Greencastle wins in sectional, South's season ends

Friday, October 3, 2014
Nathan Gobert and Adam Gerard (not pictured) won their No. 2 doubles match on Thursday. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Greencastle's boys' tennis team will be playing for the IHSAA sectional championship on Saturday after it won its first two matches of the tournament.

They took the match on Thursday against South Vermillion in a close 3-2 match.

"I'm obviously super excited," GHS coach Kevin Rowe said. "I think we played well as a team. South Vermillion had some really good players."

The match was moved to DePauw University's indoor tennis courts and the longest match of the night finally ended in a loss at the No. 1 singles spot for Christian Ritchey.

That was only the second loss of the match for Greencastle who could have been winded after a tough win Wednesday night. The Tiger Cub team rose to the occasion though with Jed Fajt in the No. 2 singles slot winning his matches at 6-2 apiece.

"We've worked for this the whole year," Fajt said. "We've prepared in the offseason. We have a great group of guys. We actually have a quote that we always say. It's 'great moments come from great opportunity.' We always practice together. This is pretty much the same team as last year. We just bond well together and work well. "

Jason Ummel lost what may have been the toughest match of the night in a tiebreaker.

But the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles stole the show by picking up a pair of wins to ensure the continued survival of the Greencastle season.

Kaleb Fleming and Jake Mangrum picked up close wins while Adam Gerard and Nathan Gobert handled their competition easily 6-2 and 6-0.

"It's been our goals all three years to win sectionals," Mangrum said. "Now that we are finally getting that chance to accomplish that goal I hope that we take the opportunity and win. It's been a long time coming. It felt really god I was glad that we ended up winning in the end."

Greencastle will be playing against Northview at the Knights site and Rowe says it's all up to the players come Saturday.

"Its all thanks to them," he said. "They're the ones who have done it. I just kind of sat back and watched it happen. They deserve all the credit. They are playing well."


At DePauw

IHSAA Northview Sectional No. 45

Greencastle 3, South Vermillion 2

No. 1 Singles -- Scott (SV) def. Ritchey (GC) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1

No. 2 Singles -- Fajt (GC) def. Morgan (SV) 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 Singles -- Jacobs (SV) def. Ummel (GC) 6-2, 7-6 (6-8)

No. 1 Doubles -- Fleming/Mangrum (GC) def. Bogetto/Vermillion 6-4, 6-3

No. 2 Doubles -- Gerald/Gobert (GC def. Waldrop/Lawson (SV) 6-2, 6-0


South Putnam loss its sectional round

For the third time this season, South Putnam's boys' tennis team ran into Northview as the Eagles made their entry into IHSAA sectional No. 45 play.

Much like the previous two meetings, the Knights came away with a victory to send South Putnam tumbling out of the tournament.

South Putnam coach Zach Love said the squad put in an effort they could be proud of.

"I thought we played well as a whole," Love said. "Overall, I'm happy with the performance and the effort from our guys."

South Putnam's Collin Berry returns during the sectional loss. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

Collin Berry, who had fallen heavily against Northview's Gaddis Baysinger in a previous match, pushed the Knight's No. 1 and had 4-1 lead's in each set.

Baysinger rallied each time, though, and bested Berry 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1).

Love said the performance was the best he had seen from Berry.

"I thought Collin Berry, even though he's won some matches this year, played as well as he's played all year," Love said. "He came up a little bit short, taking both sets to a tie-break, but he played outstanding. I'm really proud of his effort tonight."

In the rubber match between South Putnam's Josh Stewart and Northview's Ethan Linton, who each had a win over the other, it was the Knight No. 2 who picked up a three-set win 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Much like with Berry, Love said that Stewart put in a strong effort in the loss.

"Josh Stewart played well and took his opponent to three sets," Love said. "They had each beaten each other once before this year and it was very competitive, even though he came up a little bit short."

In the last of the singles matches, Eagle No. 3 Aaron Cole fell at to Nick Sacopulos 6-2, 6-2.

The No. 1 doubles team of Ben Albright and Zane Crosby was beaten by Bryce Minor and Damon Bass 6-0, 6-3, while the No.2 doubles unit of Nick Chambers and Jacob Lorimer fell 6-0, 6-0 to Nick Ganly and Brenden Ellis.

For seniors Albright, Berry, Chambers, Crosby and Cole, it was their final match in their three-year tennis careers and Love said the group had done a lot of hard work for the program.

"This group of seniors is a special group," Love said. "I was happy to coach them as they are an enjoyable group and it was fun to watch them grow over the last two years I've been coach.

"I'm going to miss them. I think they've set a really good foundation for these younger kids to learn from, to grow and to mature and I appreciate that from them."

With Lorimer and Stewart returning, as well as a full JV roster waiting in the wings, Love said that next year's team had the potential to go places.

"We've got some guys coming back with some varsity experience, which will be good," Love said. "We do have a lot of holes to fill so it's going to be important that we work in the offseason to put out the seven best guys next year.

"That's going to be a lot of newcomers but like I said, the seniors really paved the way for this group of young guys. They showed the JV guys how they need to perform and what they need to do if they're going to play varsity tennis."


At DePauw

IHSAA Northview Sectional No. 45

Northview 5, South Putnam 0

No. 1 Singles -- Baysinger (N) def. Berry (SP) 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1)

No. 2 Singles -- Linton (N) def. Stewart (SP) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

No. 3 Singles -- Sacopulos (N) def. Cole (SP) 6-2, 6-2

No. 1 Doubles -- Bass/Minor (N) def. Albright/Crosby (SP) 0-6, 3-6

No. 2 Doubles -- Ellis/Ganly (N) def. Chambers/Lorimer (SP) 6-0, 6-0

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  • As a mom of a SP junior player, I just want to say that this was the classiest and most fun bunch of kids I have been around in awhile!! The senior boys will definitely be missed! All of us parents are proud of each and every one of you!!

    -- Posted by fillmorechick on Fri, Oct 3, 2014, at 6:52 AM
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