Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
DUNLAP - Its coach currently training for the Air Force, Wawasee's varsity boys tennis team also knows how to aim high.
After upsetting rival Warsaw in the sectional championship Saturday, avenging a 5-0 loss in the regular season, the Warriors continued its path through the state tournament with a 3-2 win over DeKalb in Tuesday's semifinal round of the Concord Regional.
With Tuesday's win over the Barons, a victory first-year Warrior coach Mandy Perzanowski missed as she was away getting a military physical, Wawasee advanced to tonight's championship round of the regional for just the second time in school history.
Wawasee, which was last in the regional championship in 1991, battles fellow Northern Lakes Conference school Northridge today at 5 p.m. The Raiders, winning all three singles matches, defeated Wawasee 3-2 Sept. 10 in Syracuse.
"We had a good practice yesterday (Monday)," said Roger Brady, former Wawasee coach who served as acting coach Tuesday evening. "We focused on hitting the easy shots. I told the kids the hard shots would take care of themselves. The kids are on a roll right now."
The win improved the Warriors to 10-7 on the season. Northridge improved to 14-2 on the season with its 3-2 win over Fairfield (18-2) in Tuesday's other semifinal match.
Wawasee earned its win over DeKalb by winning all three singles matches.
At No. 1 doubles, the first match of the evening to conclude, the Barons' Tim Wallace and Adam Reger dispatched the Warrior duo of Andrew Custer and Kris Hively 6-4, 6-0.
In the No. 2 doubles battle, DeKalb's Niles Voelkel and Will Reynolds handed Ryan Harkleroad and Justin McDowell a 6-3, 6-3 loss.
"DeKalb has really good doubles teams," said Brady. "Northridge has really strong singles players."
In Tuesday's No. 1 singles match, Wawasee's Kyle Jackson defeated Adam Lorey 6-2, 6-3.
At No. 2 singles, Warrior senior Ethan Drent dispatched Baron senior Kyle Opper 6-3, 6-2.
With the team score knotted at two match wins each, Wawasee's hopes of advancing rode on the shoulders of senior Chris Cavell.
Cavell beat DeKalb junior Chris Perry 7-5 in a tight first set, and then took control early in the second set for a 6-1 win that earned Wawasee a rematch with Northridge.
"When I quit coaching, Chris was a sophomore," said Brady. "Even when he was young he could do some things that were uncanny for a kid. He's smart enough to know what to do and when to change things up. He showed senior leadership and poise."
The winner of today's Wawasee-Northridge matchup advances to Saturday's South Bend Clay Semistate. The Concord Regional champion will battle the winner of the South Bend Regional at 10 a.m. The winner of the Munster Regional and the winner of the Portage Regional will square off in Saturday's other 10 a.m. semifinal. The semistate championship will be played at 2 p.m.
WAWASEE 3, DEKALB 2
Singles
No. 1 - Kyle Jackson (W) def. Adam Lorey 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 - Ethan Drent (W) def. Kyle Opper 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 - Chris Cavell (W) def. Chris Perry 7-5 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Tim Wallace/Adam Reger (D) def. Andrew Custer/Kris Hively 6-4, 6-0
No. 2 - Nile Voelkel/Will Reynolds (D) def. Ryan Harkleroad/Justin McDowell 6-3, 6-3
