Thanks to our friends at the IHSAA, here’s a preview of the 31st Annual IHSAA Girls Tennis Team State Finals June 4:
Two of the winningest programs in the state — one making its third
appearance in four seasons, another that returns to the finals for the
first time since 1982 — make up the final four teams that will compete
in the girls tennis state finals June 4 at North Central High School in
Indianapolis.
At 10 a.m., Park Tudor (16-2) faces Zionsville (21-1) in one
semifinal match, while Evansville Memorial (17-1) takes on Culver
Academies (18-1) in the other semifinal. The winners and losers will
face each other for the state championship and third-place honors in
the 2 p.m. session.
Though in opposite brackets, Park Tudor and Evansville Memorial account for seven state championships.
Under the guidance of coach Dave Heffern, Park Tudor brings another
talented group to this year�s finals, its fifth appearance overall and
first since 2000. The Panthers� strength appears to be in their singles
lineup, where No. 1 Megan Martzolf is unbeaten at 21-0 and No. 2 Mary
Beth Winingham is 20-0 this season. Not far off that mark is Courtney
Rogers, who is 14-1 in the No. 3 spot.
Park Tudor, the state champion in 1998 and 2000, is 10-2 this
season in dual matches, falling twice to 2004 state champion North
Central of Indianapolis in a three-day stretch to end the regular
season, 3-2 and 4-1. The Panthers avenged those losses May 28, however,
downing North Central, 3-2, in the semistate championship match. (Park
Tudor had earlier survived a 3-2 match against Center Grove in the
morning semifinal.)
Evansville Memorial, coached by Susan Springhetti, returns to the
state finals for the second year in a row and will be looking for its
sixth state championship (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996). The Tigers
finished fourth last year after losing to North Central in the state
semis and to Munster in the consolation match.
Five of the seven players from last year�s team return for another
shot at the championship, with the only change occurring in the two
doubles teams. Catherine Hofmann and Jessica Bello were 18-8 a year ago
at No. 1 doubles. This season, Hofmann has teamed with Abby Greif for a
19-1 season record at No. 1, while Bello is 20-0 along with No. 2
partner Reva Mehdiratta.
Zionsville is making its third appearance at the state level in the
last four years, missing out only in 2004. The Eagles� only blemish of
the season came on the road and at the hands of the team�s upcoming
opponent as Park Tudor handed Zionsville a 3-2 setback April 30.
Pat Slama, the coach in each of the school�s previous trips to
state, hopes to get the Eagles to the championship round, a hurdle that
tripped the previous Zionsville state teams. This year�s team features
Mary Elizabeth Campbell at No. 2 singles (21-1) and the No. 2 doubles
team of Margo Harrington and Vicky Nasteva (13-0).
After a long drought, Culver Academies survived a pair of semistate
opponents May 28 and returns to the finals for the first time since
1982, its only other appearance. That year, the Eagles fell to eventual
champ North Central in the semifinal round. This year�s edition brings
in an 18-1 dual record, which includes a pair of 3-2 semistate
victories over Warsaw and Crown Point. Culver�s only loss came by a 4-1
score to Plymouth in late April, though the Eagles avenged that loss
with a 4-1 win for the regional championship.
Coached by Jarin Jaffee, Culver Academies is buoyed by its three
singles players that are a collective 62-1 this year. Lora Dushanova is
20-1 at No. 1, while Romina Clemente is 21-0 in the No. 2 spot and
Avryl Klich is 21-0 at No. 3.
Note: Also in play June 4 at North Central are the regional rounds
of the Individual Singles and Doubles State Tournaments. Singles
players and doubles teams that win twice on Saturday will advance to
the Individual State Finals on June 10-11 at North Central.
STATE FINALS
When: June 4
Where: North Central, 1801 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN
Admission: Free
10 a.m. ââ?¬â?? Semifinals: No. 1 Park Tudor (16-2) vs. No. 6
Zionsville (21-1); No. 3 Evansville Memorial (17-1) vs. No. 17 Culver
Academies (18-1).
2 p.m. ââ?¬â?? Championship and consolation matches.
Processing your request, Please wait....
