Carmel claims first state title since 2023
By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Of all the state championship wins the Carmel girls tennis team has accumulated over the years, this one might be the most satisfying.
The No. 3-ranked Greyhounds reclaimed the big trophy Saturday, June 6 at North Central’s Barbara Wynne Tennis Center with a 4-1 victory over No. 6 Evansville Memorial. Carmel won its record-extending 14th state championship and first since 2023.
The Greyhounds’ title was the first as a coach for Kiersten Carlson. The 2018 Carmel graduate was part of three state championship teams as a player (2015, 2017 and 2018).
“These girls have put in so much work,” said Carlson. “They’ve fully developed their games and who they are as people and I think that’s a huge thing that helped us come out on top.”
Carmel’s Annie Mann clinched the victory for the Hounds in the state championship and also came back in her match over Center Grove
on Friday, June 5 to clinch a quarterfinal win. (Julie Brown)
The Hounds won their first point at No. 2 doubles, where sophomore Shravya Pillutla and junior Brylie Price won 6-4, 6-0. No. 2 singles, senior Alexia Widjaja followed that with a 6-4, 6-4, victory. Minutes later, No. 3 singles, sophomore Annie Mann completed a 6-3, 6-4 win that clinched the title.
“I did feel very confident going into today, but I also know that you need to respect every opponent that you play, because anything can happen, especially in this tournament,” said Carlson.
Carmel’s No. 1 doubles team of seniors Gabby Hall and Madison Littell won a three-set match 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The Greyhounds duo is undefeated for the season and will move on to the individual tournament, which takes place this weekend.
Memorial’s win came at No. 1 singles, where Emma Dilger beat senior Olivia Widjaja 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in a hard-fought match.
In the semifinals, which took place Friday, June 5, Carmel defeated No. 15 Delta 4-1. The Eagles had upset No. 8 Munster in the Friday, June 5 quarterfinal round.
“Delta has a very, very respected coach and I know every year they have a very strong team, so we were definitely ready to battle out here against Delta,” said Carlson.
Olivia Widjaja won 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 at No. 1 singles, with Alexia Widjaja taking No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-4. Hall and Littell were 6-0, 6-3 winners at No. 1 doubles, while Pillutla and Price won a tough No. 2 doubles match 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
Quarterfinal comeback
The Greyhounds edged out No. 5 Center Grove 3-2 in their quarterfinal match. Mann was once again the clincher, coming back for 5-3 down in the third set to win. The full score was 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.
“I really knew I needed to win this for my team,” said Mann. “I knew I can’t rely on anyone else, I have to rely on myself. It’s singles, I’m going to have to rely on myself. I knew I had to keep going and I figured out what to do.”
“I think all season long we’ve put a huge emphasis on just staying even the whole match and not losing it in her head,” said Carlson. “And she stayed up the whole match with her head and she never lost it, and I think that’s a huge reason why she was able to pull through, is because she never stopped battling out there.”
Carmel swept the doubles against Center Grove. Hall and Littell won at No. 1 doubles 6-1, 6-3 and Pillutla and Price won the No. 2 match, also by a 6-1, 6-3 score.
The Greyhounds finished their season with an 18-2 record.
Westfield’s Harvey plays in regional
Westfield junior Isla Harvey played in the North 2 individual regional Saturday, June 6 at North Central.
Harvey beat Bremen senior Emma Lawmaster 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals, then fell to Brebeuf Jesuit junior Chloe Wendowski 6-2, 6-1 in the championship match.
Harvey finished her season with a 24-2 record.
Carmel’s Shravya Pillutla (above) and Brylie Price (below) played No. 2 doubles for the Greyhounds. (Julie Brown)
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