FORTVILLE — Wind gusts swept across the Mt. Vernon tennis courts at more than 20 mph, but nothing could teeter the chips on the Greenfield-Central Cougars’ shoulders Wednesday afternoon.
Finishing third behind rival New Palestine at the 2020 Hancock County Tennis Championships earlier this month, the Cougars had a point to prove against the Dragons, and they did just that during the Mt. Vernon Sectional quarterfinal round.
Sophomore Matt Hyre secured the Cougars’ first point at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-1, followed by juniors Corbin Tilley and Jackson Weidner, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
Shortly afterwards, junior Robbie Dye clinched match point with a 6-3, 7-5 performance at No. 2 singles en route to the Cougars’ 4-1 victory.
Greenfield-Central (12-5) will compete in today’s sectional semifinal round and will face defending champion Mt. Vernon, who enters postseason play with a county-best 18-1 record.
“There was definitely some added motivation today. I’m pretty sure four of us came in second (at county), but somehow they got ahead of us. That made us upset,” Dye said. “Everyone was needed, and I felt I had to be there for the team to come through.”
Dye hammered home game point with a lightning-quick serve to New Palestine’s Ethan Haeberle, who had no chance to react as the ball struck the perimeter fence on a hard inbounds bounce.
At county, the Cougars tallied 14 team points behind the Dragons’ 16 for third despite No. 1 singles player Carson Gibson, Dye, Weidner and Tilley and No. 2 doubles competitors Nick Grandstaff and Garrett Neumeister all finishing second overall.
The final result didn’t sit well with the Cougars, who defeated New Palestine 4-1 during their regular-season meeting on Aug. 25.
Greenfield-Central’s win over New Palestine marked the team’s first in-season victory against the Dragons since head coach Michael Turpin took over the program in 2016.
The Cougars added another first in the past four years by eliminating the Dragons at sectional.
The Cougars came close to defeating the Dragons previously during sectional play in 2016, but they fell short, 3-2, in the sectional championship.
“Same score both times, 4-1, it feels good, especially with the fact we came out and could get it done two times in a row,” Turpin said.
“County has it’s own point-scoring system, but I had four guys that went into the winner’s bracket and somehow we ended up in third place, so we knew we were better than what that showed.”
Similar to their last head-to-head competition, the Cougars won two of three singles matches and swept both doubles contests.
Neumeister and Grandstaff were challenged, losing the first set 7-6 (4) and trailed 0-3 in the second before winning six straight games to cement the Cougars’ fourth point with a 6-3, 6-4 finish.
“Last time, during the regular season we beat them 4-1, and there were some comments whether or not that was our set victory because they didn’t have their full lineup, so it’s nice to come out here and still get that 4-1 again,” Turpin said.
The Dragons’ one point came at No. 1 singles where defending county champion Ezra Schwier, a junior, beat Gibson for a third time this year.
Schwier and Gibson went three-sets during the regular season with the Dragons’ team leader winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. At county, Schwier prevailed 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) in the finals.
“We’ve had close matches the past two times, so I knew it was going to be difficult. I just knew I had to play my game and stay consistent and patient and hopefully pull it out,” Schwier said. “I just continue to take something away from each match and try to continue to get better.”
Schwier, who is 14-9 on the season, will advance as an individual through the IHSAA state tournament, competing at the sectional level next week.
“We’ve had a great season, and these guys fought hard. I’ll try to go as far as I can and support the Dragons,” Schwier said.
Though disappointed by the loss, Gibson kept his perspective with the Cougars moving into the next round.
“It was tough because I was the healthiest I’ve been anytime. The first time I faced him I was coming off back-to-back three-set matches that lasted three hours, and then the second time, unfortunately, at county, I hit my head on a pole,” Gibson said. “This time I felt better than ever, and I still couldn’t come through.
“It’s unfortunate that I lost, but as a team, that’s all that matters. That’s what it’s all about, honestly.”
Being in position to potentially chase down the team’s first sectional title since 2007 is equally as important.
However, first they will need to derail the host Marauders, who had won 18 consecutive before falling to Delta on Tuesday 3-2 to decide the Hoosier Heritage Conference title.
The Cougars narrowly lost to Mt. Vernon 3-2 on Sept. 9 at home with Gibson and Neumeister and Grandstaff earning both team points. In sectional last year, Mt. Vernon bested Greenfield-Central 5-0 in the semifinals.
“They’re a good team, obviously. Their record speaks for itself. They’re the defending sectional champions. It speaks for itself. But, all season we’ve had the same mindset,” Turpin said.
“Last time we played, it was close, 2-3, and I think we’ve improved a lot. If nothing else, we’re going to come out here and absolutely leave everything we got out here.”
The Marauders’ and Cougars’ match begins at 4:30 p.m. today at Mt. Vernon along with the other semifinal between Pendleton Heights and Eastern Hancock.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Scoreline” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Mt. Vernon Tennis Sectional
Quarterfinal Results
Greenfield-Central 4, New Palestine 1
No. 1 Singles: Ezra Schwier, NP def. Carson Gibson, GC, 7-5, 7-5
No. 2 Singles: Robbie Dye, GC def. Ethan Haeberle, NP, 6-3, 7-5
No. 3 Singles: Matt Hyre, GC def. Caleb Davis, NP, 6-2, 6-1
No. 1 Doubles: Corbin Tilley/Jack Weidner, GC def. Devon Bird/Zach Au, 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 Doubles: Garrett Neumeister/Nick Grandstaff, GC def. Zayden Stiller/Jackson Havel, NP, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4
[sc:pullout-text-end]
