Let it be known — there were surprises in the championship of the Kokomo Tennis Sectional Saturday morning at Kokomo High School.
However, by the time Northwestern’s team bus pulled away, the predicted result was a reality. Kokomo had won its 18th consecutive title.
Kokomo improved to 12-8 and heads to Peru Tuesday for the opening round of the regional. The Kats will take on Peru, while Logansport and Marion battle on adjoining courts. The winners return Wednesday to play for the title.
Earlier this season, Kokomo dumped Northwestern 5-0 in pretty convincing fashion. On this day, the Wildkats won two matches with unexpected ease, lost one they figured to win and had to sub-out a senior standout.
The result: a 3-2 victory.
“It’s good to win a sectional anytime.” said Wildkat coach Shawn Flanary. “We’ve had some adversity this season but the kids have kept their heads high and competed. We’ll take a win any way we can get it.”
While the score was close, there wasn’t a lot of drama. Less than one hour into the match, the Kats had the necessary three points in matches won in convincing style. To the Tigers’ credit, they stuck around and won the final two points.
Kokomo’s Brad Caldwell picked up the Kats’ first point at No. 3 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Toby Richards. Flanary said he was especially pleased with Caldwell, who rolled an ankle during his match against Western Thursday afternoon.
A few minutes later, the match was over. Kokomo’s No. 1 doubles duo of Michael Reynolds and Josh Paul dispatched Evan McClure and Ben-Marvin Egel 6-0, 6-0 and the Kats’ Mitch Gauger took the No. 1 singles match over Drew Hansen, 6-2, 6-2.
Gauger, the only senior in Kokomo’s lineup, was pleased — and relieved once the Kats had the decisive third point.
“Obviously you don’t want to be [on the team] when the streak ends,” Gauger said with a smile. “You never get tired of winning sectionals.”
Both coaches were surprised with the No. 1 singles and doubles competition.
“I thought both of those points would be really competitive,” Flanary said. “But our kids kept the pressure on. Our doubles was solid and [Gauger] took care of business.”
Tigers coach Jack Hight said he didn’t necessarily expect different results, but closer sets.
“The 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles was disappointing,” he said. “And at No. 1 singles, we started pretty well and then went to pot. It wasn’t a good way to end the season.”
Northwestern used a nice effort from its No. 2 doubles team to notch its first point. Bryan Beachy and Riley Metz posted a come-from-behind, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 win over Michael Hilton and Noah Laymon.
“I never expected our No. 2 doubles to play that well,” Hight said. “They’ve improved all season. Beachy’s forehand has come a long way and Metz can be very good if he’s getting his first serve in — which he was [Saturday].”
The Tigers added their second point at No. 2 singles when Ryan Pattison won the final match of his career over Blake Brown, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). Brown was subbing for senior Drew Simon, who spent his Saturday taking the SAT.
Hight was pleased with Pattison’s effort and Flanary likewise was happy with Brown, who he said had played only a couple of varsity matches this season.
Northwestern closed its season at 6-8 but with only two seniors on varsity, figures to be improved in 2009.
Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
TENNIS: Wildkats wrap up 18th straight title
Kokomo beats Northwestern 3-2 in championship
- Sports
-
-
Kats lose heartbreaker
Kokomo’s girls basketball team executed its game plan to near perfection against host Logansport in the first game of the Class 4A Logansport Sectional Tuesday.
-
Tipton races by Taylor
Over the last two seasons, Tipton’s girls basketball team has been held under 40 points in just three games.
Tuesday’s sectional opponent — Taylor — held the Blue Devils down in two of those games. Tuesday was a different story.
-
It’s tourney time
In the girls basketball regular season, Tipton and Logansport compiled gaudy records and conference championships while Taylor and Kokomo finished with sub-.500 records.
-
What a kick for Hoosier native Weatherford
Indianapolis — While Steve Weatherford celebrated with his teammates in the New York Giants’ locker room after the 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, thoughts inevitably turned to Terre Haute — his hometown.
-
Ice baths can improve your health
Several years ago, I applied to be a participant in the weekly television show “Survivor.” Disappointingly, I was rejected.
-
Wiechmann comes up big in regional
Western senior wrestler Jake Wiechmann had lost twice this season to Kokomo standout Fletcher Miller, and was trailing 3-1 to Miller in the third period of the championship of the 182-pound match at the Peru Regional Saturday when the opportunity for vengeance struck.
-
Wildkat wrestlers move nine onto Ft. Wayne semistate
The Kokomo Wildkats’ bus will need just a little bit more gas than usual next weekend to haul its cargo up to Fort Wayne for Saturday’s individual wrestling semistate at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
-
Visitors down at tourism office
Since moving its office location from the Kokomo Event Center to downtown Kokomo, the number of walk-in visits for tourism information has dropped 77 percent in one year.
-
Kokomo guts out a win at Lebanon
It didn’t take clairvoyance to deduce that Saturday night’s showdown between Class 4A No. 6-ranked Kokomo and Class 3A No. 3-ranked Lebanon in the Tigers’ Rosenstihl Gymnasium had the makings of a close affair.
-
Western beats Taylor, secures shot at outright MIC title
Something Taylor coach Andy Lewman noted about Western’s boys basketball team early on this season was how well the Panthers share the ball.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Romney Congratulates Santorum, Focuses on Obama
Paul Says Results Help Him Rack Up Delegates
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
