COLUMBIA CITY – After upsetting Warsaw Thursday for a chance to take on Columbia City in Saturday’s sectional final, Wawasee boys tennis was unable to advance any further, falling 4-1 to the Eagles.

“We knew it was going to be close, whoever gets to the net usually wins,” Warriors head coach Vince Rhodes said.

The lone win for Wawasee came from the No. 1 doubles pairing, Holden Babb and Grant Brooks, who picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win. The duo remains undefeated in the state tournament, and will advance without the rest of the team.

The match of the day came between No. 3 singles players Noah Finefrock of Columbia City and Blaine Baut of the Warriors. Baut won the first set 6-3, and looked to be on his way to a straight set victory, leading the second set 4-1. But Finefrock rallied to win eleven straight games, finishing off the win with 6-4, 6-0 score lines. 

Despite the loss, it was an overall great season for the Warriors, who posted 12 wins, the schools most in a decade. But with five of the team’s top seven players graduating, Rhodes will have to figure out ways to restructure his team.

“It’s going to be rough next year,” Rhodes said. “The roster is open, we’re not sure how it’s going to fill up. We’re trying to get a program going on at the middle school to help with that, we’ve got some athletes coming in next season.

“Disappointing end to the season, but we’re really excited about Babb and Brooks though. I think they can go a little ways if they keep their heads on straight.”

Regionals begin Tuesday at Culver Academies.