Sectional title goes to Greencastle boys' team

The Tiger Cub tennis team huddles together after finshing as sectional champions in the Northview Sectional.(Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

BRAZIL--When Greencastle and Northview's boys' tennis teams met earlier this year, the Knights rallied in two of their three wins to give the Tiger Cubs their first team loss of the season.

Saturday, with the IHSAA Sectional No. 45 title riding on the outcome of the rematch, Greencastle avenged that loss, picking up three straight-set wins to oust the Knights 3-2 and win the school's first sectional title since 2005.

Tiger Cub head coach Kevin Rowe said it was satisfying to beat a team that the squad had fallen to earlier and pick up the sectional title in the process.

"I thought we played great," Rowe said. "They stuck us with one of our losses earlier this year and they have a great team that keeps fighting so it was great to see the guys come out here and pull this one out."

While standing around afterward, it was pointed out that Greencastle had only beaten South Putnam and Rockville two seasons ago and Rowe commended the work the squad had done since then.

"They've done a lot to get better from two years ago and they're very resilient," Rowe said. "They keep fighting and put in a lot of work over the last two years to get better.

"They've gotten better as a whole, not just individually, and helped each other get better. They've done well to get this far and it's been great to watch."

As had happened in their first meeting, Greencastle saw two first-set leads evaporate into losses, with No. 1 singles player Christian Richey stung a second time by Gaddis Baysinger 0-6 6-1 6-1.

Rowe said that Richey played a solid match but was still looking to find another gear to play at.

"I think Christian is still trying to figure things out, even as a senior," Rowe said. "He has some great shots, but it becomes a bit of a mental game.

"His opponents can push and sometimes he gets caught by that. I think he overcame that today and I'm proud of his efforts"

Jason Ummel was also on the wrong end of a three-set match, falling to Nick Sacopulos at No. 3 singles 4-6 6-2 6-2.

As with Richey, Rowe said that Ummel just needed to find a way to be more consistent over the course of a match.

"It's a little bit of the same thing with Jason as it is with Christian," Rowe noted. "He has some great strokes but doesn't always put it together for a full match.

"I'm hoping that we can take care of that. He's a great player but just needs to put everything together over two or three sets."

The Tiger Cubs, however, didn't allow any other match to get to a third set and prevent the home side from rallying, starting with Jed Fajt's blistering 6-1 6-1 win at No. 2 singles over Ethan Linton.

Rowe was not surprised that Fajt got Greencastle on the board quickly.

"Jed's been pretty good all year," Rowe said. "He's got two losses playing No. 2 singles for us and has been playing great all year long.

"We know we can almost always count on him to get a point for us and it was great to see him perform today."

Next to finish was an important reversal from the first go-around when Adam Gerard and Nathan Gobert avenged a three-set loss by taking down Brendan Ellis and Nick Ganly at No. 2 doubles, 6-3 7-5.

The understanding between Gerard and Gobert was one that Rowe said made them a hard team to beat.

"(Adam and Nathan) have played great all year for us," Rowe said. "They faltered here and there but they play very well together, just like No. 1 doubles.

"They know each other's strengths and weakness and play off each other. They keep each other up and keep each other playing."

In the deciding match, and as they had done in the first meeting, Kaleb Fleming and Jake Mangrum knocked off Damon Bass and Bryce Minor at No. 1 doubles 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to take Greencastle across the line and into the regional round.

With the pressure on as other matches were finishing, Rowe said that he didn't doubt that the combination of Fleming and Mangrum would find a way to win in the clutch.

"Kaleb and Jake are a great doubles squad," Rowe said. "They could be playing singles for us but they love doubles, they enjoy playing together and it works out well for us.

"I'm not surprised they were our last point as they are very consistent. Northview's No. 1 doubles team put up a great fight and it was a great match, but they always seem to be able to pull things out in the end."

Greencastle moves on to the Crawfordsville regional next Tuesday and will take on the host Athenians in the opening round.

With No. 12 Terre Haute South knocked out of the tourney by Terre Haute North, the field has a wide open look and Rowe said that the squad can compete if everyone plays well at the same time.

"We're a smaller school compared to most of the teams we might play from here on out," Rowe noted. "I think that if we put it together, we have a chance.

"We've got to pull together on all five courts, not just relying on the same three all the time. It's going to be up to all of us bringing it together to keep playing on."

At Northview