Triton Drops Tennis Opener
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
BOURBON - During a break in the third set of the last match of the day, first-year Triton tennis coach Janet Beam talked with singles player Kevin Escapule.
She took his racket and demonstrated a swing, pointing at her right shoulder.
Then she strode back to the sidelines to watch as Escapule resumed his match.
Escapule ended up losing his match, and Triton ended up losing the Tuesday match to Mishawaka, 3-2.
But there's a couple of things you should know about Escapule. This is his first year on Triton's tennis team. As a senior. At the varsity level. In the No. 3 singles slot.
None of this mattered, as he hounded Mishawaka's Matt Grecco in a match that lasted more than two hours. Grecco won, but it took a 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 effort.
Even Grecco's attempt to gain a psychological edge on Escapule failed. At one point in the last set, Grecco hit a shot down the right sideline. Escapule, running left to right, called the ball out. Grecco responded, "Oh, come on, that was in. You can't even see from that angle."
Then one of Grecco's teammates yukked it up. "He's scared, that's why he called it out."
After this exchange, all the first-year varsity player Escapule did was win the next five points.
It is because of this court presence, among other things, that Beam thinks Escapule will become a good player. Technique, like what she was talking to him about during the break, will come with time.
"He plays his heart out," she said. "He anticipates so well. All he needs is to play more tennis."
He already got in two hours' worth in Triton's 1998 opener. The other matches had long finished before the Escapule match.
Triton swept the doubles. Schuyler Stutzman and Kent Roberts beat Bob Shriner and Steve Freeman 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles match. Justin Staublin and Seth Bowers downed Justin Gautier and Matt Schnaible 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in the No. 2 doubles match.
Mishawaka swept the singles. Adam Weber beat Art Blackmer 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles match. Steve Bent defeated Adam Heckaman 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 2 singles match.
Triton hosts Knox at 4:30 this afternoon.
MISHAWAKA 3, TRITON 2
Singles
No. 1 - Adam Weber (M) def. Art Blackmer 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊSteve Bent (M) def. Adam Heckaman 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 -ÊMatt Grecco (M) def. Kevin Escapule 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 - Schuyler Stutzman/Kent Roberts (T) def. Bob Shriner/Steve Freeman 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊJustin Staublin/Seth Bowers (T) def. Justin Gautier/Matt Schnaible 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
JV: TRITON 4, MISHAWAKA 0
Singles
No. 1 - Bryan Wilcox def. Chad Love 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊCurt Mosier def. Chris Peli 6-0, 6-4
No. 3 -ÊMatt Craft def. Kaleb Wegner 8-1
No. 4 -ÊBryan Wilson def. Steve Miller 6-1 [[In-content Ad]]
BOURBON - During a break in the third set of the last match of the day, first-year Triton tennis coach Janet Beam talked with singles player Kevin Escapule.
She took his racket and demonstrated a swing, pointing at her right shoulder.
Then she strode back to the sidelines to watch as Escapule resumed his match.
Escapule ended up losing his match, and Triton ended up losing the Tuesday match to Mishawaka, 3-2.
But there's a couple of things you should know about Escapule. This is his first year on Triton's tennis team. As a senior. At the varsity level. In the No. 3 singles slot.
None of this mattered, as he hounded Mishawaka's Matt Grecco in a match that lasted more than two hours. Grecco won, but it took a 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 effort.
Even Grecco's attempt to gain a psychological edge on Escapule failed. At one point in the last set, Grecco hit a shot down the right sideline. Escapule, running left to right, called the ball out. Grecco responded, "Oh, come on, that was in. You can't even see from that angle."
Then one of Grecco's teammates yukked it up. "He's scared, that's why he called it out."
After this exchange, all the first-year varsity player Escapule did was win the next five points.
It is because of this court presence, among other things, that Beam thinks Escapule will become a good player. Technique, like what she was talking to him about during the break, will come with time.
"He plays his heart out," she said. "He anticipates so well. All he needs is to play more tennis."
He already got in two hours' worth in Triton's 1998 opener. The other matches had long finished before the Escapule match.
Triton swept the doubles. Schuyler Stutzman and Kent Roberts beat Bob Shriner and Steve Freeman 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles match. Justin Staublin and Seth Bowers downed Justin Gautier and Matt Schnaible 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in the No. 2 doubles match.
Mishawaka swept the singles. Adam Weber beat Art Blackmer 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles match. Steve Bent defeated Adam Heckaman 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 2 singles match.
Triton hosts Knox at 4:30 this afternoon.
MISHAWAKA 3, TRITON 2
Singles
No. 1 - Adam Weber (M) def. Art Blackmer 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊSteve Bent (M) def. Adam Heckaman 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 -ÊMatt Grecco (M) def. Kevin Escapule 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 - Schuyler Stutzman/Kent Roberts (T) def. Bob Shriner/Steve Freeman 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊJustin Staublin/Seth Bowers (T) def. Justin Gautier/Matt Schnaible 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
JV: TRITON 4, MISHAWAKA 0
Singles
No. 1 - Bryan Wilcox def. Chad Love 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊCurt Mosier def. Chris Peli 6-0, 6-4
No. 3 -ÊMatt Craft def. Kaleb Wegner 8-1
No. 4 -ÊBryan Wilson def. Steve Miller 6-1 [[In-content Ad]]