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Tiger Cubs fall 3-2 in tennis regional
CRAWFORDSVILLE — Greencastle met Turkey Run on Tuesday in the semifinal round of the Crawfordsville regional, hoping to turn around a 3-2 loss to the Warriors earlier in the season.
The match was tied at 2-2, but the Warriors pulled out the final point to win by that same 3-2 score and advance to today’s regional championship against Terre Haute South.
Jed Fajt picked up a win at No. 1 singles for the Tiger Cubs, who were making their third straight regional appearance.
The Tiger Cubs also got a win from Nathan Gobert and Elijah Lewis at No. 1 doubles.
“I am heartbroken about the loss,” Greencastle coach Kevin Rowe said. “We have worked so hard for so long for regionals.
“With that being said, I’m am very proud of what we accomplished as a team this season.”
One positive thing that came from Tuesday’s match was that Fajt, as well as the tandem of Gobert-Lewis, will play on Thursday for the individual regional championship. They will compete with any other players from No. 1 singles or doubles whose teams have been eliminated from the tourney, but have not lost a match in the post-season.
“I am looking forward to coaching Jed and our No. 1 doubles team on Thursday,” Rowe said, “and hopefully at semi-state.”
Five of the seven Tiger Cubs who competed on Tuesday will graduate this year, with only No. 2 singles player Sean Ramey (a junior) and Jack Riggle (a freshman, and half of the No. 2 doubles team) returning next year.
Turkey Run 3, Greencastle 2
Singles — 1. Jed Fajt (G) def. George Munoz (TR) 6-2, 6-2; 2. Brock Mitchell (TR) def. Sean Ramey 6-4, 6-2; 3. Nate Ferguson (TR) def. Yugi Mozawa 6-1 2-6, 6-4
Doubles — 1. Nathan Gobert-Elijah Lewis (G) def. Luke Gill-Seth Jones (TR) 6-3 6-2; 2. Austin Hartman-Trevor Hardman (TR) def. Logan Wood-Jack Riggle (G) 6-3, 7-5(1)
Next match — Turkey Run (19-2) plays Terre Haute South (14-8) in the regional championship today. Greencastle ended its season at 12-4.
• Fanning loses — South Putnam’s Thomas Fanning competed in the individual regional on Tuesday and was defeated by Dallas Otero of Fountain Central.
“Otero was by far the best opponent he has faced this year,” SP coach Johnny Briones said. “Going into the match, Thomas knew how skilled his opponent was, yet he still played to win every single point.”
Fanning is just a sophomore, and Briones looks for him to continue to improve and make more regional appearances in the future.
“Thomas has a natural ability of playing the tactical game of tennis,” Briones said. “He’s always trying to find ways to gain that edge on his opponent.
“I expect a lot of big things from him in the future,” Briones said. “He has gained some valuable time on the court this season, and I am very proud of him.”
Briones was pleased with his team’s improvement over the course of the season.
“The entire team has improved since the beginning of the season, and that is all a coach can ask for,” he said. “Despite only having two wins, there were a lot of close games that could have gone either way.
“We are a young team that will improve and learn to finish matches,” Briones added. “We will miss our two seniors [Dylan Wood and Levi Whitaker] and we thank them for their hard work. We wish them the best.”