The first part of the plan came together just as David Packowitz and Ross Putterman had hoped.
The second part, the one they kept to themselves, is three days away from being executed to perfection.
After earning college scholarships during their junior year away from high school tennis, the longtime doubles partners from Stevenson reunited in hopes of winning the state championship they came so close to as freshmen and again as sophomores.
The two-time runners-up are 28-0 and the No. 1 doubles' seed in the Illinois High School Association state tournament, which begins Thursday at several locations in the northwest suburbs.
"This is exactly what I hoped for," said Packowitz, who will play for Marquette. "Me and Ross set it up perfectly. Last year we really needed more tournaments outside high school, but we knew that we wanted to come back and play high school for sure.
"We just didn't tell anyone in case it didn't work out."
Though both would be among the best singles players in the state, the idea of returning as a doubles team appealed as much to Stevenson coach Tom Stanhope as it did to Packowitz and the Washington University-bound Putterman.
Stevenson had two other strong singles players in place, and Putterman and Packowitz had some unfinished business.
They've been playing doubles together since they were 12, and the two second-place finishes at state were as close as they've come to winning a big tournament.
"If the first two years didn't go the way they went, losing in the final both times, we probably would have come back trying for singles. Seeing how we locked up with colleges, we might as well take another shot," Packowitz said.
"We haven't really won a significant national tournament. It would mean a lot to us both."
The second part, the one they kept to themselves, is three days away from being executed to perfection.
After earning college scholarships during their junior year away from high school tennis, the longtime doubles partners from Stevenson reunited in hopes of winning the state championship they came so close to as freshmen and again as sophomores.
The two-time runners-up are 28-0 and the No. 1 doubles' seed in the Illinois High School Association state tournament, which begins Thursday at several locations in the northwest suburbs.
"This is exactly what I hoped for," said Packowitz, who will play for Marquette. "Me and Ross set it up perfectly. Last year we really needed more tournaments outside high school, but we knew that we wanted to come back and play high school for sure.
"We just didn't tell anyone in case it didn't work out."
Though both would be among the best singles players in the state, the idea of returning as a doubles team appealed as much to Stevenson coach Tom Stanhope as it did to Packowitz and the Washington University-bound Putterman.
Stevenson had two other strong singles players in place, and Putterman and Packowitz had some unfinished business.
They've been playing doubles together since they were 12, and the two second-place finishes at state were as close as they've come to winning a big tournament.
"If the first two years didn't go the way they went, losing in the final both times, we probably would have come back trying for singles. Seeing how we locked up with colleges, we might as well take another shot," Packowitz said.
"We haven't really won a significant national tournament. It would mean a lot to us both."