Carmel defeats North Central to win third straight tennis state title

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The second time wasn’t a charm for the fourth-ranked North Central Panthers, but for the top-ranked Carmel Greyhounds, it was thrice as nice at the IHSAA boys team tennis state finals.

For a second straight year, the No. 1 Greyhounds defeated the No. 4 Panthers in the state championship match to seize their third consecutive team title.

The 4-1 championship match victory upped Carmel’s team state title total to eight overall and fifth for head coach Mike Bostic.

The win helped Carmel avenge its lone loss this season, dating back to Aug. 30, when the Panthers topped the Greyhounds 3-2. Carmel finished the year with a 21-1 record.

Head coach Dan Brunette’s Panthers concluded the season 21-2 and enjoyed a strong showing at the state finals en route to their runner-up placement.

In the state quarterfinals, North Central handed No. 3 Fort Wayne Canterbury (21-1) its first loss of the season with a 5-0 sweep on Friday evening. During Saturday morning's state semifinals, the Panthers topped No. 2 Park Tudor 3-2. Park Tudor ended the year with an 18-3 record.

During its crucial semifinal win, North Central claimed victory at No. 3 singles with Rudolph Frazier defeating Pete Dakich, 6-4, 6-4. In No. 1 doubles play, Patrick McAuley and William Reifeis prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) against Jack McCarter and Graham Reinbold. At No. 2 doubles, the tandem of Ari Gerstein and J.T. Wayne defeated Alex Bertolini and Levi Siegel, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Against Carmel, North Central’s J.J. Kroot scored the team’s lone point in the championship match at No. 3 singles with a 7-5, 6-2 victory against Chris Quammen.

Carmel’s Patrick Farrell at No. 3 singles, the No. 1 doubles team of Charlie Emhardt and Daniel Rodefeld and the No. 2 doubles duo of Jeffrey Chen and Michael Makio all were a flawless 3-0 at the state finals.

No. 1 singles player Sameer Kumar defeated Riley Reist of North Central in the championship to finalize Carmel’s 4-1 margin.

Carmel advanced to the state championship match with a 4-1 quarterfinals win against No. 7 Center Grove on Friday and a 4-1 victory against No. 10 Bloomington South during Saturday’s semifinals.

IHSAA Boys Tennis Team State Finals

State Quarterfinals

At Carmel High School

Match 1: Bloomington South 3, Valparaiso 2
Singles
1. Ronnie Schneider (12) Bloomington South def. Ben Kalisch (12) Valparaiso, 6-0, 6-0.
2. Marty Pochop (12) Valparaiso def. Jake Frederickson (10) Bloomington South, 6-2, 6-2.
3. Eric Cender (12) Valparaiso def. Sam Karcher (10) Bloomington South, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles
1. Matt Helm (12) | Alex Jung (11) Bloomington South def. Jared Folke (11) | Peter Williams (11) Valparaiso, 6-0, 6-0.
2. Matt Johnsen (11) | Will Piekarsky (9) Bloomington South def. Pall Baggett (11) | Domonkos Szabo (12) Valparaiso, 6-2, 6-2.

Match 2: Carmel 4, Center Grove 1
Singles
1. Sameer Kumar (10) Carmel def. Luke Andersen (12) Center Grove, 6-4, 6-1.
2. Conner Andersen (10) Center Grove def. Chris Quammen (12) Carmel, 7-5, 6-2.
3. Patrick Farrell (12) Carmel def. Cam Schoolcraft (10) Center Grove, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles
1. Charlie Emhardt (12) | Daniel Rodefeld (12) Carmel def. Logan Clevenger (12) | Cole McDaniel (12) Center Grove, 6-0, 6-0.
2. Jeffrey Chen (10) | Michael Makio (10) Carmel def. Vaughn Knutson (11) | Kyle Marsh (12) Center Grove, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.

At Lawrence Central High School

Match 3: North Central (Indianapolis) 5, Fort Wayne Canterbury 0
Singles
1. Riley Reist (11) North Central def. Clay Hoffacker (11) Canterbury, 6-1, 6-3.
2. J.J. Kroot (9) North Central def. Davis Huber (11) Canterbury, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
3. Rudolph Frazier (12) North Central def. Tom Filus (10) Canterbury, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Patrick McAuley (10) | William Reifeis (11) North Central vs. William Wright (12) | Chris Yahanda (11) Canterbury, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
2. Ari Gerstein (10) | J.T. Wayne (9) North Central def. Patrick Downs (12) | Chad Schouweiler (10) Canterbury, 6-2, 6-1.

Match 4: Park Tudor 4, Jasper 1
Singles
1. Dan Rayl (10) Park Tudor def. Eli Seng (11) Jasper, 6-1, 6-1.
2. Scott Thygesen (10) Park Tudor def. Grant Weaver (10) Jasper, 6-1, 6-2.
3. Pete Dakich (12) Park Tudor def. Logan Mathies (9) Jasper, 6-2, 7-5.
Doubles
1. Noah Moss (12) | Will Seger (12) Jasper def. Jack McCarter (11) | Graham Reinbold (12) Park Tudor, 6-2, 6-2.
2. Alex Bertolini (10) | Levi Siegel (12) Park Tudor def. Aaron Nordhoff (12) | Ben Seng (11) Jasper, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

State Semifinals
At North Central High School

Match 5: Carmel 4, Bloomington South 1
Singles
1. Ronnie Schneider (12) Bloomington South def. Sameer Kumar (10) Carmel, 6-1, 6-3.
2. Chris Quammen (12) Carmel def. Jake Frederickson (10) Bloomington South, 6-0, 6-0.
3. Patrick Farrell (12) Carmel def. Sam Karcher (10) Bloomington South, 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Charlie Emhardt (12) | Daniel Rodefeld (12) Carmel def. Matt Helm (12) | Alex Jung (11) Bloomington South, 6-1, 6-0.
2. Jeffrey Chen (10) | Michael Makio (10) Carmel def. Matt Johnsen (11) | Will Piekarsky (9) Bloomington South, 6-1, 6-2.

Match 6: North Central (Indianapolis) 3, Park Tudor 2
Singles
1. Dan Rayl (10) Park Tudor def. Riley Reist (11) North Central, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
2. Scott Thygesen (10) Park Tudor def. J.J. Kroot (9) North Central, 7-4, 3-6, 6-1.
3. Rudolph Frazier (12) North Central def. Pete Dakich (12) Park Tudor, 6-4, 6-4.
Doubles
1. Patrick McAuley (10) | William Reifeis (11) North Central def. Jack McCarter (11) | Graham Reinbold (12) Park Tudor, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
2. Ari Gerstein (10) | J.T. Wayne (9) North Central def. Alex Bertolini (10) | Levi Siegel (12) Park Tudor, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.

State Championship
At North Central High School

Match 7: Carmel 4 North Central 1
Singles
1. Sameer Kumar (10) Carmel def. Riley Reist (11) North Central, 6-1, 6-0.
2. J.J. Kroot (9) North Central def. Chris Quammen (12) Carmel, 7-5, 6-2.
3. Patrick Farrell (12) Carmel def. Rudolph Frazier (12) North Central, 6-2, 6-3.
Doubles
1. Charlie Emhardt (12) | Daniel Rodefeld (12) Carmel def. Patrick McAuley (10) | William Reifeis (11) North Central, 6-0, 6-3.
2. Jeffrey Chen (10) | Michael Makio (10) Carmel def. Ari Gerstein (10) | J.T. Wayne (9) North Central, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.