July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Jay Co. rolls to 2nd win (08/18/06)
JCHS boys tennis
Jay Co. rolls to 2nd win (08/18/06)
By By RAY COONEY-
OSSIAN - So far, the shoes fit just fine.
Jay County's four returning varsity boys tennis players had a big task in front of them this year trying to fill the shoes of the departed senior trio of Kurt Hess, Tyler Rigby and Randy Evans. They were three of the best in the program's history, Hess owning the career wins record and Rigby and Evans the single-season.
But through the opening two matches, Josh Ludy, Phil Powell, Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan are holding their own.
The four returning players teamed with Mark Alberson, Adam Horn and Kyle Simmons for a 4-1 victory over the host Norwell Knights Thursday for the Patriots' second straight win to open the season.
"I don't know if we can continue that, I hope we can," said JCHS coach Barry Weaver.
"I saw some desire, some heart, which is always a good thing to see," he added. "Early in the season it's always difficult to tell who is going to dig down and really be able to do some things."
"The guys who had very close matches stuck right in there and came up with points that were important. That's a major thing."
The win was especially big considering his team's history against Norwell.
Jay County had been shut out for a decade against the Knights before breaking through for a 4-1 win last year. Weaver said he hoped to sneak away with a 3-2 win Thursday, but his team delivered in all four close matches for the decisive victory.
The win was sealed by a pair of varsity newcomers, playing together for the first time at No. 2 doubles. With wins from Ludy and Powell already in the book, the No. 2 doubles pair of Alberson and Horn finished off Norwell sophomores Tim Baker and Jeremy McGraw 6-3, 6-4.
"They were unknown factors ... you never know how you're going to do when you get out there in a competition situation," said Weaver. "They did an outstanding job."
Ludy and Powell were both challenged, but came through in a big way.
After trailing 3-2 in the opening set, Ludy roared back to win four of the next five games. He pushed to a 5-4 lead in the second set, took control of the next game with an ace to go up 30-love and finished off Norwell senior Brian Nahrwold 6-4, 6-4.
Powell took his opening set 6-3 after trailing 2-1, but fell behind 5-4 in the second. He pulled even on his serve, jumped ahead 6-5 thanks to a double fault by Norwell junior Dirk Troxel and then served out for the victory in five points.
"Josh Ludy and Phil Powell really controlled their matches tonight, even though the scores were close," said Weaver. "(Troxel) hit the ball a ton, at times, but Phil frustrated him and got into his head a little bit by keeping the ball in front of him and keeping it in play."
Rigby and McCowan nearly rallied from a big deficit in the second set, then salvaged victory in the third.
Trailing 4-1 in the second following a 6-3 opening-set win, Rigby and McCowan got back on track to grab a 6-5 lead. Norwell's Blake Fiechter and Levi Gerber pulled even and won the tiebreaker 9-7 to force a third set only to have Rigby and McCowan prevail.
The pair of Patriot juniors took the opening game of the third set and never trailed as they completed a 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5 win.
"When you get down 4-1, at that point I said, 'The goal is still to win the second set, but if we don't, at least let's play our tennis,'" said Weaver. "The comebacks were really good."
Jay County's lone loss on the night came in Kyle Simmons' first experience at No. 3 singles. He fell to the Knights' Jason Isch 6-1, 6-1.
Junior varsity
Jay County dropped both JV matches to the Knights. Jared Valentine lost 8-0 to Kyle Reinhart and 8-2 against Thye Petty.[[In-content Ad]]
Jay County's four returning varsity boys tennis players had a big task in front of them this year trying to fill the shoes of the departed senior trio of Kurt Hess, Tyler Rigby and Randy Evans. They were three of the best in the program's history, Hess owning the career wins record and Rigby and Evans the single-season.
But through the opening two matches, Josh Ludy, Phil Powell, Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan are holding their own.
The four returning players teamed with Mark Alberson, Adam Horn and Kyle Simmons for a 4-1 victory over the host Norwell Knights Thursday for the Patriots' second straight win to open the season.
"I don't know if we can continue that, I hope we can," said JCHS coach Barry Weaver.
"I saw some desire, some heart, which is always a good thing to see," he added. "Early in the season it's always difficult to tell who is going to dig down and really be able to do some things."
"The guys who had very close matches stuck right in there and came up with points that were important. That's a major thing."
The win was especially big considering his team's history against Norwell.
Jay County had been shut out for a decade against the Knights before breaking through for a 4-1 win last year. Weaver said he hoped to sneak away with a 3-2 win Thursday, but his team delivered in all four close matches for the decisive victory.
The win was sealed by a pair of varsity newcomers, playing together for the first time at No. 2 doubles. With wins from Ludy and Powell already in the book, the No. 2 doubles pair of Alberson and Horn finished off Norwell sophomores Tim Baker and Jeremy McGraw 6-3, 6-4.
"They were unknown factors ... you never know how you're going to do when you get out there in a competition situation," said Weaver. "They did an outstanding job."
Ludy and Powell were both challenged, but came through in a big way.
After trailing 3-2 in the opening set, Ludy roared back to win four of the next five games. He pushed to a 5-4 lead in the second set, took control of the next game with an ace to go up 30-love and finished off Norwell senior Brian Nahrwold 6-4, 6-4.
Powell took his opening set 6-3 after trailing 2-1, but fell behind 5-4 in the second. He pulled even on his serve, jumped ahead 6-5 thanks to a double fault by Norwell junior Dirk Troxel and then served out for the victory in five points.
"Josh Ludy and Phil Powell really controlled their matches tonight, even though the scores were close," said Weaver. "(Troxel) hit the ball a ton, at times, but Phil frustrated him and got into his head a little bit by keeping the ball in front of him and keeping it in play."
Rigby and McCowan nearly rallied from a big deficit in the second set, then salvaged victory in the third.
Trailing 4-1 in the second following a 6-3 opening-set win, Rigby and McCowan got back on track to grab a 6-5 lead. Norwell's Blake Fiechter and Levi Gerber pulled even and won the tiebreaker 9-7 to force a third set only to have Rigby and McCowan prevail.
The pair of Patriot juniors took the opening game of the third set and never trailed as they completed a 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5 win.
"When you get down 4-1, at that point I said, 'The goal is still to win the second set, but if we don't, at least let's play our tennis,'" said Weaver. "The comebacks were really good."
Jay County's lone loss on the night came in Kyle Simmons' first experience at No. 3 singles. He fell to the Knights' Jason Isch 6-1, 6-1.
Junior varsity
Jay County dropped both JV matches to the Knights. Jared Valentine lost 8-0 to Kyle Reinhart and 8-2 against Thye Petty.[[In-content Ad]]
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