Tigers Fall In Tennis Regional FinalCULVER – Though the team’s fate had already been decided, Warsaw senior Colton Lind continued to battle.
In the Tigers’ 5-0 loss to host Culver Academies in Wednesday’s boys tennis regional final, Lind took Eagles senior Ian Smith to a third set before falling 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on the indoor courts at Gable Tennis Center.
With the other four matches long decided, Lind and Smith waged and epic back-and-forth battle.
Because of a loss to Wabash’s Rob Ford the night before, Lind wasn’t eligible to advance in the individual singles and doubles tournament had he pulled it out against Smith. Yet he continued to battle, and the final match of his prep career was certainly a memorable one.
“Colton played so solid,” said Warsaw coach Rick Orban, whose team advanced to the regional final with a 3-2 win Tuesday over a Wabash team that was 20-1.
“He’s a senior, he’s leaving, and I think he wanted to play his best tennis toward the end, and he really did. He’s got nothing to hang his head about. He played a great match, and he should be proud of himself.”
Warsaw finished the season with a 10-7 record, while Culver Academies won its fourth straight regional title, ninth in the last 11 years, and 13th overall.
The Eagles, now 19-2 on the season, will host Penn (18-2) in the semistate Saturday. Carmel (18-0) and Munster (16-4) will face off in the other semifinal.
“No doubt we have the horses,” Culver Academies coach Alan Loehr said of his team’s regional stranglehold. “We have some really good horses that help us win those regionals, No. 1, and No. 2, that intangible when underclassmen see the kids, the seniors win these titles, you can’t put a price on it. You can’t coach to it. There’s an expectation that’s set in any of these programs.”
The Eagles won 5-0 in Warsaw on Aug. 30, but the Tigers held leads on multiple courts in that match.
In Wednesday’s clash, Orban said Culver Academies did exactly what he wanted his team to do, jump on the opponent early.
The Eagles didn’t wast any time posting the three wins needed to advance as a team.
At No. 3 singles, Culver Academies senior Patrick Wilson beat Warsaw freshman Caleb Williams 6-0, 6-0.
In the No. 2 singles match, Eagles sophomore Nikolas Warnholtz defeated Warsaw senior Kyler Bartol 6-0, 6-2.
On the No. 1 doubles court, Culver Academies’ team of senior Jose Santiago Peraza and junior Henry Bilicic beat the Tigers’ duo of senior Bailey Buhrt and junior Spencer Britton 6-2, 6-3.
At No. 2 doubles, Eagles juniors Vince Huang and Peter Gallagher topped Warsaw juniors Nolan Knight and Reuben Williams 6-2, 6-0.
“You’re always disappointed to lose, but Culver’s got a heck of a team,” said Orban. “Alan has been coaching a long time, he’s a great coach. They’re solid all the way through, from 1 singles all the way down to 3 singles, 1 doubles, 2 doubles.
“They kind of took the playbook from me. They came out so strong, so fast. Our doubles teams I think were on their heels. We didn’t play extremely aggressive. I know 2 and 3 singles were the same way. When you get to this level, you have to play to win. You can’t play not to lose.”
CULVER ACADEMIES 5, WARSAW 0
Singles: No. 1 – Ian Smith (CA) def. Colton Lind 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; No. 2 – Nikolas Warnholtz (CA) def. Kyler Bartol 6-0, 6-2; No. 3 – Patrick Wilson (CA) def. Caleb Williams 6-0, 6-0
Doubles: No. 1 – Jose Santiago Peraza & Henry Bilicic (CA) def. Spencer Britton & Bailey Buhrt 6-2, 6-3; No. 2 – Vince Huang & Peter Gallagher (CA) def. Nolan Knight & Reuben Williams 6-2, 6-0
