Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - While fans huddled together and used blankets to keep warm, a hot Manchester boys tennis team was put on ice Tuesday.
Just as the fans were no match for the weather, a 5-0 score indicated the Squires, winners in five of their last six matches coming in, were no match for Wawasee. The Warrior junior varsity team also picked up a 5-0 win and is now 10-1 on the season.
The varsity Warriors improve to 9-5 on the season, while Manchester falls to 6-7.
"I knew it would be tough coming in," Manchester coach Eric Christiansen said. "I thought our best chances would be at doubles and at No. 3 singles. I knew they would be tough."
At No. 1 doubles, Squire senior Nathan Bucher started the first set with a couple quick serving aces, but as the cold continued to take its toll, so did the Warriors.
Wawasee's tandem of seniors Mickey Ashpole and Logan Pilcher topped Bucher and Tyler Kelsey 6-2, 6-4.
"Mickey and Logan played well," first-year Warrior coach Roger Brady said. "They played like they're capable of. This was the first cold day of the season, I wasn't sure how they would do but they did pretty good."
Wawasee picked up a win at No. 2 doubles where juniors Rosten Trobaugh and Ben Knisely defeated juniors Zach Keim and Jon Cable 6-3, 6-1.
Playing in the No. 2 doubles position, Warrior senior Scott Beasley picked up an impressive 6-0, 6-1 win over Squire sophomore Brad Simcoe.
"Scott didn't seem to have any problems tonight," Brady said. "Scott's only lost three matches all year, and one of those was in an invitational."
At the No. 3 singles position, Warrior freshman Chris Trobaugh beat Manchester freshman Dustin Burgan 6-1, 6-3.
In the only match of the evening to go three sets, Warrior junior Evan Gerard, last year's No. 3 singles player, defeated senior Jeff Sincroft 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
"That first set was the best Jeff has played all year," Christiansen said. "Evan just figured him out. Jeff hits a flat ball, and Evan figured him out the second and third sets. I was still happy with the way we played."
Manchester will play county rival Wabash in the Peru Setional Thursday. The Squires recently beat Wabash 5-0. Peru and Maconaquah square off in the other match. In Saturday's Warsaw Sectional, Wawasee plays Valley, which boasts a 10-4 record. Warsaw and Whitko face off in the other match.
