always end up on the court crying,” Uni High senior Kyle Fan said. “Now, to see him, he’s the best in the area. It’s really cool.”

Nell points out those moments of Hunter sobbing on the court were when he was a young child, still grappling with the emotions of a sport he started playing when he was just 3 years old. But Hunter even acknowledges, and Nell and Cohen back this up, that the biggest growth in his game during the past year didn’t come from any of his physical skills. More so from developing a better mental approach on the court.

“His skills, abilities and mindset over the last 12 months have just taken off,” said Nell, who quickly credits former Illinois men’s tennis player Mathis Debru for helping Hunter with that aspect. “His skill level has gotten better, but when that mental piece clicked into place, it helped him exponentially his senior year.”

Cohen, who just wrapped up his second season as the STM coach, echoes those sentiments. During the 2025 season, Hunter lost a match to Uni High sophomore standout Jameson LaFave.

“Part of it was because Hunter got down on himself so quickly,” Cohen said.

The opposite happened during one of Hunter’s few challenging matches this past season. He trailed Centennial freshman Samith Ramanath 5-3 in the opening set when the Sabers and Chargers met on April 22 and was facing a set point before he rallied to eventually post a 7-5, 6-0 win that also doubled as the 100th in his high school career.

“That’s something he wouldn’t have done last year,” Cohen said. “It’s been such a fun year to see him grow in that area.”

Hunter can see now how by allowing himself to relax a bit more on the court this year and not fret about every possible mistake, it allows his game to flourish.

“I’ve never been breaking equipment or anything like that,” Hunter said, “but I was really hard on myself to do so much every time that I would play.”

The respect and rapport Hunter has with some of the fellow top players in the area is evident. Jokes abound among the likes of Hunter, Fan, LaFave, Ramanath, Champaign Central senior Daniel Canivez and Champaign Central sophomore Sohum Gurrapu. Like the high fives Hunter can dish out.

“He always gives the firmest, most skin-ripping off high fives in the world,” LaFave said. “I love it.”

Or the time Hunter and Canivez were doubles partners at a tournament in Indianapolis.

“I remember a very strong memory of when he hit me in the back with the ball on two points in a row,” Canivez said. “It was very funny at the time, and we ended up winning the tournament.”

While Canivez and Fan have graduated high school in the past month just like Hunter, Gurrapu, LaFave and Ramanath will miss not having Hunter around next season.

“I didn’t get to play him during the regular season, and I won’t get to play him in high school tennis,” Gurrapu said. “He always brings great competition, and he’s a great friend, so it’s kind of sad.”

“He beat me twice this season,” Ramanath said, “but I still enjoyed playing and practicing with him.”

In a sport like tennis, where the individual component takes up such a big part, hearing his fellow players and competitors describe their fondness for Hunter isn’t lost on Cohen.

“It’s really cool to see that bond with this group because in tennis, a lot of times with USTA rankings and points, it gets very cut-throat,” Cohen said. “It can get to a point where it’s very lonely, and people don’t like each other all the time. The reality that this group gets along is something that’s very, very positive.”

Hunter isn’t done playing tennis, either. He’s set to attend DePauw University, a Division III program in Greencastle, Ind., and play for the Tigers once the 2026-27 school year rolls around.

“I’m excited to continue my tennis career in college,” said Hunter, who plans to major in business. “This year was the best high school team that we’ve ever had during my time at STM. Next year is the first time I won’t be the best player on the team, and I’m really excited to have a good team around me.”

Aside from his tennis exploits, Hunter is an avid skier. So much that he’ll spend a few weeks this upcoming December as a ski instructor at Beaver Creek Resort in Beaver Creek, Colo.

“I started skiing in first grade when we out to Colorado, and I’ve skied every year since,” Hunter said. “I’ve gotten a lot better at that and have just had so much fun doing that. The main thing as an instructor is to not get people hurt.”

“He’s not a speed demon,” Nell added with a laugh. “He’s a cautious skier.”

Cautious.

Determined.

Talented.

Those are all attributes Hunter Madigan has carried with him, both on the slopes and on the tennis court. And it’s why he has left his mark on the area tennis scene. His legacy is not just that of a great player, but a great player that rising talents in the area hope to emulate.

“I’m sad that he won’t be back next year,” LaFave said. “He’s a great practice partner and a fun guy to be around. He loves the sport. His accomplishments give me a target to try and achieve, and it gives me hope that on my path that I can hopefully replicate, if not potentially exceed.”

YEAR PLAYER(S) SCHOOL

2026 Hunter Madigan St. Thomas More

2025 Abel Vines Champaign Central

2024 Ezra Bernhard Champaign Central

2023 Ezra Bernhard Champaign Central

2022 James Braun Centennial

Max Braun Centennial

YEAR PLAYER(S) SCHOOL

2021 Max Braun Centennial

2019 Jared Thomas Centennial

2018 Wade Baillon St. Thomas More

2017 Jared Thomas Centennial

2016 Nikhil Thope Champaign Central

2015 Sunny Singh Centennial

YEAR PLAYER(S) SCHOOL

2014 Austin Aten Champaign Central

2013 Alex Mestre Uni High

Edo Roth Uni High

2012 Sunny Singh Centennial

2011 Austin Aten Champaign Central

2010 Mauricio Gonzalez Centennial

YEAR PLAYER(S) SCHOOL

2009 David Ruedi Centennial

2008 David Ruedi Centennial

2007 Rodrigo Miller Champaign Central

2006 Chad Simpson Danville

2005 Chad Simpson Danville