Everything played out about how it went during the regular season, but that didn’t take away from some exciting moments May 7 at the NET Championships at The College of Wooster.
Central Christian tied with Canton McKinley for first at the tournament with 60 points and finished second on the season overall with 136 points. Orrville finished second in the tournament with 45 points and third overall with 111, followed by Hiland, scoring 32 for fourth at the tourney and overall. Chippewa scored 17 at the tourney for seventh, and Triway finished with 13 at the tourney.
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For the Comets, it was a day to remember as they had players seeded at all five spots for the first time, and it paid big dividends. Advancing all five to the semifinals, Central Christian picked up three titles and a third- and a fourth-place finish on the day.
“These guys play for this date,” said Comets coach Lisa Otto. “We try to do as well as we can in the season, but then we want to make up those points in the tournament. They are locked in. It’s a team effort. Every match matters. Even if you’re not playing for first, you’re playing for your team.”
Headlining the way for Central Christian was Aaron Lehman, who outlasted Orrville’s Peyton Casto in a spirited 8-5 battle at second singles. For Lehman, it capped a day that saw him pick up wins over the Bulldogs and Alliance on the road to clinching a title.
“Aaron has worked so hard in the offseason,” said Otto. “He has improved his serve, his consistency and just got stronger this year. He was one that was in my room this year during the winter, asking, "When is open tennis?" It feels good to see him have success out there. He’s really worked hard to get there.”
CC's Ezra Coleman and Adin Horst earned an 8-6 win over Canton McKinley in the finals as they outlasted Marlington and Red Riders tandem Rhys Coleman and Dane Vodika to win at first doubles.
“Our first doubles team is a little bit of a wild card," said Otto. "When they are on, they are on, and when they are off, they are off. But they cover a lot of ground, and they move together well. They are just working on improving their consistency and putting a whole match together when the time comes.”
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Jude Patterson and Ben Hottle cranked out an 8-5 win at second doubles over Orrville’s Parker Hanna and Kyle Miller in the finals to cap the Comets’ three titles. Also swinging the racket well was first singles player Drew Badertscher, who finished third with an 8-5 win, and Braeden Brown, who finished fourth at third singles.
Hiland's Ben Weaver hustles to keep a volley alive May 7 at the NET Championships at The College of Wooster.Joshua McWilliams
For Hiland, it was a quick shuffle of the deck for coach Carrie Jones as Max Jones was ruled out sick and Ben Weaver got the call. Making his varsity debut, Weaver worked with Ryan Baird at second doubles, and they pulled off what some might call the match of the day. Opening against Alliance, the tandem rallied to even the score at 7-7 before winning the match in a heart-stopping tiebreaker to advance. They then lost a pair of tough matches to Orrville and Canton McKinley, but nothing could take away from the momentum built.
“Moments like this build confidence,” said Jones. “We have two young players playing here. One is a first-year player, and the other is making his varsity debut. Getting that win under their belt only bolsters that confidence.”
At first doubles, Clay Lehman and Quinn Mullet were lights out, punching an 8-6 win over Massillon before falling to the Red Riders in a close 8-5 match to finish fourth.
Noah Troyer came out swinging at third singles as he opened with an 8-0 win, then held off CC's Brown 8-6 before falling in tiebreaker fashion in the finals, 8-7.
“Noah held his own, and both of our doubles teams put on a show,” said Jones.
One of the big storylines for the Red Riders was junior Peyton Casto. Getting a kidney transplant in August, Casto showed no ill effects, and if anything, he looked sharp as he led the Red Riders with some strong tennis at second singles. He won his opening match 8-0, notched his finals ticket with an 8-4 win and then gave Lehman everything he could handle before falling.
“It’s truly an inspiring story,” said Orrville coach Kent Smith. “Truly impressive for all he has been through, and his positive outlook throughout has been so uplifting.”
Orrville's second doubles team of Hanna and Miller finished runner-up in a tough 8-5 setback. Peeling off wins of 8-1 and 8-4, they showed the lessons learned throughout the season paid off. Orrville’s first doubles team of Vodika and Coleman battled well in bouncing back to take third place.
“Our two seniors hung in there and gave a good effort to take third,” said Smith. “This second doubles team, I am super happy with. They are both first-year players that played well in the tournament. For our second doubles team to get to the finals, that’s awesome.”
For Smith, everything played out just about how he envisioned.
“We beat everyone that we beat in-season and hoped to beat someone that beat us at the end,” he said. “We’re right about where I expected us to be. We’re a solid third.”
