BOURBON — The Knox and Triton boys tennis teams have gotten used to playing tight matches, and Wednesday night’s was no different. Competing in Bourbon, the two Northern State Conference teams played to a 2-2 tie, leaving the third set at the No. 3 singles court as the deciding point. Triton sophomore Jared Fisher dropped the opening set of the deciding match 6-4 to Knox sophomore Hunter Gilbert, before rebounding to sweep the second 6-0. With all the attention turned toward his match, Fisher found himself down 4-3, but went on to win the next three points for the 6-4 victory. His win gave the Triton Trojans their first victory of the year, evening their record at 1-1 following Tuesday’s 3-2 road loss at Mishawaka Marian. “It’s a great win,” Triton coach Allen Peckham said. “Last year, we won conference and you can’t win it again without the wins. I knew this would be a tough match. They always come in with a tough team. They were just scary. When I saw the lineup, I said, ‘Gee, I don’t know how we’re going to get our three points tonight.’ It was a good job by everyone.” However, Fisher wasn’t one of the wins Peckham was banking on. “I was looking at my (No.) 2 doubles as one of my points tonight, but they just didn’t pull through,” he said about Darren Harrell and Jake Oldham’s 6-4, 6-3 loss. “They played a really good match (Tuesday) night, against a very decent Marian team. I thought they were going to come out a little stronger. But Jared didn’t come out strong (Tuesday), but did today. That’s tennis. One night they’re on, one night they’re not.” After losing his first set, Fisher did end up finishing strong thanks to some advice from Peckham. “Jared really hung in there,” Peckham said. “I just told him to keep rallying, keep rallying. I could tell the other guy was starting to tire down. So, I just told him to keep plugging away.” Triton also got a win from Pete Kauffman and Lucas Shafer at No. 1 doubles, as they defeated Knox’s Joe Clabough and Cody Fletcher 6-2, 7-6 (8-6). Kauffman and Shafer each played singles last season, but have joined forces this season, allowing Dean Howdeshell to move up from the junior varsity to No. 2 singles. The move seems to be working as the doubles team is now 2-0, as is Howdeshell, who defeated Knox’s Jordan Anderson 6-4, 7-6 (7-2). “The key to our team has been Dean,” Peckham said. “The way he’s been playing and how improved he is. He did a lot of it on his own in the offseason, going to Warsaw. He played with some Warsaw guys at the racquet club, so he really improved his game.” Triton is right back on the courts tonight, traveling to Rochester, then going to Saturday’s Mishawaka Marian Invitational. The four matches in five nights could be a bit much for the Trojans, and Peckham is well aware of that. “I’m taking a few extra guys to Mishawaka, so maybe I can sub in some guys to get them some playing time,” Peckham said.
TRITON 3, KNOX 2 SINGLES: No. 1 — Davey Johnston (K) def. Jeff Ross 6-2, 6-2; No. 2 — Dean Howdeshell (T) def. Jordan Anderson 6-4, 7-6 (7-2); No. 3 — Jared Fisher (T) def. Hunter Gilbert 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 DOUBLES: No. 1 — Pete Kauffman/Lucas Shafer (T) def. Joe Clabough/Cody Fletcher 6-2, 7-6 (8-6); No. 2 — Curtis Scherer/Damon Ritchie (K) def. Darren Harrell/Jake Oldham 6-4, 6-3 Records: Triton 1-1 (1-0 NSC), Knox 3-1 (1-1 NSC)
