SM East’s Lem perfect

The rest of the Class 6A high school tennis players better watch out because another Lem is on the way.

Shawnee Mission East sophomore Nolan Lem, younger brother of Phillip, last year’s 6A state singles champion, went 3-0 to win the No. 1 singles title at the Lawrence Invitational on Thursday at Lawrence Tennis Center.

Amazingly, the younger Lem hadn’t played a competitive match in six months.

“I got kind of burned out,” said Lem, who rallied for a 4-6, 6-4 (7-3) victory over Lawrence High junior Scott Elwell in the Lawrence Invitational final.

Why the long break between matches?

“He was doing music, had other things going on,” SM East coach Sue Chipman said. “Basically he took a layoff. I am so pleased he’s back. I told him at the beginning not to go for too much, play his game and slowly get back into shape.”

Lem, a standout saxophonist, missed state last year because of his commitment to music. Chipman plans on Lem finishing this season with the Lancers.

Against Elwell, Lem lost the first set and was down 3-2 in the second set before winning four of the final five games to force the tie-breaker. Lem scored the first two points of the tie-breaker and never trailed to topple Elwell for the second year in a row at the Lawrence tournament.

With Elwell at the net, Lem scored the decisive point with a shot just out of the LHS player’s reach.

“I just lost focus,” said Elwell, now 7-1 after going 2-1 at the eight-team tournament.

“I was optimistic (going into the tie-breaker), but I was still a little frustrated.”

Elwell beat Shawnee Mission North’s Kevin Roth, 6-0, 6-0, in the first round and Blue Valley Northwest’s Kyle Kukuk, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in the semifinals.

“I was hitting my forehand pretty well,” Elwell said. “That was probably the best part of the day. I missed way too many first serves.”

Lawrence High coach Dick Wedel thought Elwell tried to force too many shots against Lem.

“He seemed to be pressing or hurrying a little bit,” Wedel said.

“I thought he needed to be a little more patient.”

SM East, the defending state champion, dominated the tournament.

The Lancers swept all four brackets No. 1 singles, No. 2 singles, No. 1 doubles and No. 2 doubles to finish with 40 points. Blue Valley Northwest was second with 30 points and Lawrence was fourth with 22 points.

Lawrence’s No. 2 singles player Jon Weygint went 2-1 to place fifth.

In No. 1 doubles, Lawrence’s Owe Rambau and Brian Allen went 1-2 to place sixth. Lawrence’s Jeff Cravens and Brian Dobski went 2-1 to place fifth in No. 2 doubles.