July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
New kids lead Jay to back-to-back titles (10/02/06)
JCHS boys tennis
New kids lead Jay to back-to-back titles (10/02/06)
By By RAY COONEY-
MARION - The new kids on the block came through.
Jay County's boys tennis team lost three of the best players in school history to graduation, and expected the four returning to the varsity squad to carry the load. They have for much of the season, but they were watching with the sectional title on the line.
Instead, varsity newcomers Kyle Simmons, Mark Alberson and Adam Horn pulled the Patriots from their 2-1 deficit to a 3-2 victory over the Mississinewa Indians for their second straight sectional title.
Simmons and Alberson are both in their first year playing tennis, and Horn played on the junior varsity squad last year.
"That was pretty cool," said JCHS coach Barry Weaver, whose teams have now won four of the last seven sectional titles at Marion. "Two doubles got the point to tie and then Kyle at three singles was the winning point. In a lot of matches, you never know. Guys that haven't been playing all that long just persevered. They just kept sticking in there and really came through down the stretch when they needed to."
Jay County (13-4), which defeated Blackford 4-1 in Saturday morning's semifinal round, advances to the Peru regional where it will play Manchester (15-2) Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. North Central Conference rivals Logansport (9-6) and Kokomo (15-5) will meet in the other semifinal Tuesday, and the championship will be Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
"It's an awesome feeling winning sectional two years in a row," said Phil Powell, the lone returning varsity player to post a win against Mississinewa. "I can't think of anything else better to do.
"I think we have a pretty good chance (at regional) if we just keep on playing well and play hard during practice."
With a win from Powell at No. 2 singles but losses at No. 1 singles and doubles, the Patriots needed wins from all of its varsity newcomers. Simmons and the team of Horn and Alberson had each won their opening set and were both ahead in the second as well.
Simmons was a game or two ahead of the No. 2 doubles pair in the second set, but both reached match point at the same time.
Alberson and Horn picked up a double match point on Mississinewa's serve. The Indians' Kenny Cassidy and Zach Blackburn fought off the first, but hit a shot into the net on the second to give the Patriot pair a 6-2, 6-3 win.
Jay County took the title seconds later when Simmons fought off Brandon Schuler in a long rally. The sophomore finally came to the net and hit a tough cross court volley. Schuler was able to retrieve it, but Simmons blasted his next shot down the middle to complete his 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Simmons has developed a reputation of being the last Patriot on the court.
"I'm just slow. I'm slow on homework, I'm slow on tests, I'm slow with tennis," he joked. "What can I say?
"It always feels good to be the one to put it away."
Weaver said he feels the reason his new players have done so well - Simmons is 13-6 on the year and Alberson and Horn have an 11-6 record together - comes from their attitude on the court.
"Kyle Simmons has got that perfect athletic mentality," said Weaver. "He just doesn't give up. ... His attitude is just fantastic ...
"And Mark Alberson and Adam Horn were the same way. They may not be the most talented tennis players at this point - they're still pretty young in their careers - but they just keep plugging and keep pushing and doing the best they can do and hitting the shots they know how to hit."
Powell was in control all the way.
The sophomore, who improved to a team-best 15-5 on the year, rolled to a 3-0 lead in the first set. He hit a great serve which Nick Estrada of Mississinewa could not return to finish the opening set.
Powell went on to a perfect second set for a 6-3, 6-0 win.
"Phil has done that to a lot of numbers twos," said Weaver. "That comes from he and Josh playing together a lot. You get stronger by playing stronger opponents. Phil has been able to get stronger every day. He was in charge all day long."
Josh Ludy (14-6) had a slow start to his No. 1 singles match as he was shut out by Nathan Fleming in the opening set. He rallied back in the second for a 4-3 lead before falling 6-0, 7-5.
Because he was undefeated in the team sectional, Fleming will advance to the individual singles tournament.
Juniors Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan had a difficult task against Aaron Riggs and Cody Everhart at No. 1 doubles.
They lost four straight games to close the opening set and dropped the final game at love on McCowan's serve in a 6-2, 6-2 defeat.
Jay County did not win a sectional title in the first 25 years of the school's existence. But the Patriots have been dominant of late, winning crowns in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006. And the team will return as the favorite next year as it will not lose any of its varsity seven to graduation.
"We feel good about it," said Weaver. "We're looking forward to (regional) ... we're going to try to do some damage there.
"And when it's all said and done we're going to look toward next year and start working so we can do at least this and even more on down the line."
Semifinal
The Patriots defeated the Blackford Bruins 4-1 for the second time this season.
Jay County swept the singles matches, with Ludy topping Nick Baughey 6-4, 6-1 at the top spot. Powell held off Wes Ford 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), and Simmons defeated Aaron Williams 6-3, 6-2.
Alberson and Horn dominated their deciding set against Matt McAfee and Paul Hyatt for a 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 win.
At No. 1 doubles Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan fell 6-1, 6-3 against Michael Estep and Adam Durm.[[In-content Ad]]
Jay County's boys tennis team lost three of the best players in school history to graduation, and expected the four returning to the varsity squad to carry the load. They have for much of the season, but they were watching with the sectional title on the line.
Instead, varsity newcomers Kyle Simmons, Mark Alberson and Adam Horn pulled the Patriots from their 2-1 deficit to a 3-2 victory over the Mississinewa Indians for their second straight sectional title.
Simmons and Alberson are both in their first year playing tennis, and Horn played on the junior varsity squad last year.
"That was pretty cool," said JCHS coach Barry Weaver, whose teams have now won four of the last seven sectional titles at Marion. "Two doubles got the point to tie and then Kyle at three singles was the winning point. In a lot of matches, you never know. Guys that haven't been playing all that long just persevered. They just kept sticking in there and really came through down the stretch when they needed to."
Jay County (13-4), which defeated Blackford 4-1 in Saturday morning's semifinal round, advances to the Peru regional where it will play Manchester (15-2) Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. North Central Conference rivals Logansport (9-6) and Kokomo (15-5) will meet in the other semifinal Tuesday, and the championship will be Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
"It's an awesome feeling winning sectional two years in a row," said Phil Powell, the lone returning varsity player to post a win against Mississinewa. "I can't think of anything else better to do.
"I think we have a pretty good chance (at regional) if we just keep on playing well and play hard during practice."
With a win from Powell at No. 2 singles but losses at No. 1 singles and doubles, the Patriots needed wins from all of its varsity newcomers. Simmons and the team of Horn and Alberson had each won their opening set and were both ahead in the second as well.
Simmons was a game or two ahead of the No. 2 doubles pair in the second set, but both reached match point at the same time.
Alberson and Horn picked up a double match point on Mississinewa's serve. The Indians' Kenny Cassidy and Zach Blackburn fought off the first, but hit a shot into the net on the second to give the Patriot pair a 6-2, 6-3 win.
Jay County took the title seconds later when Simmons fought off Brandon Schuler in a long rally. The sophomore finally came to the net and hit a tough cross court volley. Schuler was able to retrieve it, but Simmons blasted his next shot down the middle to complete his 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Simmons has developed a reputation of being the last Patriot on the court.
"I'm just slow. I'm slow on homework, I'm slow on tests, I'm slow with tennis," he joked. "What can I say?
"It always feels good to be the one to put it away."
Weaver said he feels the reason his new players have done so well - Simmons is 13-6 on the year and Alberson and Horn have an 11-6 record together - comes from their attitude on the court.
"Kyle Simmons has got that perfect athletic mentality," said Weaver. "He just doesn't give up. ... His attitude is just fantastic ...
"And Mark Alberson and Adam Horn were the same way. They may not be the most talented tennis players at this point - they're still pretty young in their careers - but they just keep plugging and keep pushing and doing the best they can do and hitting the shots they know how to hit."
Powell was in control all the way.
The sophomore, who improved to a team-best 15-5 on the year, rolled to a 3-0 lead in the first set. He hit a great serve which Nick Estrada of Mississinewa could not return to finish the opening set.
Powell went on to a perfect second set for a 6-3, 6-0 win.
"Phil has done that to a lot of numbers twos," said Weaver. "That comes from he and Josh playing together a lot. You get stronger by playing stronger opponents. Phil has been able to get stronger every day. He was in charge all day long."
Josh Ludy (14-6) had a slow start to his No. 1 singles match as he was shut out by Nathan Fleming in the opening set. He rallied back in the second for a 4-3 lead before falling 6-0, 7-5.
Because he was undefeated in the team sectional, Fleming will advance to the individual singles tournament.
Juniors Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan had a difficult task against Aaron Riggs and Cody Everhart at No. 1 doubles.
They lost four straight games to close the opening set and dropped the final game at love on McCowan's serve in a 6-2, 6-2 defeat.
Jay County did not win a sectional title in the first 25 years of the school's existence. But the Patriots have been dominant of late, winning crowns in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006. And the team will return as the favorite next year as it will not lose any of its varsity seven to graduation.
"We feel good about it," said Weaver. "We're looking forward to (regional) ... we're going to try to do some damage there.
"And when it's all said and done we're going to look toward next year and start working so we can do at least this and even more on down the line."
Semifinal
The Patriots defeated the Blackford Bruins 4-1 for the second time this season.
Jay County swept the singles matches, with Ludy topping Nick Baughey 6-4, 6-1 at the top spot. Powell held off Wes Ford 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), and Simmons defeated Aaron Williams 6-3, 6-2.
Alberson and Horn dominated their deciding set against Matt McAfee and Paul Hyatt for a 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 win.
At No. 1 doubles Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan fell 6-1, 6-3 against Michael Estep and Adam Durm.[[In-content Ad]]
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