Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BOURBON - Triton coach Hugh Rettinger was walking toward the court where his singles players were dismantling North Judson when he spotted Derek Workman walking toward him.
"Workman's done already?" Rettinger asked. "I was just coming up there to watch you."
Such is the pleasant season of the Triton tennis team.
Workman, Triton's No. 1 singles player, made such quick work of North Judson's Jon Arndt Tuesday that his coach never got a chance to watch. While Rettinger was watching his doubles teams, Workman won 6-1, 6-0 in less than 30 minutes.
He actually had the toughest time of any Triton singles player.
Teammate Cory Monesmith won the No. 2 singles match 6-0, 6-0 over Rob Pritz, and Jeff Rupe won the No. 3 singles match over Josh Ness 6-0, 6-0.
At times, the overmatched North Judson players found it a chore to hit the ball on their own court. More than once a ball leaving a North Judson racket was hit to the neighboring court.
In the other matches, Triton's No. 1 doubles team of Josh Heck and Philip Reed beat Evan Altman and Nathan Hierlmeir 6-2, 6-3. Triton's No. 2 doubles team of Jason Heckaman and Adam Heckaman beat Grant Hierlmeir and Jason Hittle 7-5, 6-4.
Triton won 5-0, a score the Trojans have won by many times this season. And it was something they expected to do against North Judson, who fell to 0-11 after the match. Triton is 10-2 overall, 4-2 in the Northern State Conference. The two losses were to Bremen and New Prairie, who finished first and second in the NSC, a competitive conference when it comes to tennis.
The 10 wins are believed to be the most in school history.
"This is definitely the best season we've had," Rettinger said. "The unfortunate part was our two losses were conference losses. One of them we should have had, but Bremen beat us pretty soundly in the other one. They were on; we were off.
"Ten and two is our best record in at least the last five years. Previous to that, we don't seem to have any records, at least we haven't been able to find any."
Rettinger attributes much of Triton's success to the experience on his team. Out of the seven players on his varsity team, five are seniors - Workman, Monesmith, Rupe, Reed, and Jason Heckaman - and all but one of these has played four years.
"The five seniors are good, sound tennis players," Rettinger said. "I think we're as deep in our singles players as we possibly ever have been. On any given night, one of them could beat the other.
"Four of the five have played four years. They've been in the program, and they are solid, skilled players. The good news is we've had one of our best junior varsity seasons we've ever had. We won't have a lot of experience at the varsity positions next year, but we will have a nucleus of kids who know how to play tennis."
Triton has a 4:30 match at Mishawaka Marian this afternoon.
TRITON 5, NORTH JUDSON 0
No. 1 singles - Derek Workman (T) def. Jon Arndt 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 singles - Cory Monesmith (T) def. Rob Pritz 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 singles - Jeff Rupe (T) def. Josh Ness 6-0, 6-0
No. 1 doubles - Josh Heck/Philip Reed (T) def. Evan Altman/Nathan Hierlmeir 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 doubles - Jason Heckaman/Adam Heckaman (T) def. Jason Hittle/Grant Hierlmeir 7-5, 6-4
JUNIOR VARSITY
No. 1 doubles - Nick Heckaman/Schuyler Stutzman (T) def. Chris Swift/Wes Biddle 8-4
No. 2 doubles - Art Blackmer/Branden Clauss (T) def. Swift/Biddle 8-2
