October 2, 2020 at 2:02 a.m.
Champs again
Jay County boys tennis team tops Union City 4-1 to win first sectional title since 2014
Champs again
The Patriots had to watch on their home court each of the last five years as the sectional trophy was given to the Golden Falcons or Indians.
Thursday, the hosts got to keep the hardware for themselves.
Jay County High School’s boys tennis team had an encore of its 4-1 victory earlier in the season by beating the Union City Indians by the same score Thursday to claim the Sectional 43 championship.
“I could not have been more excited and happy to watch them play so well today,” said JCHS coach Scott Miller, who was displeased in the way his team got a 3-2 victory in the semifinal Wednesday. “We talked a lot last night, we talked a lot today, we talked a lot before the match about taking this match seriously from the spin of the racket to the end of the game and that’s exactly what they did today.
“They had a lot of respect for Union City, which they should have and they needed to and I’m glad they did. They went out and played hard.”
Jay County, which moves to 10-7 on the season after its seventh sectional crown in program history, advances to the regional semifinal against either Alexandria-Monroe or Lapel on Tuesday at Marion.
The Patriots and Indians met Aug. 24 in Portland, and during that match JCHS junior Crosby Heniser didn’t lose a game in the opening set of his No. 1 singles match against Owen Dowler, but dropped the next two in a three-set affair.
Thursday, Heniser nabbed the first set 6-2 but again fell behind in the second set. Trailing 5-4, Heniser won the next three games to take set two 7-5, reversing fortunes from their battle five weeks earlier.
“Just staying consistent,” Hensier, who is normally the aggressor on the court but altered his play to match the slow, methodical Dowler style, said of what it took to come out on top this time around. “I rushed things earlier in the season. I tamed myself back and just stayed consistent.”
Miller was proud of what he saw too, especially considering Heniser had a tough time in the semifinal.
“The way things went for him last night, from an emotional standpoint, was hard for me to watch,” Miller said. “I want to win. He’s my guy. I really wanted to see him do well last night.
“To see things unravel and try to cheer him up when he walked off the court, those are hard things for a coach to do.
“For him to turn around tonight and play the way he did and be the match that locked it up for us, that was just fantastic.”
Heniser’s victory secured the championship for Jay County after Abraham Dirksen defeated Cale Jefferis 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and Darius Esparza and Sam Myers knocked off Parker Kerns and Corbin Richards 6-1, 6-4 in their No. 2 doubles tilt.
Shortly after the No. 2 doubles result, a pop-up shower poured on the court and forced a delay of nearly 10 minutes.
Following the impromptu intermission, Heniser got his win, then Frankie Crump and Gavin Myers finished off their 6-4, 7-5 No. 1 singles victory against Kyle Buckingham and Zackary Fulk.
Crump and Myers fell behind 3-0 in the first set before winning four in a row to take the lead. They trailed in set two 2-1 and 4-3, and once they were out front 5-4 the Patriot duo never let the Indians get back ahead.
“They were able to take advantage of our strengths and pick apart some of their weaknesses at that spot,” Miller said.
Although Heniser was able to top Dowler, Miller was most proud of the smallest varsity player, Dirksen.
“Abraham Dirksen, my goodness what a year for a freshman,” Miller said. “He plays unbelievably hard. He has a great mental game. Great attitude. Competitor. To have a kid come in as a freshman and play the way he’s played, it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Jay County’s only blemish on the night came in the form of a three-set defeat at No. 2 singles. Simon Dirksen lost the opener to Braydon Hoggatt 6-1, but was able to rebound and win the second 6-2. Once they got to the third, and after the short weather delay, Dirksen wasn’t able to get his bearings again and lost the third set 6-2.
Still, the Patriots didn’t have to be outside the fence on their own court this season as the trophy was handed to another team. This year, it’s theirs to keep.
“I have no doubt it’s going to help us moving forward,” Miller said. “I know I have some talented young players coming in next year.”
Thursday, the hosts got to keep the hardware for themselves.
Jay County High School’s boys tennis team had an encore of its 4-1 victory earlier in the season by beating the Union City Indians by the same score Thursday to claim the Sectional 43 championship.
“I could not have been more excited and happy to watch them play so well today,” said JCHS coach Scott Miller, who was displeased in the way his team got a 3-2 victory in the semifinal Wednesday. “We talked a lot last night, we talked a lot today, we talked a lot before the match about taking this match seriously from the spin of the racket to the end of the game and that’s exactly what they did today.
“They had a lot of respect for Union City, which they should have and they needed to and I’m glad they did. They went out and played hard.”
Jay County, which moves to 10-7 on the season after its seventh sectional crown in program history, advances to the regional semifinal against either Alexandria-Monroe or Lapel on Tuesday at Marion.
The Patriots and Indians met Aug. 24 in Portland, and during that match JCHS junior Crosby Heniser didn’t lose a game in the opening set of his No. 1 singles match against Owen Dowler, but dropped the next two in a three-set affair.
Thursday, Heniser nabbed the first set 6-2 but again fell behind in the second set. Trailing 5-4, Heniser won the next three games to take set two 7-5, reversing fortunes from their battle five weeks earlier.
“Just staying consistent,” Hensier, who is normally the aggressor on the court but altered his play to match the slow, methodical Dowler style, said of what it took to come out on top this time around. “I rushed things earlier in the season. I tamed myself back and just stayed consistent.”
Miller was proud of what he saw too, especially considering Heniser had a tough time in the semifinal.
“The way things went for him last night, from an emotional standpoint, was hard for me to watch,” Miller said. “I want to win. He’s my guy. I really wanted to see him do well last night.
“To see things unravel and try to cheer him up when he walked off the court, those are hard things for a coach to do.
“For him to turn around tonight and play the way he did and be the match that locked it up for us, that was just fantastic.”
Heniser’s victory secured the championship for Jay County after Abraham Dirksen defeated Cale Jefferis 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and Darius Esparza and Sam Myers knocked off Parker Kerns and Corbin Richards 6-1, 6-4 in their No. 2 doubles tilt.
Shortly after the No. 2 doubles result, a pop-up shower poured on the court and forced a delay of nearly 10 minutes.
Following the impromptu intermission, Heniser got his win, then Frankie Crump and Gavin Myers finished off their 6-4, 7-5 No. 1 singles victory against Kyle Buckingham and Zackary Fulk.
Crump and Myers fell behind 3-0 in the first set before winning four in a row to take the lead. They trailed in set two 2-1 and 4-3, and once they were out front 5-4 the Patriot duo never let the Indians get back ahead.
“They were able to take advantage of our strengths and pick apart some of their weaknesses at that spot,” Miller said.
Although Heniser was able to top Dowler, Miller was most proud of the smallest varsity player, Dirksen.
“Abraham Dirksen, my goodness what a year for a freshman,” Miller said. “He plays unbelievably hard. He has a great mental game. Great attitude. Competitor. To have a kid come in as a freshman and play the way he’s played, it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Jay County’s only blemish on the night came in the form of a three-set defeat at No. 2 singles. Simon Dirksen lost the opener to Braydon Hoggatt 6-1, but was able to rebound and win the second 6-2. Once they got to the third, and after the short weather delay, Dirksen wasn’t able to get his bearings again and lost the third set 6-2.
Still, the Patriots didn’t have to be outside the fence on their own court this season as the trophy was handed to another team. This year, it’s theirs to keep.
“I have no doubt it’s going to help us moving forward,” Miller said. “I know I have some talented young players coming in next year.”
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