Warsaw Netters Win Sectional Opener
September 28, 2017 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw Netters Win Sectional Opener
By Mark [email protected]
Orban left the match with NorthWood on Sept. 14 and was hospitalized that night with pneumonia. He spent eight days in intensive care and was released Saturday with an oxygen tank in tow.
“It’s good to be back,” said Orban. “I just love postseason. I’ve loved it for 32 seasons between the girls and boys so I was really relieved to get out here and get back with the kids.”
The first two matches to be completed were in doubles play, where Wawasee’s No. 1 team had to make a change in the lineup. Brady Robinson left the team, according to Warrior coach Vince Rhodes, forcing Jake Cowan to move up from No. 2 doubles to play with Jacob Krugman, and Colin Rhoades to play along side Evan Richey.
Warsaw’s Bailey Buhrt and Spencer Britton won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles, and Nolan Knight and Reuben Williams won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.
“We talked about doing some things at doubles, which I was extremely pleased that they actually did it,” said Orban. “They were willing to try a couple of different things.”
Shortly thereafter, Colton Lind clinched the match for the Tigers with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Dylan Staley at No. 1 singles.
Lind may have enjoyed a bit of a home-court advantage, or at least a positive vibe; four times he hit the tape on the net and the ball rolled over for the point. It happened twice on one point in the second game of the second set.
At No. 2 singles, Kyler Bartol won 6-2, 6-0 over Zach Leedy.
In the No. 3 singles match, Wawasee’s Graham Perek got off to a 3-0 lead before Warsaw’s Caleb Williams came back for a 7-5, 6-3 win.
Orban said he talked about leaving the regular season behind and concentrating on the task at hand.
“We talked before the match about everything they’ve done from the very first day of practice led up to 4:30 today,” Orban said. “Their season started over, and it’s one (loss) and done, and we needed to stay focused.
“We’d beaten Wawasee earlier in the year, but all I wanted the kids to do was stay focused and play their best tennis, not having any mental letdown.
“I was extremely pleased with what I saw tonight.”
Rhodes said while the result was less than desireable for his Warrior squad, he was happy with the effort of his team in its season finale.
“It didn’t turn out the way we’d liked it to, but I thought it was one of the better matches we’ve played all around. We scored some games where we’re normally getting bagels. I thought they stepped it up from the beginning of the season until now,” Rhodes said.
“I think we could have pulled off a couple of wins here, but I think our kids have the mentality of ‘it’s Warsaw.’ Whether they play a little bit scared instead of playing a little more aggressive, we have to get over that hump.
“We’re slowly getting there, but it’s going to take a couple more years and getting more kids out to play.“
Wawasee finished its season with a 4-11 record.
Warsaw (7-6) will take on Tippecanoe Valley in a semifinal today, with Whitko and Columbia City playing in the other semi. Both matches begin at 4:30 p.m., with the winners advancing to the title match at 9 a.m. Saturday.
WARSAW 5, WAWASEE 0
Singles: No. 1 – Colton Lind (W) def. Dylan Staley 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 – Kyler Bartol (W) def. Zach Leedy 6-2, 6-0; No. 3 – Caleb Williams (W) def. Graham Perek 7-5, 6-3.
Doubles: No. 2 – Bailey Buhrt & Spencer Britton (W) def. Jake Cowan & Jacob Krugman 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 – Nolan Knight & Reuben Williams (W) def. Evan Richey & Colin Rhoades (Waw) 6-1, 6-0
Records: Wawasee 4-11, Wawasee 7-6
Orban left the match with NorthWood on Sept. 14 and was hospitalized that night with pneumonia. He spent eight days in intensive care and was released Saturday with an oxygen tank in tow.
“It’s good to be back,” said Orban. “I just love postseason. I’ve loved it for 32 seasons between the girls and boys so I was really relieved to get out here and get back with the kids.”
The first two matches to be completed were in doubles play, where Wawasee’s No. 1 team had to make a change in the lineup. Brady Robinson left the team, according to Warrior coach Vince Rhodes, forcing Jake Cowan to move up from No. 2 doubles to play with Jacob Krugman, and Colin Rhoades to play along side Evan Richey.
Warsaw’s Bailey Buhrt and Spencer Britton won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles, and Nolan Knight and Reuben Williams won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.
“We talked about doing some things at doubles, which I was extremely pleased that they actually did it,” said Orban. “They were willing to try a couple of different things.”
Shortly thereafter, Colton Lind clinched the match for the Tigers with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Dylan Staley at No. 1 singles.
Lind may have enjoyed a bit of a home-court advantage, or at least a positive vibe; four times he hit the tape on the net and the ball rolled over for the point. It happened twice on one point in the second game of the second set.
At No. 2 singles, Kyler Bartol won 6-2, 6-0 over Zach Leedy.
In the No. 3 singles match, Wawasee’s Graham Perek got off to a 3-0 lead before Warsaw’s Caleb Williams came back for a 7-5, 6-3 win.
Orban said he talked about leaving the regular season behind and concentrating on the task at hand.
“We talked before the match about everything they’ve done from the very first day of practice led up to 4:30 today,” Orban said. “Their season started over, and it’s one (loss) and done, and we needed to stay focused.
“We’d beaten Wawasee earlier in the year, but all I wanted the kids to do was stay focused and play their best tennis, not having any mental letdown.
“I was extremely pleased with what I saw tonight.”
Rhodes said while the result was less than desireable for his Warrior squad, he was happy with the effort of his team in its season finale.
“It didn’t turn out the way we’d liked it to, but I thought it was one of the better matches we’ve played all around. We scored some games where we’re normally getting bagels. I thought they stepped it up from the beginning of the season until now,” Rhodes said.
“I think we could have pulled off a couple of wins here, but I think our kids have the mentality of ‘it’s Warsaw.’ Whether they play a little bit scared instead of playing a little more aggressive, we have to get over that hump.
“We’re slowly getting there, but it’s going to take a couple more years and getting more kids out to play.“
Wawasee finished its season with a 4-11 record.
Warsaw (7-6) will take on Tippecanoe Valley in a semifinal today, with Whitko and Columbia City playing in the other semi. Both matches begin at 4:30 p.m., with the winners advancing to the title match at 9 a.m. Saturday.
WARSAW 5, WAWASEE 0
Singles: No. 1 – Colton Lind (W) def. Dylan Staley 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 – Kyler Bartol (W) def. Zach Leedy 6-2, 6-0; No. 3 – Caleb Williams (W) def. Graham Perek 7-5, 6-3.
Doubles: No. 2 – Bailey Buhrt & Spencer Britton (W) def. Jake Cowan & Jacob Krugman 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 – Nolan Knight & Reuben Williams (W) def. Evan Richey & Colin Rhoades (Waw) 6-1, 6-0
Records: Wawasee 4-11, Wawasee 7-6
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