Dirksen keeps his season alive

NOBLESVILLE — It was the end of the road for most of the Patriots.

One will still play on.

The Jay County High School boys tennis team’s season came to an end Tuesday as it fell 4-1 to the Delta Eagles in IHSAA Regional 14 at Noblesville.

Although the team lost, Abraham Dirksen at the No. 1 singles position won. He is undefeated in tournament play thus far, qualifying him to move on as an individual.

The senior earned the sole win for the Patriots (12-9). He dropped the first set to Simon Marlow before storming back for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

The closest Jay County came to earning another win came at No. 2 doubles from Isaac Miller and Luke Muhlenkamp. They dropped the first set 6-2 to Aaron Elliott and Tyce Dishman. They forced a tiebreaker in the second, but couldn’t finish, falling to Elliott and Dishman 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

Jake Bilby had the best day for Delta, beating Liam Garringer in the No. 3 singles match 6-1, 6-0.

Eli Dirksen tested Kody Vest in the first set of the No. 2 singles match as he took three games. The second was controlled by Vest to give the Delta junior a 6-3, 6-0 victory.

In the No. 1 doubles match, Sam Myers and Gage Sims fell to Dalton Royal and Preston Shanayda 6-1, 6-2.

The Patriots lose six of the seven players in the lineup to graduation after this season, with Eli Dirksen as the sole returner.