Article published Sep 27, 2006
Can Penn maintain postseason success?
TOM WITHERSPOON
Tribune Staff Writer
As boys tennis sectionals begin Thursday, Penn prepares to prove its post-season prowess.
The Kingsmen have won sectionals, regionals and semistate two years running.
But the focus for Penn at practice this week has been the sectional, and nothing but the sectional.
"This is the most competitive the sectional has been in awhile. Everyone (for Penn) is playing for the sectional," said Kingsmen coach Richard Dukeshier. "And everyone is playing their best."
It will take Penn's best to beat Marian Thursday. The Kingsmen are led by junior Troy Brinker, while freshman Andy Hansen has lost only once at No. 2 singles this season.Penn's No. 1 doubles team of Gautham Vaidyanathan and T.J. Snelson are unbeaten.
Penn and Marian met early in the season, the Kingsmen winning 4-1. Marian senior Mike Koscielski will seek to even the score with Brinker, who beat Koscielski 7-6 (8), 6-4, in that first meeting.
Marian was rolling this season, having lost once since the Penn loss, until a 5-0 loss Monday to Warsaw.
After losing to Marian and Penn last week, Adams will be an underdog against either in Friday's championship if it can beat Mishawaka Thursday. After announcing itself as a new force in the NIC by surprising Clay, 3-2, in midseason, Adams struggled down the stretch, beating only Mishawaka in the NIC to finish out.
Penn is tops in the area until proven otherwise, but No. 13 Culver Military, the area's lone ranked team, could take over that title this year. CMA is unbeaten this season with its full roster on the court.On Tuesday, CMA beat Plymouth, 3-2, sweeping the singles matches without losing a set. The trifecta of Frank Sunseri, Reggie Lemarroy and Peter Ianello could be enough to take CMA all the way to state. CMA doubles, having combined for only one loss before the Plymouth match, were knocked back down a notch by Plymouth, who has the strongest doubles in the area.
Plymouth was gaining steam in the past week until the CMA loss. Before losing to Sunseri 6-1, 6-3, Plymouth's top singles player, Kyle Stump, had won the Northern Lakes Conference No. 1 singles tournament over the weekend.
Strong all year at doubles, Plymouth has needed a breakthrough at singles. Stump followed his tournament win Monday by beating Drew Simon 6-2, 6-3 in Plymouth's 5-2 win over No. 18 Kokomo.
After playing No. 1 and 2 singles this season through the Sept. 15 Clay match, Griffin Jaques and Tommy Krcmaric of St. Joseph's have moved to No. 1 doubles. They lost to Culver Military Academy, but handily against Marquette, Riley and Elkhart Central.
Clay's Carlton Lyons at No. 3 singles is unbeaten. St. Joseph's and Clay play Thursday afternoon at 4 at Leeper Park.
Sectional pairings
At Culver Academies
Thursday
Rochester vs. Culver Military; North Judson vs. Knox 5:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship Match 5:30 p.m.
At Leeper Park, South Bend
Thursday
St. Joseph's vs. Clay; Riley vs. Washington 4:00 p.m.
Friday
Championship Match 4:00 p.m.
At Penn High School
Thursday
Penn vs. Marian; Mishawaka vs. Adams 4:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship Match 4:30 p.m.
At Frank DeSantis Courts, Bremen
Thursday
Plymouth vs. Bremen, 4:30 p.m.
Friday
Glenn vs. LaVille; Triton vs. Plymouth-Bremen winner, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 9 a.m.
At East Noble High School
Thursday
Westview vs. West Noble; Central Noble vs. East Noble 5:00 p.m.
Saturday
Lakeland vs. Westview-West Noble winner; Howe Military vs. Central
Noble-East Noble winner 10:00 a.m.
Championship TBA
At Nappanee
Thursday
Bethany Christian vs. NorthWood 4:30 p.m.
Saturday
Fairfield vs. Goshen; Jimtown vs. Bethany-NorthWood winner 9:00 a.m.
Championship Match 1:00 p.m.
At LaPorte High School
Thursday
Marquette vs. LaPorte; Michigan City vs. New Prairie 4:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship Match 4:30 p.m.
At Warsaw High School
Thursday
Wawasee vs. Tippecanoe Valley; Warsaw vs. Churubusco 4:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship Match 4:30 p.m.
At Concord High School
Thursday
Northridge vs. Concord; Elkhart Memorial vs. Elkhart Central 5 p.m.
Saturday
Championship Match 10 a.m.