By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Carmel tennis doubles team of Michael Bao and Grant Mu finished as state runner-up last Saturday at the IHSAA’s individual state finals at Park Tudor.
The senior Bao and sophomore Mu played Jasper seniors Caleb Schnarr and Eli Flick in the championship match. The Wildcats were leading 5-4, 40-15 in the first set when Mu injured his ankle. Mu received a medical timeout and tried to continue playing, but was unable to, thus ending the match early in the second set, with the Jasper team winning 6-1, 1-1 retired.
The match was on serve for the first three games, then the Wildcats broke the Greyhounds to lead 3-1. Mu put up some resistance in that game, coming back from 0-40 down to ad-out with four straight service winners before Flick got the break with an overhead smash.
A Flick volley winner gave Jasper two set points at 40-15, which is when Mu was injured. “I sprained it,” he said of his ankle. After the medical timeout, Bao saved a set point with a volley winner, but Schnarr’s service winner gave the Wildcats the first set.
Carmel bravely held on, winning the first game of the second set on Bao’s serve, including a second serve ace. Jasper won the next game to it at 1-1, bringing up Mu to serve. He tried serving underhand for two points, but it became obvious the match would need to end.
“We weren’t going to win that way,” said Mu.
Schnarr and Flick finished their season 29-1. Bao and Mu compiled an 18-4 record, including an individual regional win at La Porte.
“It was fun,” said Bao. Mu agreed, saying they “got closer as a team.”
Mao and Bu advanced to the finals by winning an all-county semifinal over the Hamilton Southeastern team of senior Tyler Rich and junior Landon Osswald 6-0, 6-2.
“We had our ups and downs, but overall, especially recently, I think I played really good,” said Rich. “Give it all I can, 100 percent effort.”
Rich said he is usually a singles player, just getting into doubles this year.
“I found it easier having Landon to support me in the process,” said Rich.
“It was a great year,” said Osswald. “I was JV last year and this is my first year at varsity and I really enjoyed it. It was just so fun playing with Tyler every match. I just look forward to it every time. I couldn’t ask for anything more for me.”
In the quarterfinals last Friday, Bao and Mu cruised past Bloomington South juniors Connor Couch and Joshua Sang 6-1, 6-0.
“Came out a little shy, but loosened up probably five games in, and from there they were in a rhythm,” said Greyhounds coach Dan Brunette. “A lot of combination points, high serve percentage, some pretty tricky plays. And that shows you the confidence the two of them have. They’ve played a lot of matches together. We had a lot of practices last two weeks.”
Rich and Osswald breezed to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Western juniors Aidan Mawbey and Kaleb York in their quarterfinal match.
“I think they played great,” said Royals coach Doug Gernert. “They had a rough start to the season, but they’ve been getting better every time and I think we’re starting to peak right at the right time. It’s actually a perfect time for this, to come to the state finals and be playing some of your best tennis and playing together as well.”
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