(TOP) The Carmel boys tennis team reclaimed the regional championship Wednesday, beating Parke Heritage 5-0. (Richie Hall) (ABOVE) The Hamilton Southeastern boys tennis team won its first regional since 2009 with a 5-0 victory over Greenfield-Central. (Photo provided)
By RICHIE HALL
The Carmel and Hamilton Southeastern boys tennis teams are on their way to the semi-state.
Both teams punched their tickets by winning regional championships on Wednesday. The No. 1-ranked Greyhounds triumphed at their own regional with a 5-0 victory over Parke Heritage at the Todd Witsken Tennis Center. At the same time, the No. 9-ranked Royals claimed their first regional title in 16 years by beating Greenfield-Central 5-0 at Mt. Vernon.
Carmel won its 21st regional championship in program history and its first since 2023. The Greyhounds were separated from the trophy last season by Brebeuf Jesuit, who beat Carmel at the Lebanon regional in a close match.
This season, the Hounds avenged that loss with a 4-1 win over the Braves in the semifinals on Tuesday. Carmel then dropped only eight games against Parke Heritage in Wednesday’s championship.
“Every tennis match in this tournament is a different battle,” said Greyhounds coach Dan Brunette. “Today’s battle was to recover from the last three matches, particularly the mental and physical side of last night. The wind, the intensity, the history. You had to play five competitive matches that could have gone either way.
Brunette said Wednesday’s meet came down to “mentally being present in this situation, showing utmost respect for Parke Heritage and actually playing the match.”
No. 1 singles Wes Worobel scored Carmel’s first point with a 6-1, 6-1 victory, then Andrew Kim won at No. 2 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout. No. 1 doubles David Liu and Jude Sangar scored the clinching point, getting a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
No. 2 doubles Rajeev Singh and Drew Hall won 6-1, 6-0, and No. 3 singles Vishal Shankar completed the sweep with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.
“They did a great job,” said Brunette.
The Greyhounds will play in the Culver Academies semi-state on Saturday. Carmel takes on No. 26-ranked Kokomo at noon for a place in the state finals.
Royals sweep Greenfield
Hamilton Southeastern last won a boys tennis regional title in 2009. The Royals ended that drought with a solid win over the Greenfield-Central Cougars, a team that HSE coach Doug Gernert called “tough” and “scrappy.”
No. 1 singles Brady Stump won his match 6-0, 6-3, while No. 3 singles Evan Holderman was a 6-1, 6-3 winner. No. 2 singles Parker Stump had to fight for a victory but prevailed in a 10-7 third-set super tiebreak. Parker Stump won the first set 7-5 and dropped the second set 6-4 before rallying to win.
In doubles, No. 1 Logan Foust and Landon Osswald won 6-3, 6-0. No. 2 Ian Ransom and Max Weinberger got a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
“Considering we don’t win regionals on a regular basis, you can’t be unhappy with the result,” said Gernert.
The Royals’ program has now won four regional championships. Southeastern also won titles in 1982 and 1984.
“I’m extremely happy with how the boys did,” said Gernert. “I still feel like we’re getting better every day.”
The Royals will compete in the Center Grove semi-state this Saturday. They await the winner of tonight’s Center Grove regional championship between the No. 10-ranked Trojans and Waldron.
