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Three of the four teams competing at IHSAA boys tennis sectional 61 on Thursday were local teams, turning the semifinal round of the tournament into a display of some of the best tennis players Kosciusko County has to offer. After the day was over, just two teams remained. Warsaw picked up a sweep over Columbia City to advance to Saturday’s championship game, while Wawasee was narrowly able to topple Tippecanoe Valley to set up a rematch of last year’s sectional final.
“I think the boys came out extremely focused for this one,” Warsaw head coach Stacy Lind said after the match. “They had one goal in mind and that was to make it to another sectional championship match. They played really well.”
Beginning with the Tigers, it was the second straight day that the host school was able to put together a 5-0 win in which every player was able to finish off their match in straight sets. The first player to finish up was No. 3 singles competitor Ted Grandon, who disposed of his foe with a 6-0, 6-0 victory. The win set the tone for what would become a dominant day for Warsaw.
Both doubles teams picked up victories next, with the No. 1 pairing of Spencer Love and Luke Smith cruising to a 6-1, 6-3 win. Not far behind them were the No. 2 duo of Grant Boren and Cale Meridew, who also picked up a quick straight-set victory. Both pairings showcased their cohesion in their victories, often making the right choice on who to play the ball and when.
No. 1 Charlie Norton may have put together a dominant final score in his 6-3, 6-1 win, but the match he competed in was incredibly hard fought. The senior used an incredibly powerful serve as a main weapon in his arsenal, and was able to put together an incredibly sound performance.
Henry Norton, Warsaw’s No. 2, had to wait a bit longer than he would have liked to pick up his 6-1, 6-2 win, as his opponent had to deal with an injury midway through the second set before returning to competition. The younger Norton didn’t miss a beat when returning to action, picking up right where he left off for the victory.
“It shows how focused on the match he was,” Lind said. “He wanted that victory, and he didn’t want to waste any time getting it.”
The Warriors won their match 4-1, with their doubles teams leading the way. The No. 1 pairing of Camden Reel and Austin Harney was the first duo to get done, taking out Valley’s Thad Shambaugh and Hayden Stookey in straight sets. Also picking up a quick victory was the No. 2 team made up of Brock Shipley and Winston Farrington.
The singles matches didn’t go so quickly. Wawasee’s No. 2, Grady Berkeypile, was able to pick up the victory that clinched the match for the Warriors, but Noah Mellott made him work for it. It wouldn’t be enough though, as the third win for the Warriors sealed their fate.
No. 3 Colin Hackleman picked up a win over Liam Newcomer in what was another back-and-forth battle. Newcomer held a lead in both sets, including a 4-1 advantage in the second one, but Hackleman was able to stand tall after a 6-4, 6-4 win.
The lone Valley win came in the No. 1 singles match, as William Mellott put together a fantastic performance .After Wawasee’s Felix Reir won the first set 6-1, Mellott stormed back to force a third set with a 6-2 win of his own before finishing off the comeback with a 6-4 victory in the tiebreaker. The win allows Mellott to advance in the state tournament as an individual.
Warsaw and Wawasee will meet in the sectional championship game on Saturday at 9 a.m.
