Weekend NPHS wrap: VB, TE & CC win championships

Boys tennis

Dragons win county title: New Palestine won the county tennis title, tallying 27 points to Greenfield-Central's 22 to win the championship. Mt. Vernon was third with 11 points and Eastern Hancock fourth. 

NP won championships at No. 2 singles (Stratton Smith) and No. 3 singles (Connor Swain) and No. 2 doubles (David Thompson/Pete Rusche). Smith beat MV's Ben Bobb at No. 2 singles. Swain won at No. 3 singles over 6-3, 6-0 over G-C's Brandon Hull. Rusche/Thompson won 6-2, 6-0 over G-C's Luke Vowell/Bailey Hull.

Brent Barrett (No. 1 singles) and Evan Poole/Shayan Khokhar (No. 1 doubles) were runners-up, both extending their title matches to three sets against Greenfield-Central.

New Palestine won the JV title with 31 points. Mt. Vernon (15) finished second, three ahead of third-place Greenfield-Central.

The Dragons next play Monday at home against Pendleton Heights.

Volleyball

Dragons win Greenwood Invitational title: New Palestine swept four matches to win Saturday's Greenwood Invitational. 

NP won three matches that went the distance, beating Scecina 20-25, 25-19, 16-14 in the first match. NP then swept Monrovia 25-16, 25-16, before going the distance in their last two. The Dragons beat Speedway 25-12, 21-25, 15-11 to get into the title match. They then outlasted Greenwood 25-19, 15-25, 15-11.

Megan Hawley had 36 digs on the day. Katie Morris had 14 kills, 14 blocks, 34 assists and 30 digs. Jamie Morris had 22 kills, seven aces and 35 digs. Ellen Poetz had 25 assists. Mikayla Little had eight kills and 18 blocks. Ali Tucker had eight kills, 15 blocks and seven digs. McKenze Qualkinbush had eight kills, three digs, three assists and 10 blocks. Cianna Speth had 11 digs. Rachel Wernimont and Sarah Rominger had seven kills each.

NP is now 7-8 on the year. The Dragons host Delta Tuesday.

Cross country

NP girls win Whiteland Invitational: Sarah Schwartz won the individual title at the Whiteland Invitational. giving New Palestine a comfortable victory in the Whiteland Invitational. 

Schwartz ran the 5K course in 20:20 to win the championship. NP had 24 points to second-place Greenwood's 66.

The Girls traveled to the whiteland invite this Saturday and were champions placing seven in the top 12 spots. Bailey Wallace was third, Marissa Crosby fifth, Natalie Shields seventh and Emily Trimpe ninth to score for the Dragons. Kayla Medaris (11th) and Izzy Fleetwood (12th) also placed in the top 12.

The Dragon boys placed fourth, led by runner-up Seth Eagleso and fourth-place finisher place Austin Dodd. The Dragons had a great pack with riley wilson, Dominic Basciano, Kevin Laetsch, Sam Jones, and Ben Walker all finishing within 20 seconds of each other.

"The girls had an outstanding team performance and worked well together, it was exciting to see them all at and near the front of the pack. Sarah Schwartz was aggressive, took the lead early, maintained rhythm and was rewarded with the win," NP coach Dan Weimer said. "I was happy with how the guys competed,  Seth and Austin ran well at the front of the pack, Austin Dodd ran particularly well, going out aggressively and running a PR with a top 5 finish.  Our team competed well, I was very happy with how they competed and were packed together."

Chloe Kirchner, Brianna Komornik, Caroline Voelz and Megan Reel finished 1-4 in the JV girls race. Chase Tuggle's ninth-place finish was the top Dragon boy in the JV race.

Boys soccer

New Palestine 3, Franklin 2: The Dragons rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second half to beat Franklin at home, starting with backup goalkeeper Kyle Rodebeck making a save on a penalty kick after the starter was yellow-carded for what was perceived to be a late tackle on a 50/50 ball and had to, by rule, temporarily leave the game. 

Bryson Basaran scored two goals and added an assist for the Dragons. He took a feed from Jackson Cochran to cut the deficit to 2-1. Freshman Nick Martin then scored the equalizer on assists from Bo Owens and Basaran, before Basaran scored on a feed from Josh Jennings to give the Dragons the victory.

"Every team hopes to have their moments when things click and inspiration comes to life. Saturday afternoon the soccer games played at New Palestine High School showed a team of inspired young men how staying committed when things seem tough, performing with outstanding character, and always demonstrating the highest level of class will lead you to success," NP coach Bobby Holden said. 

Holden said 24 players played, with most being freshmen and sophomores and some seeing their first varsity minutes.

"Everyone on the team contributed to this victory in so many ways, Holden said. "A substitute goalkeeper to save a penalty kick, a freshmen scoring his first varsity goal in his first varsity game ever, several reserve players stepping up to the challenge and playing to their fullest potential without hesitation, and of course great leadership & contribution from our veteran seniors and varsity players all lead this team to a comeback win in what can only be described as an inspirational team effort. These are the moments that make me so proud to be a coach. We played extremely well and this is one that several players will remember forever, I know I will" 

NP also won the JV game 3-2 on a goal in the closing seconds.

"I can't even begin to describe what was a last second win for the reserve team and an inspirational comeback victory for the varsity meant to this team today," Holden said.

The Dragons are now 5-3-1 on the season. They host Greenwood Tuesday.

Football

Delta 21, New Palestine 6: The Dragons got a fourth-quarter touchdown drive and drove into Delta territory repeatedly, but fell to the Eagles at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Delta outgained NP 310-190. The Dragons were led by Collin Hill's 86 rushing yards, and Luker's 92 passing yards. Blake Luker completed 10-of-16 passes to four different receivers, with Tyler Walden catching five for 37 yards.

The Dragons scored in the fourth quarter when Luker hit Scott Lyons on a short pass in the end zone.

In the interim, it was a game where the Dragons had opportunities -- and denied them for the Eagles. NP's first three drives ended in Delta territory, but the Dragons turned the ball over on downs on the Delta 22, had a lost fumble on the Eagles' 26, then had another turnover on downs at the Delta 31. Delta drove to the Dragons' 1 on the final drive of the first half, but time expired when Luker broke up a second-down pass in the endzone intended for Delta wideout Jalen Robinson, keeping the game at a 7-0 score.

Delta set the tone on the game's first drive, grinding out a 17-play, 78-yard, 8:35 possession that ended in a touchdown. Delta then added two third-quarter scores on its first two second-half drives to take a 21-0 lead.

NP is 1-3 and 0-2 in conference play heading into Friday's game at Rushville, which is also 1-3 overall and 0-2 in HHC play.

Golf

Dragons fifth in HHC meet: The New Palestine golf team finished fifth in the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet, finishing just four strokes back of third place in a tight race.

No. 1 Yorktown won with a 310. The Dragons shot 390, behind Mt. Vernon (377), Pendleton Heights (386) and Delta (389). Greenfield-Central was sixth with a 403.

Abby Poole led New Palestine with an 87 and was an All-HHC performer. The Dragons' Cassie Rooks shot a 96, Bailey Kamp 102 and Sarah Rose 105.

The Dragons are back in action Monday at Fall Creek against Pendleton Heights.

Monday's schedule

Tennis: vs. Pendleton Heights, 4:30 p.m.

Golf: at Pendleton Heights, 4 p.m. (Fall Creek)