It will be at least a week before Laura Granville knows whether she will be able to vie for her second state championship.
Granville, winner of the 1996 singles state title as a sophomore, returned to Chicago Latin this season after spending last year at Ransom Everglades in Florida. After a stellar summer highlighted by a title at the United State Tennis Association National 18s, Granville hopes to become the state’s seventh multiple state champion.
But her comeback may be short-lived. Illinois High School Association rules prohibit players from participating in outside tournaments during the high school season, and Granville earned a wild-card berth in the upcoming U.S. Open with the victory at the National 18s. She also is slated to play in the Junior U.S. Open this fall.
“I’ve got two girls who just decided to pick up rackets and play,” Latin coach Billy Lombardo said. “Having someone who plays in the U.S. Open on the same team as them is a remarkable thing that only happens in high school tennis. It would be too bad if she couldn’t play.”
This week, petitions will be sent to IHSA officials on Granville’s behalf from Lombardo and her father, Charles. It is not unprecedented for players to receive exemptions. As a freshman, Granville was allowed to play in a tournament in Japan because she was representing a U.S. team. Lombardo says he is hoping for a similar ruling when it is handed down in the next 10 days.
