By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
To say it’s been a busy week for both the Carmel and Noblesville boys tennis teams would be an understatement.
Both teams played five dual meets over the past six days, doing so against tough competition. The Greyhounds and the Millers could include each other in their respective lists, as the two teams met at Carmel’s Todd Witsken Tennis Center Saturday morning for a meet that was part of the Greyhounds’ Round Robin tournament.
In addition to the busy schedules, both Carmel and Noblesville have new coaches this season. Dan Brunette, the veteran coach who spent over a decade at North Central, is now supervising the Greyhounds, going from one powerhouse program to another. The Millers’ new coach is Chris Pyle, who previously mentored the Speedway program before coming to Noblesville.
Carmel won the Saturday dual between the two teams 5-0. The Greyhounds were led by senior Jack Jentz, one of the 2021 state doubles champions along with now-graduated Srisanth Malpeddi. Jentz played No. 1 singles on Saturday and got a victory there.
“He’s willing to really do what he needs to do for the team,” said Brunette. “Great team player.”
Rocky Li picked a win at No. 2 singles, while freshman Aarit Musliannagari was victorious at No. 3 singles. In doubles, Carmel’s winners were the No. 1 team of Braedon McIntyre and Michael Bao, and the No. 2 team of Hayden Kress and Krishay Arora.
The ‘Hounds are six-time defending state champions and expected to be the No. 1-ranked team in the state when the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association releases its first rankings on Monday.
Pyle was pleased with his team’s effort in taking on the Greyhounds. He said No. 3 singles Jack Gigante “played a tough match,” and that No. 1 singles Ethan Feliciano “played really well against Jack Jentz.” Noblesville’s No. 1 doubles team of Rory Bushong and Liam Shepard stretched McIntyre and Bao to 6-4 in the first set before the Greyhound team won the second set 6-0.
The Millers were about to take on Bloomington South for their second match when a thunderstorm forced the Round Robin to move to Indianapolis Racquet Club. Noblesville gave another strong effort, but the Panthers edged out the Millers 3-2.
Noblesville got both of their wins in doubles. Bushong and Shepard picked up a close victory at No. 1 doubles, 11-9 in the third-set super tiebreak. The Millers won the first set 6-1 and dropped the second set 6-3. At No. 2 doubles, Gigante and Caden David got a straight-set win, 7-5, 6-2.
Before the season began, Pyle told the Reporter that he things “we’re going to be really solid in doubles all the way through,” and the team proved it on Saturday.
Camden David played a close No. 3 singles match against the Panthers before falling to Alex Busch 6-4, 6-4.
“That’s a state-ranked team,” said Pyle after the meet. “I think our guys learned a lot about themselves in that one, that we are a really good team.”
Noblesville is 0-5, but look at the teams the Millers have played to start their season. Noblesville opened at Harrison, expected to be No. 2 in the first IHSTeCA rankings list. The Millers then played Avon and Brebeuf Jesuit, both of whom finished last season rated in the top 15. Then came Carmel and Bloomington South.
“Our whole schedule is a good test,” said Pyle, in his pre-season remarks. He also said that the Millers “have a lot of talented guys that can play in a lot of different places. It might take some time to figure out where everyone’s perfect spot is.”
‘HOUNDS START PERFECT
Carmel finished up its Round Robin by beating Bloomington South 4-1. Jentz moved to No. 2 singles and won in three sets. At No. 1 singles, Jonathan Yang battled with the Panthers’ Michael Asplund before falling in three sets.
The Greyhounds are thus 5-0 to begin the season, and they have played a tough schedule as well. The first two victories came against Hamilton Southeastern and West Lafayette, both of whom finished in the top five of the IHSTeCa rankings last fall. Carmel then played Cathedral, another state-ranked team from last year, before its Saturday round robin.
While there are several new players on the team, Brunette said they are ready.
“We have a lot of depth,” said Brunette. “We have a lot of great seniors who are really helping me understand how the program works.” Brunette also said the players are embracing the team aspect, as they are “sacrificing some of their individual desires for the team, which is exactly what we need.”
Noblesville will be busy again this week. The Millers host Lawrence North on Monday, plays at Fishers on Tuesday, then returns home to face Zionsville Thursday before hosting Northwestern and New Palestine Saturday for the Noblesville Tennis Invitational.
Carmel has a pair of big meets on the schedule. The Greyhounds play at Harrison Wednesday for the likely 1-2 matchup, then travel to North Central for the John Shirley Invitational, which Brunette said is like the “pre-season IHSAA tournament.”
“Traditionally, it’s been the best measuring stick to see where your team needs to go and what you need to do in the next month to get ready for the tournament run,” said Brunette.