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Parke Heritage defeats South; Greencastle’s Ross moves on
CRAWFORDSVILLE — South Putnam’s outstanding run of boys’ tennis success, and the stellar careers of five Eagle seniors, ended on Tuesday evening with a 3-2 loss to Parke Heritage in the Crawfordsville Regional.
“Tonight didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” South coach Johnny Briones said. “Kudos to Parke Heritage — a very talented and well-coached team.”
Briones noted that No. 2 singles player Ty VanSickle started the night on a positive note by winning in straight sets.
“I can’t say enough about Ty, and how he was playing with such confidence,” Briones said. “He’s impressed me all season long.”
Garrett Heavin lost at No. 3 singles in his final high school match.
“He was playing a very talented freshman and he struggled, losing in straight sets,” Briones said. “ I can’t say enough about his effort, either, and how he refuses to give up. That says a lot about his character.”
The No. 2 doubles team of Trey Long and Brandon Rector also lost in straight sets.
“I am extremely proud of their effort and impressed with how they have improved since day one of this season,” Briones said.
South’s No. 1 doubles team of Austin Arnold-Tanner Pistelli won in straight sets to even the team score at 2-2.
“They continue to play extremely well together,” Briones said.
With the team score tied, the match came down to Thomas Fanning at No. 1 singles.
Fanning lost the first set 4-6 and also trailed in the second set before staging a comeback.
“He fought back to even the set at 6-all, and go into a tiebreaker,” Briones noted, before losing 8-10 in the tiebreaker. “I can’t say enough about Thomas and his effort day in and day out. In tennis, when you receive compliments from opponents and their coaches parents, you know you have a special athlete.”
Briones will lose Fanning, VanSickle, Heavin, Arnold and Long from the best team in school history.
“What an incredible season, with back-to-back sectional titles, conference champions and going undefeated in regular-season play,” he said. “I just can’t say enough about our five seniors. They are the perfect example of a true student-athlete.”
Arnold and Pistelli will get to keep playing today against a duo from North Montgomery in the individual doubles tourney for undefeated No. 1 teams.
“I am looking forward to see how far they can advance,” Briones said.
Parke Heritage 3, South Putnam 2
Singles — 1. Clay Butler (PH) def. Thomas Fanning (SP) 6-4, 7-6(10-8); 2. Ty VanSickle (SP) def. Jack Gooch (PH) 6-0, 6-3; 3. Evan James (PH) def. Garrett Heavin (SP) 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles — 1. Austin Arnold-Tanner Pistelli (SP) def. Dylan Whitmer-Jorden Wood (PH) 6-3, 6-1; 2. Riley Ferguson-Joel Gooch (PH) def. Trey Long-Brandon Rector (SP) 6-1 6-2.
In other tennis:
• Ross stays alive — Greencastle’s Trent Ross defeated Logan Reece of Southmont 6-0, 6-2 on Tuesday to win the individual No. 1 singles sectional.
He will advance to regional competition at Kokomo on Oct. 13.