For the Daily Reporter
FISHERS — In what is seemingly an annual occurrence, Mt. Vernon and New Palestine will be meeting in the tennis sectional championship match. In a tense and emotional atmosphere, New Palestine defeated Eastern Hancock 4-1, while Mt. Vernon defeated Greenfield-Central 5-0 in an unofficial Hancock County tournament.
For Mt. Vernon, owners of a 15-2 record, a shaky start gave the underdog Cougars some early confidence. In multiple matches, the Cougars had multiple-game leads in the first set. However, only No. 1 singles player Robbie Dye was able to capture the first set against Haiden Rose of Mt. Vernon. (Rose would win the match 5-7, 6-4, 6-2).
“This is what sectional play is all about,” Mt. Vernon coach Gabe Muterspaugh said afterward. “The fans are going to be more into it, the players are going to feel more energy, and you gotta contain that and fight through it.”
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Early on in the match, a tense doubles showdown was unfolding at No. 1 doubles between Jackson Dunlavy and Justin Lemke of Mt. Vernon and Seth Kirkpatrick and Kane Bradley of Greenfield-Central. Kirkpatrick and Bradley had a 5-3 lead in the first set, but eventually lost the set in a tiebreaker. The second set was not as close however, and Dunlavy and Lemke won the match 7-6(3), 6-2.
The other tense match-up of the night was at No. 2 singles. Mt. Vernon’s Chris Hayes defeated G-C’s Carson Gibson 7-5, 6-4 in a match that was tight nearly the whole way. For the Cougars, the defeat will serve as a baseline for improvement going forward.
“We lost to Mt. Vernon 4-1 earlier in the season, but I feel like this one was actually closer,” Cougars coach Michael Turpin said afterward. “Multiple sets all across the courts were close. We’ve got five guys coming back next year, which is a first for me. If they keep working on their game, I don’t see why we can’t be in the same position as Mt. Vernon is.”
New Palestine had a simpler path to the finals, albeit in a 4-1 victory, over Eastern Hancock. No. 1 singles, No. 2 singles, and No. 1 doubles had quick victories that wrapped up the team victory. But the Royals didn’t go down quietly.
Freshmen Zeke Dixon grinded out a three-set victory over Jaremy Waggoner 6-0, 2-6, 6-2. And the Dragons’ No. 2 doubles team of Clayton Wesley and Jackson Havel needed three sets to win. For the Eastern Hancock Royals, this season was an unqualified success.
“We accomplished a lot of our team goals,” Royals coach Tom Huff said. “We finished with a .500 record, won our conference tournament, and really got better. If these guys work on their games over the summer, we should be able to be even better.”
For the Dragons, the focus now shifts to the upcoming championship match.
“We lost 3-2 to Mt. Vernon in the regular season,” Dragons coach Jean Graham said afterwards. “We’ve just got to come out strong and hopefully flip one spot!”
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New Palestine and Mt. Vernon will play at 4:30 p.m. today at Fishers High School. The winner will advance to play at the North Central regional on Oct. 8.
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