Brazil -- The Greencastle varsity tennis team made its mark in the history books Saturday

Monday, October 3, 2005

Brazil -- The Greencastle varsity tennis team made its mark in the history books Saturday.

After several years of close attempts, The Tiger Cubs won the first ever tennis sectional championship in school history at Northview High School, defeating Linton-Stockton, 4-1. The team will play Center Grove in the regional tournament Tuesday.

"It feels great," No. 1 singles player Quinn Fenlon said. "It's come down to the last match every year. We've gone home saying, 'somebody made a bad call. We should've won.' But this year, we actually did."

Greencastle came through with all three singles players winning their matches in straight sets. No. 3 singles player Sam Hirt won easily, 6-1, 6-1, while Johnny Pasho won, 6-2, 7-6, at No. 2 singles. Bouncing back from a tough 6-0, 6-0 loss Thursday, Fenlon finished the match off, winning 6-2, 7-6 at No. 1 singles,.

"The last few matches I've played, I've not done so hot," Fenlon said. "I came into this a little bit negative. I thought I kind of put that out of my head a little bit more than I did at the last match."

In doubles play, the No. 1 doubles team of Vance Cross and Brennan Burks defeated Chris Taylor and Kyle Ellis, 6-3, 6-4, while the No. 2 team of David Steen and Seth Heithaus were served the only loss, falling, 6-1, 6-1. Overall, Greencastle head coach Justin Remmelts was impressed with the team's effort.

"It's really, really exciting," Remmelts said. "It's really good to see that these guys hit a goal from the start of the year. It's great experience for them to see that they can actually achieve their goals as long as they work hard."

Remmelts was particularly impressed with his No. 1 doubles team. Cross has been sick with the past couple of weeks and remains to play in every match, while Burks continues to progress in his doubles play.

"I was really impressed with Brennan and Vance," Remmelts said. "Vance has had mono the last couple weeks and he's played through it. Brennan Burks stepped it up a lot. He played probably some of the best doubles tennis he's played all year."

Hirt was the first person done in the match, bouncing back from a tough loss to an opponent he had beaten earlier in the season. Remmelts said he was pleased, but not surprised to see how sharp Hirt looked from the beginning.

"Sam is that kind of player. His head's always in it," Remmelts said. "It was a real big momentum boost for him to come out and get the first win."

Greencastle now faces the challenge of Center Grove ahead of them Tuesday at Center Grove. The winner will face Roncalli in the championship match on Wednesday.

"Center Grove is a really tough team," Remmelts said. "As long as the guys try their hardest that's all we can really ask for."

Although Center Grove is currently ranked fifth in the state, Remmelts knows not to count his team out of anything.

"There's always a chance," he said. "Just because we're a small town high school doesn't mean we don't have a chance."

As a senior, Fenlon doesn't want Tuesday to be his last match. When asked where the team goes from here, he is not the least bit hesitant in answering.

"We're winning regional," he said with a smile. "Why not?"

At Northview

Northview Sectional Finals

Greencastle 4, Linton-Stockton 1

No. 1 singles -- Fenlon (GHS) def. Herndon (L) 6-2, 7-6 (5).

No. 2 singles -- Pasho (GHS) def. Dunkerly (L) 6-2, 7-6 (5).

No. 3 singles -- Hirt (GHS) def. Krame (L) 6-1, 6-1.

No. 1 doubles -- Cross and Burks (GHS) def. Taylor and Ellis (L), 6-3, 6-4.

No. 2 doubles -- Busenburg and Fritch (L) def Steen and Heithaus (GHS), 6-1, 6-1.

Next match -- Greencastle plays Center Grove Tuesday in the regional tournament at Center Grove.

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