By RICHIE HALL
It’s never easy making history, but the Carmel girls tennis team keeps doing it.
The Greyhounds added another state championship to their trophy case on Saturday, beating Cathedral 3-2 in the final at North Central’s Barbara Wynne Tennis Center. Carmel entered some rarified air with this win: It was the Greyhounds’ 10th state championship. Only North Central, with 12, has more.
“We play as a team and we are a deep, great team of individuals, but individuals that work together,” said Carmel coach Spencer Fields. “I really think that the tennis was tough this weekend, but these girls don’t quit. They never want to give up. They play with a lot of pride for their school, their community. It’s a really special group, a really talented group. Just a really fun and enjoyable group of people to be around.”
The Irish won at No. 1 doubles, but Carmel soon went up 2-1 with victories from No. 3 singles Franny Werner (6-0, 6-0) and the No. 2 doubles team of Leila Antony and Apurva Manas (6-0, 6-2). That left the Nos. 1 and 2 singles matches left to decide the title.
The clincher would be No. 1 singles, with the Greyhounds’ Lauren Lemonds holding off Maeve Koscielski 6-4, 6-4 in a match that was much tougher than the score indicates.
“It was definitely exciting,” said Lemonds. “The other match finished right before me, it really came down to my match at the very end, so it was really exciting.”
“I do think it’s really fun, because everyone’s cheering and it’s just a really good atmosphere,” said Lemonds. She called the season a “super fun season,” because of how close the team got this year. “It was just a lot of fun making it to state together,” she said.
Lemonds has committed to play tennis at Michigan State University.
“I like the coaches, the team, the academics,” said Lemonds of her college decision. “The final deciding factor was just how close I’ll be to my family.”
In the morning semi-finals, Carmel beat Brownsburg 5-0. That was another deceptive score, as two of the matches went three sets: Werner came from behind to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3 singles, while the Greyhounds’ No. 1 doubles team of Emma Brune and Grace Marchese also came back to win a tough one, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Marchese won the Mental Attitude Award after the match. Marchese is the daughter of James and Erin Marchese, holds a 4.20 grade-point average while taking honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes. She is heading to Clemson University to major in Nursing.
“I never thought that I would be somebody who would win it, but I’m very proud to accomplish it,” said Marchese. “We do work, every single day, very hard. So to have all of that come to an end and know that all of our hard work every single day has paid off is just a wonderful feeling.”
“That’s really neat for her,” said Fields. “She’s put a lot of effort into Carmel High School. The Mental Attitude for tennis is special, but it really is a reflection of what she’s put into the school and the community. It’s way above average. She’s a really special girl in terms of what she’s done for the school.”
SEMI-FINALS
Carmel 5, Brownsburg 0
No. 1 singles: Lauren Lemonds def. Kara Mehringer 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 singles: Sydney Morris def. Hailey Blood 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 singles: Franny Werner def. Ellie Hughes 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 1 doubles: Emma Brune and Grace Marchese def. Payton Haygood and Caitlin Preda 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
No. 2 doubles: Leila Antony and Apurva Manas def. Lily House and Grace Sutier 6-0, 6-2
CHAMPIONSHIP
Carmel 3, Cathedral 2
No. 1 singles: Lauren Lemonds def. Maeve Koscielski 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 singles: Sydney Morris lost to Ellie Pittman 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 singles: Franny Werner def. Cole Spau 6-0, 6-0
No. 1 doubles: Emma Brune and Grace Marchese lost to Meg Coleman and Claire Koscielski 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 doubles: Leila Antony and Apurva Manas def. Cassie Kronenberger and Bella Montefalco 6-0, 6-2
The Carmel girls tennis team toughed out a 3-2 win over Cathedral Saturday to win the state championship. It’s the 10th state title for the Greyhounds’ program. (Richie Hall)
Carmel’s Grace Marchese won the Mental Attitude Award. (Richie Hall)