Tigers Win Tennis Regional
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
That was the case Wednesday, as Warsaw beat the DeKalb Barson 3-2 to win the Concord Regional championship for the third straight year.[[In-content Ad]]With the win, Warsaw improved to 12-5 on the season and advanced to Saturday's semistate at South Bend Clay High School.
At 10 a.m., the Tigers will square off with No. 18 Munster (19-3), which advanced by beating Crown Point 5-0.
LaPorte (19-3) advanced by beating Merrillville 4-1 and will square off in Saturday morning's other semifinal match with No. 9 Culver Military Academy (18-1), which beat Plymouth 5-0 in the regional championship.
The winners of Saturday's semifinals will square off at 2 p.m. for a berth in the state finals, which will be held Oct. 13 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.
"The team has been focused on this (winning the regional) for a long time," said Orban. "This team has made a lot of improvements. The first half of the season, we were a little flat. Part of that was my fault, I couldn't find the right lineup. Since we made some changes, we've been on a roll and the guys have done their part and worked extremely hard. They're confident in themselves and the team. And when they're confident, they're a tough team to beat."
While Wednesday's final team score indicates a tough match, in all reality, the Tigers left little doubt as to which team was going to advance to the semistate.
The Tigers dominated their opponents at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, as well as No. 1 doubles, and the first three matches to conclude were Warsaw victories, giving the program its seventh regional title.
"I feel we've stepped up our level of intensity," said Orban. "Saturday, we'll have to step up a couple more notches. I believe this team can win Saturday, and this team believes it can win Saturday."
In the first match to finish, Warsaw senior Zach Tucker beat DeKalb sophomore Austin Stokes 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
"(Zach) Tucker has found his niche," said Orban. "He's comfortable playing No. 3 singles and he's doing very well. He's played doubles, he's played No. 2 singles. He has a lot of confidence and he's playing very well right now."
At No. 1 singles, Tiger junior Deon Shafer continued his strong play and defeated junior Landon Grogg 6-0, 6-0.
"Deon is one of the best players in the state," said Orban. "Sometimes I think we take him for granted. He goes out and plays his heart out. He's the leader of this team."
Warsaw's No. 2 doubles team of junior Chase Byerly and senior Jake Wallen scored the third and determining team point by beating seniors Jake Cyran and Nik Heimach 6-1, 6-1
"The No. 2 doubles team came out to play," said Orban. "They had a rough match (Tuesday) night against Northridge, and Jake and Chase came to play tonight. They beat a very good No. 2 doubles team."
At No. 2 singles, Warsaw senior Chris Finke, a foreign exchange student, fell 6-3, 6-1 to DeKalb sopomore Nick Martin.
"At No. 2 singles, Chris, I think he's nervous," said Orban. "He's not hitting the way he should. We'll work on that."
The final match of the evening to conclude was the only match that went three sets.
It was also the only match of the regional championship that was nip-and-tuck.
At No. 1 doubles, DeKalb juniors Nick Kelley and Jonathan Haggarty beat the Warsaw duo of senior Mark Krizmanich and sophomore Will Coen 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.
The match finished well after the team championship had already been decided. And if Warsaw's fans didn't know about Krizmanich's heart and determination, they got a lesson Wednesday.
Playing with a brace on his left knee, diplaying a noticeable limp and wincing in more and more pain with each return, Krizmanich refused to give in, and he and Coen fought back time and time again before DeKalb scored the narrow victory.
While Krizmanich and Coen lost, in the grand scheme of things they're still winners as they'll play in the semistate Saturday with the rest of their teammates.
"His knee has been hurting all year," Orban said of Krizmanich. "He's played through pain all year. It's tough on him playing back-to-back nights. If there's a day in between, he's OK. I thought about stopping the match, but it's No. 1 doubles, it's his senior year, it's the regional championship. I know he wouldn't want me to do that."
When all five matches are complete, Warsaw gathers in a huddle as a team and Orban asks "who are we?" The team responds by yelling "Warsaw." And the chants get louder and louder each time the coach asks.
After the Tigers received their regional championship trophy and all the team pictures were taken Wednesday, Orban talked about his players wanting to represent their school. He said his players don't want to let their school down.
No worries, Warsaw Community High School has reason to be proud.
WARSAW 3, DEKALB 2
Singles
No. 1 - Deon Shafer (W) def. Landon Grogg 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 - Nick Martin (D) def. Chris Finke 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 - Zach Tucker (W) def. Austin Stokes 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Nick Kelly/Jonathan Haggarty (D) def. Mark Krizmanich/Will Coen 7-6, 3-6, 7-6
No. 2 - Chase Byerly/Jake Wallen (W) def. Jake Cyran/Nik Heimach 6-1, 6-1
That was the case Wednesday, as Warsaw beat the DeKalb Barson 3-2 to win the Concord Regional championship for the third straight year.[[In-content Ad]]With the win, Warsaw improved to 12-5 on the season and advanced to Saturday's semistate at South Bend Clay High School.
At 10 a.m., the Tigers will square off with No. 18 Munster (19-3), which advanced by beating Crown Point 5-0.
LaPorte (19-3) advanced by beating Merrillville 4-1 and will square off in Saturday morning's other semifinal match with No. 9 Culver Military Academy (18-1), which beat Plymouth 5-0 in the regional championship.
The winners of Saturday's semifinals will square off at 2 p.m. for a berth in the state finals, which will be held Oct. 13 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.
"The team has been focused on this (winning the regional) for a long time," said Orban. "This team has made a lot of improvements. The first half of the season, we were a little flat. Part of that was my fault, I couldn't find the right lineup. Since we made some changes, we've been on a roll and the guys have done their part and worked extremely hard. They're confident in themselves and the team. And when they're confident, they're a tough team to beat."
While Wednesday's final team score indicates a tough match, in all reality, the Tigers left little doubt as to which team was going to advance to the semistate.
The Tigers dominated their opponents at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, as well as No. 1 doubles, and the first three matches to conclude were Warsaw victories, giving the program its seventh regional title.
"I feel we've stepped up our level of intensity," said Orban. "Saturday, we'll have to step up a couple more notches. I believe this team can win Saturday, and this team believes it can win Saturday."
In the first match to finish, Warsaw senior Zach Tucker beat DeKalb sophomore Austin Stokes 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
"(Zach) Tucker has found his niche," said Orban. "He's comfortable playing No. 3 singles and he's doing very well. He's played doubles, he's played No. 2 singles. He has a lot of confidence and he's playing very well right now."
At No. 1 singles, Tiger junior Deon Shafer continued his strong play and defeated junior Landon Grogg 6-0, 6-0.
"Deon is one of the best players in the state," said Orban. "Sometimes I think we take him for granted. He goes out and plays his heart out. He's the leader of this team."
Warsaw's No. 2 doubles team of junior Chase Byerly and senior Jake Wallen scored the third and determining team point by beating seniors Jake Cyran and Nik Heimach 6-1, 6-1
"The No. 2 doubles team came out to play," said Orban. "They had a rough match (Tuesday) night against Northridge, and Jake and Chase came to play tonight. They beat a very good No. 2 doubles team."
At No. 2 singles, Warsaw senior Chris Finke, a foreign exchange student, fell 6-3, 6-1 to DeKalb sopomore Nick Martin.
"At No. 2 singles, Chris, I think he's nervous," said Orban. "He's not hitting the way he should. We'll work on that."
The final match of the evening to conclude was the only match that went three sets.
It was also the only match of the regional championship that was nip-and-tuck.
At No. 1 doubles, DeKalb juniors Nick Kelley and Jonathan Haggarty beat the Warsaw duo of senior Mark Krizmanich and sophomore Will Coen 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.
The match finished well after the team championship had already been decided. And if Warsaw's fans didn't know about Krizmanich's heart and determination, they got a lesson Wednesday.
Playing with a brace on his left knee, diplaying a noticeable limp and wincing in more and more pain with each return, Krizmanich refused to give in, and he and Coen fought back time and time again before DeKalb scored the narrow victory.
While Krizmanich and Coen lost, in the grand scheme of things they're still winners as they'll play in the semistate Saturday with the rest of their teammates.
"His knee has been hurting all year," Orban said of Krizmanich. "He's played through pain all year. It's tough on him playing back-to-back nights. If there's a day in between, he's OK. I thought about stopping the match, but it's No. 1 doubles, it's his senior year, it's the regional championship. I know he wouldn't want me to do that."
When all five matches are complete, Warsaw gathers in a huddle as a team and Orban asks "who are we?" The team responds by yelling "Warsaw." And the chants get louder and louder each time the coach asks.
After the Tigers received their regional championship trophy and all the team pictures were taken Wednesday, Orban talked about his players wanting to represent their school. He said his players don't want to let their school down.
No worries, Warsaw Community High School has reason to be proud.
WARSAW 3, DEKALB 2
Singles
No. 1 - Deon Shafer (W) def. Landon Grogg 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 - Nick Martin (D) def. Chris Finke 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 - Zach Tucker (W) def. Austin Stokes 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Nick Kelly/Jonathan Haggarty (D) def. Mark Krizmanich/Will Coen 7-6, 3-6, 7-6
No. 2 - Chase Byerly/Jake Wallen (W) def. Jake Cyran/Nik Heimach 6-1, 6-1
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