The Hamilton Southeastern boys tennis team will make its first-ever appearance at the IHSAA state finals this weekend at North Central’s Barbara Wynne Tennis Center. The Royals play Silver Creek in the Friday morning quarterfinal. (Photo provided)
By RICHIE HALL
When the Hamilton Southeastern boys tennis team heads to North Central’s Barbara Wynne Tennis Center on Friday, the Royals will be in what coach Doug Gernert calls “uncharted territory.”
Southeastern has played at North Central before, of course. But never in the IHSAA state finals – until now. The Royals will get their first chance at state when they participate in the quarterfinals, which take place at 10 a.m. Friday.
Freshman Parker Stump (shown before the match), won at No. 2 singles to clinch the winning team point. (Photo provided)
“I thought maybe they had done it before,” said Gernert. “The closest we had gotten before this was 2009, when we were beaten by Center Grove at semi-state.”
And Southeastern had to get past Center Grove to punch its ticket to state. The No. 9-ranked Royals edged out the host and No. 10 Trojans 3-2 to win the Center Grove 2 semi-state and earn a place in the final eight.
Southeastern won both doubles matches for a 2-0 lead. The No. 2 team of Ian Ransom and Max Weinberger got the first victory, then the No. 1 team of Logan Faust and Landon Osswald won their match.
The clincher was No. 2 singles, where freshman Parker Stump outlasted his opponent in a hard-fought battle – “not three sets, but it could’ve been,” said Gernert. Stump won 7-6, 7-5.
“That’s a lot to expect out of a freshman, but he’s played big for us all year,” said Gernert.
The Royals dropped the other two matches, but No. 1 singles Brady Stump and No. 3 Evan Holderman both pushed their opponents to three sets.
“The kids were going crazy,” said Gernert. “It didn’t really set in with me until late, because I was still trying to win matches.”
Gernert said the victory began to set in once it was picture time and HSE was holding up the trophy. “I didn’t realize how much bigger they got every time,” he said.
After that, the Royals had a fun bus ride home. “It was a good time. We had the music playing, the kids were bouncing around,” said Gernert.
Southeastern’s quarterfinal opponent at state is Silver Creek. The No. 28-ranked Dragons won the Jasper 1 semi-state by beating Evansville North 4-1. Earlier in the tournament, Silver Creek triumphed at the Jeffersonville regional with a 5-0 semifinal win over Corydon Central and a 3-2 victory against No. 21 Floyd Central.
“I’ve not seen them play at all,” said Gernert. “My guess is any team that’s made it this far is a solid team. Any team that’s ranked in the top 30 is a solid team.”
Gernert said that not knowing about Silver Creek makes the Dragons “scarier because you don’t know what they have. We’re going to take them very seriously.”
