Patriots split invitational

The Patriots haven’t had the season they wanted so far.

Over the weekend, they took one step forward and another step backward.

The Jay County High School boys tennis team split a pair of games at the Patriot Invitational on Saturday. The Patriots fell to the Wabash Apaches 3-2 before bouncing back with a 4-1 victory over the Elwood Panthers.

JCHS coach Donald Gillespie pulled his team to the side before the matches to address how the season has gone thus far.

“I talked to the kids before the match started at 9:30 (a.m.),” Gillespie said. “‘We’re not where we needed to be at this time. I’m not going to pull any punches. I’m not happy.’

“We’ve let some matches get away, and is it a lack of effort, lack of concentration or are we just overmatched?

“I don’t think we’re overmatched. I think it’s concentration and sometimes effort. It goes back to tennis is a game of movement at all times. If you’re standing still you’re wrong. We still have some of those issues.”

His message definitely got to the No. 2 doubles pair of Isaac Miller and Luke Muhlenkamp who were the only two to win both matches for Jay County (5-8, 0-1 Allen County Athletic Conference). They quickly dismantled Wabash’s Ashton Coffman and Spencer Stout 6-0, 6-2.

They cruised to a 6-2 victory in the first set against the Panther’s Xavier Davenport and Anthony Pan. The second set was a lot closer.

Elwood was able to jump out to an early 0-2 lead against Miller and Muhlenkamp. When the Patriots hit game-point in the third game, Miller turned to Muhlenkmap urging him on saying “we need this.”

The pair pulled out three-straight wins by staying consistent, forcing the frustrated Elwood players to make errors, and some strong serving by Miller. In the fifth game of the set, Miller earned three of the four points for the Patriots by serving up aces, one of which the returning player froze and another that they couldn’t handle.

“I was just trying to keep a good mindset, make sure we stayed in it and stayed smart,” Miller said. “I feel like just both Luke and I played really well today and I appreciate the effort that both of us put in.”

They went on to win the set 7-5 and sealed the match for Jay County.

Picking up much needed wins were Eli Dirksen and Liam Garringer in the No. 2 and 3 singles positions. Both players have struggled in recent matches, and pulled out wins that they hope will help them move forward.

Despite being the fourth match to get underway, Garringer finished first amongst the Patriots with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Elwood’s Braxton Dailey. Garringer fell to Cooper Long 6-0, 6-4 in the first match.

Eli Dirksen’s match against Wabash’s Eli Matteren lasted two hours and was the deciding match in the contest. He fell 7-5, 6-4 before bouncing back in his match against Elwood.

He took down Isaac Casas 6-4, 6-0.

“I learned a lot from the first match, overall, and then second match and kind of came back, got some more confidence,” Eli Dirksen said. “Think I'll be able to do all right. Learning from today.”

Abraham Dirksen struggled in the No. 1 singles match against Owen Hinchman. He dropped the first set 6-3 and lost the first five sets of the second, when he met Gillespie at the net for a chat.

“Abraham, I don't really have to give him too many talks … at that time, I was his tone to be more aggressive,” Gillespie said. “(Hinchman’s) second serve was weak. I told him, ‘I wouldn't even stand inside the baseline.’ And I wanted to take control of that point immediately. Which he did a couple of times.”

Dirksen was able to win three games after the coaching, but fell 6-3, 6-3. He had the second win against Wabash, with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alex Dinkins.

Sam Myers and Gage Sims won their No. 1 doubles match against Elwood’s Beau Brandon and Owen Huff 6-1, 6-3. Earlier in the day they lost 6-3, 6-0.

Gabe Pinkerton went 1-1 in junior varsity matches. Despite the early-season struggles, Gillespie is looking forward to the Patriots improving in conference play and in the sectional. The Patriots will celebrate senior night tonight against ACAC-foe Adams Central.

He is also excited for the junior high program’s first match on Saturday.