As Warsaw's tennis players were competing in their home season opener Wednesday afternoon, a hot-air balloon with the words "The Secret's Out - Kosciusko County" passed overhead.

And it may not be long before the secret's out on Warsaw's tennis team. If yesterday is an accurate indication, coach Andy Lewis' young team could have a good year.

Warsaw defeated Elkhart Central 3-2. Lewis could pick out many highlights. Craig Harman, who moved from the No. 3 singles spot last season to the No. 1 spot this year, bounced back from a 6-4 loss in his first set to win the last two 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) to beat Mike Bloss.

A little talk with the coach seemed to put him on track.

When Harman fell behind 1-0 early, Lewis didn't like what he saw. He called him over to give him advice, telling Harman, "If it's there Craig, put it away."

"I didn't know how well Craig was concentrating," Lewis later said. "If Craig puts his mind to it, he can stay in any match and will be tough to beat. He has all it takes to be a great No. 1 player."

Sophomore Owen Compton and senior Dan Tupps played their first match together, and they defeated Elkhart Central's No. 1 doubles team of Adam Booth and Jason Law 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Booth and Law are both seniors.

"I was really impressed," Lewis said of his new No. 1 doubles team. "They were always in the right spots. They didn't always hit their shots, but they always seemed to be in the right spots."

The two played so well that Lewis might keep them together a little longer than he originally planned. Because he has so many new players this season, Lewis was going to experiment and shuffle his lineup. Compton and Tupps may have nixed that idea, at least for now.

"I think they are going to be a super No. 1 doubles team," Lewis said.

But Ryan Van Puffelen stole the show, simply because his match lasted the longest.

With Warsaw and Elkhart Central tied 2-2, the No. 2 singles match between Van Puffelen and Matt Boot just happened to be the last match being played. The two battled long after the sun had gone down, and Van Puffelen held on for the 7-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8-5) win.

It came down to poise. Van Puffelen had it, while Boot didn't. Boot saw his 5-4 lead in the third set disappear. As Warsaw teammates and fans cheered on Van Puffelen when the match was nearly complete, Boot shouted an obscenity to the crowd.

Even though he was playing in his first varsity match, Van Puffelen performed like a four-year veteran. He was a backboard, returning everything hit to him, wearing down Boot. That didn't surprise Lewis. Van Puffelen has a perfect track record.

"He's 19-0 as a Tiger," Lewis said. Van Puffelen was 18-0 as the No. 1 singles player on last year's junior varsity team. "I had told our No. 2 doubles team (Matt Howard, Jason Torrence) that they can win this for us. But they didn't, and that meant it was up to Ryan.

"He was down a break the whole third set, but he got the job done."

Torrence and Howard lost to Chris Platusich and Jeff Tyhach 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. In the other varsity match, Warsaw No. 3 singles player Dan Benyousky lost to Elliott Bond 6-0, 6-3.

When teams play a long 2 1/2-3 hour match, and your team wins, the victory even means more. Ask Lewis.

"It was good to come down to the third set and win for once," Lewis said. "Last year against teams like Goshen, that didn't always happen."

Warsaw also won the junior varsity match 3-2. Both Warsaw teams are 1-0, while both Elkhart Central teams fell to 0-2. Warsaw hosts a 4:30 match this afternoon with Mishawaka Marian.

Lewis lost seven seniors from last year's team. To get a win in the first match with a whole new lineup was a big step, Lewis said.

"I didn't know what to expect," he said. "I had one returning, one singles player (Harman). I knew we had the talent. Tonight I found out we are fighters. The kids want to win, and that's nice to see as a coach." [[In-content Ad]]