Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Tippecanoe Valley boys tennis coach Rod Hamman said Thursday if his team was focused he expected to make a day of the Warsaw Sectional and give the host team troubles in vying for its sixth consecutive sectional title.
In talking with Warsaw coach Andy Lewis, he said it was these comments in the newspaper that got his team ready to play Saturday.
"Our team going in was playing pretty well," said Hamman. "The quotes in Friday's paper really got the guys going. I was very pleased with how the guys played."
In the end it was the Tigers who had the upper hand as they defeated the Vikings 5-0 in the championship round, the exact score of last year's sectional championship.
The win pushes Warsaw's overall season record to 11-3. The Vikings finish the season 12-4.
In two of the championship matches the Tigers routed Valley on the scoresheet, allowing them to score just one point. At No. 1 singles, senior Dan Benyousky blanked junior Drew Shafer 6-0, 6-0. At No. 3 singles, Steve Slaughter topped Luke Shambaugh 6-0, 6-1.
To advance to the championship round, the Tigers upended county rival Wawasee 4-1. The Warriors finish the season with a 4-13 record. Wawasee's lone win came at the No. 2 doubles position where Carter Ploszek and Kyle Farrell defeated David Honneffer and Ryan Dill 6-3, 6-1.
"I was real suprised with how Wawasee came out to play," said Lewis. "They have two freshmen at No. 2 and 3 singles. They're gonna have a good team. Wawasee always seems ready to play. With us having been there (in championship) it helped. That's six straight sectional championships under me. Wawasee was ready to play but our guys were focused."
At No. 2 singles, Eric Keller topped freshman Evan Gerard 6-1, 6-4. At No. 3 singles, Slaughter, a senior, edged Warrior freshman Josh Abrams 6-2, 6-1.
In the Vikings' semifinal round they defeated fellow Three Rivers Conference member Whitko 5-0. Whitko finishes the season with an 0-15 record.
The semifinal rounds of the sectional were played at Warsaw Community High School but due to rain the championship match was moved to the Warsaw Raquet Club. Lewis said he didn't mind the move.
"We had practiced there a couple times this week due to the weather," said Lewis. "Took a littler longer because we only had three courts but we were able to watch and coach."
Warsaw plays the winner of the Elkhart Central Sectional tomorrow at Concord High School.
Championship Round Results
WARSAW 5, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0
Singles
No. 1 - Dan Benyousky (W) def. Drew Shafer 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 - Eric Keller (W) def. Jeremy Shambaugh 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 - Steve Slaughter (W) def. Luke Shambaugh 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Eric Grossnickle/Matt Krizmanich (W) def. Brian Love/Andy Martin 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 - Travis Yoder/Ryan Dill (W) def. Kyle Robinson/Phil Jackson 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
Semifinal Round Results
WARSAW 4, WAWASEE 1
Singles
No. 1 - Dan Benyousky (War) def. Scott Beasley 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 - Eric Keller (War) def. Evan Gerard 6-1, 6-4
No. 3 - Steve Slaughter (War) def. Josh Abrams 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Eric Grossnickle/Matt Krizmanich (War) def. Mickey Ashpole/Logan Pilcher 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 - Carter Ploszek/Kyle Farrell (Wawa) def. David Honneffer/Ryan Dill 6-3, 6-1
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 5, WHITKO 0
Singles
No. 1 - Drew Shafer (TV) def. Nathan Haywood 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 - Jeremy Shambaugh (TV) def. Jarred Jagger 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
No. 3 - Luke Shambaugh (TV) def. Phil Reed 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Brian Love/Andy Martin (TV) def. Shawn Dorgan/Greg Neher 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 - Kyle Robinson/Phil Jackson (TV) def. Blake Hike/Cameron Brown 6-0, 6-0
