Rocks win first-ever title, Tigers & Hounds continue winning streak
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Westfield girls tennis team’s season of firsts continued Wednesday with the Shamrocks’ first ever regional championship.
No. 16-ranked Westfield beat a tough No. 20 Delta team 4-1 to claim the school’s first tennis regional. All five of the matches were finished in straight sets, although the Eagles did give the Shamrocks a battle and Westfield coach Trudy Coler said her team “had to work really hard for it.”
“Delta’s a great team,” said Coler. “We played them earlier in the season, but that was the first match of the season. We know how tough a team they are, so we knew we had to come out and play well across the board at every position.”
No. 1 singles Isabella Norris was off the court quickly, winning her match 6-0, 6-0. Westfield’s other two singles players, No. 2 Juliette Grilliot and No. 3 Addi Kooi, picked up 6-2, 6-2 victories. In doubles, the Rocks’ No. 2 team of Brianna Saylor and Carlie Lukowiak won its match 6-4, 6-1.
“I was really pumped up,” said Grilliot. “I just kept my feet moving. I was just staying focused.”
Fired up, yet relaxed
Coler said her team was “very fired up today,” and at the same time, the Shamrocks were relaxed.
“I was really happy with their preparation of getting out there and not getting tight,” said Coler. “They tried to stay really loose and they tried to stay focused on what they needed to do.”
“Noblesville, Delta, they have great fans. It’s a really energetic atmosphere,” said Norris. “So, I think just staying controlled and one point at a time, and then pump yourself up and block out the rest of the noise.”
Westfield will travel to Homestead on Saturday to play in its first-ever semi-state. The Shamrocks will take on the host and No. 26-ranked Spartans at 11 a.m., with the winner going to the state finals.
Fishers claimed its fourth consecutive title by beating regional host Mount Vernon 4-1. (Photo provided)
Fishers, Carmel win again
No. 2-ranked Fishers won a regional title for the fourth consecutive year on Wednesday. The Tigers beat No. 18 and regional host Mount Vernon 4-1.
Fishers got all four of its wins in straight sets. In singles, No. 1 Mischa Briggs was a 6-1, 6-2 winner, and No. 3 Izzy Ireland was victorious 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, Caroline Ober and Cassie Maurer were 6-2, 6-1 winners and Meredith Ober and Emma Beehler won the No. 2 doubles match 6-3, 6-1. The Tigers play No. 13 Cathedral in the Center Grove semi-state Saturday.
Over at Lebanon, No. 7 Carmel swept Fountain Central 5-0 to win its 18th consecutive regional championship and 24th overall.
The Greyhounds play No. 1 South Bend St. Joseph Saturday at the Culver Academies semi-state.
Carmel swept Fountain Central 5-0 to win its 18th consecutive regional title. (Photo courtesy Carmel Athletics)
Individual results
Noblesville’s No. 1 doubles team of Lina Hamashuk and Cami Crist will play for the individual sectional title today at the Millers’ tennis complex.
Hamashuk and Crist beat Winchester’s Brooklyn Friend and Mackenzie Meadows 6-0, 6-0 on Tuesday, then defeated Randolph Southern’s Sophi Chenoweth and Brianna Smith 6-0, 6-0 on Wednesday. The Noblesville team will play Delta’s Kate Manor and Kelsey Vest this afternoon.
University’s Laurel Buttrick lost to Zionsville’s Lucy King 6-3, 6-3 in the sectional at Lebanon. Buttrick finished the season with a 15-6 record.