South defeats Patriots 3-2, wins school’s first WIC title
South Putnam entered Saturday’s Western Indiana Conference crossover tennis championship match with the upper hand.
The Eagles had just defeated Owen Valley 4-1 four days earlier, and appeared primed to win the school’s first WIC title since joining the league three years ago.
Owen Valley made it tough, but the Eagles prevailed 3-2 to claim the league title.
“I can’t say how proud I am of our tennis team,” South coach Johnny Briones said. “I knew going into this match that it would be difficult to beat a really good team twice in one week. No. 1 doubles [Austin Arnold/Tanner Pistelli] and two doubles [Trey Long/Brandon Rector] struggled in their game on Saturday, but I can’t say enough about their effort and their never-say-die attitude.”
South won all three of the singles matches, while dropping both doubles matches.
Owen Valley got off to a 1-0 lead by winning the No. 2 doubles match, and Ty VanSickle tied it up for South with a win at No. 2 singles.
Thomas Fanning won his match at No. 1 singles to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead, but the Patriots tied things up with a win at No. 1 doubles.
That set the stage for senior Garrett Heavin, who came through with the deciding win at No. 3 singles to give the Eagles the crown.
“Fanning continues to play very well, winning in straight sets,” Briones noted. “VanSickle kept it close in the first set, then breezed through his second set to even the team score.”
Heavin lost the first set 6-4 to OV’s Rece Heckman, but recovered to take the final two by scores of 6-2, 6-4.
“He pulled it together and took the second, and in dramatic fashion sealed the deal in the third set,” Briones said.
OV won four of the seven junior varsity matches, but Briones is happy with their progress as the program seeks to repeat its sectional title and continue its success past this year.
“Despite the JV loss, they continue to show improvement each and every match,” he said. “I am extremely proud of our junior varsity players. I can’t say enough about all the support we’ve received from our parents, students and community.”
The Eagles played on Monday at Edgewood, and will close out the regular season on Thursday by hosting Linton-Stockton on Senior Night.
Saturday
WIC championship match
South Putnam 3, Owen Valley 2
Singles — 1. Thomas Fanning (SP) def. Coy Byerly (OV) 6-1, 6-4; 2. Ty VanSickle (SP) def. Isiah Johnson (OV) 7-5, 6-2; 3. Garrett Heavin (SP) def. Rece Heckman (OV) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Doubles — 1. Drew Mauder-Keaton Richardson (OV) def. Austin Arnold-Tanner Pistelli (SP) 7-6, 6-1; 2. Logan Headley-Jalen Hodge (OV) def. Trey Long-Brandon Rector (SP) 6-3, 6-3.
Junior varsity
Owen Valley 4, South Putnam 3
Singles — Trey Blaydes (SP) def. Colby Beckwith (OV) 8-1; Ethan Lantz (OV) def. Marcus Robinson (SP) 8-4; Zane Sparks (OV) def. Brady Robinson (SP) 8-6.
Doubles — Robbie Fisher-Nate Clearwaters (SP) def. Kaleb Dill-Zachary Hamilton (OV) 8-4; Ethan Wallace-Jaxon Hodge (SP) def. Sam Chisham-Coldy Beckwith (OV) 8-6; Ethan Lantz-Zane Sparks (OV) def. Zion Harris-Michael LeBlanc (SP) 8-2; Mason Elkins-Dev Patel (OV) def. Trystan Smithers-Nate Ladd (SP) 8-5.