Senior credits hard work, great coach for memorable season
By Ryne Turke
“He played the best tennis of his life.” Jacksonville High School Tennis Coach Doug Moy couldn’t have been more proud of the performance of senior Christian Bonner, who capped off a stellar three-year Crimson career with an IHSA State Tennis Tournament run in Palatine last week.
“Christian is the true definition of a player who fully understands the concept of earning wins and learning in defeat. He’s done great things for our tennis program.”
Bonner, who picked up the game during PE class, says he’s had an incredible journey on the tennis court, with plenty of memorable moments.
“My first year I started playing on our #3 doubles team and had a fairly average season. I was inexperienced compared to the Springfield players who’d been involved in the game for years.”
After a tremendous offseason of practicing and conditioning, Bonner made the jump to #1 in singles and doubles for JHS in his second season, until his year was cut short due to injury.
“That injury took away my chance to really compete to qualify for state, so going into my senior season that was my main priority.”
JHS Tennis Coach Doug Moy, who transitioned Bonner to singles only his senior season, noted Bonner came into the year with the right mindset for a state tournament run.
“Christian is always leading by example on the court and in life. He’s earned every opportunity this season because he never shaved court time, cut corners or made excuses. On the court, conditioning, weight room, class room work, Christian always maxed his time and effort.”
Bonner’s 2024 regular season included big wins against the top players in the CS8, a second place finish at the Pekin Tournament and a comeback win against the #1 player from Quincy Notre Dame.
Heading into the postseason, Bonner says felt incredibly confident in his game, and it showed, winning matches against Springfield, Sacred Heart Griffin and Quincy Notre Dame to advance past the regional and sectional rounds.
“Those players were definitely talented. They were long, drawn out matches that required constant focus and physical exertion, which was hard to maintain in the heat.”
After three years of constant practice and grueling matches, Bonner says the match point overhand winner against SHG was a memorable moment in his high school career.
“It was a great feeling and I don’t think I can ever replicate it.”
At the State level, Bonner lost his first match to Dunlap, defeated Urbana and fell to Newton, finishing 1-2 overall.
Bonner says each match was a battle.
“All my matches lasted at least an hour and a half. I’ve got to give immense credit to all three of my opponents for never letting a point die. They played at a level I had rarely seen.”
Without the services of Doug Moy, Bonner says he would have never made it to the highest level of Illinois High School Tennis.
“Doug Moy made me a state level tennis player. He’s so knowledgeable of the game, but his most important trait is how personable of a guy he is. I never wanted to miss a practice because we formed such a close bond. He inspires everyone.”
Bonner, who’ll start his undergraduate work this fall at UIS studying Psychology, feels this is the beginning of a revolution of tennis in the Jacksonville area.
“Jacksonville Tennis really has a limitless ceiling, because every player, from grade school to high school, wants to create an elite level of tennis. We want Jacksonville to be a team that other schools in the state watch out for. Cole Nebel, Colin Knollhoff, Caleb Atkins and so many more have the ability to make the jump to compete at the state level. This is exciting time for Jacksonville.”
