INDIANAPOLIS — As he has all season, senior Matthew True shined the brightest for the New Palestine boys tennis team on Wednesday.
The Dragons were eliminated from the regional round by virtue of a 4-1 loss to Fishers, but True advanced individually.
True garnered New Palestine’s sole point at the No. 1 singles spot with a straight-set victory by scores of 6-3 and 2-0 after his opponent retired due to injury.
New Palestine head coach Jean Graham said that True has been instrumental to the team’s success.
“He’s our rock and we look up to him and I’m just amazed how well he could hit the ball,” she said. “It’s a real blessing to have him on the team.”
Graham also said that the team will support True in the next round, in contrast to the nature of an individual tournament.
“We’ll be here to back him and hopefully we can get him in this individual tournament and hopefully get him to take it away,” she said. “He’s worked hard. He’s worked hard since elementary for this. So we wish him all the best. We’re going to be here to help him.”
True will compete individually in the regional at North Central on Thursday.
True’s season will continue, but for the rest of New Palestine’s senior class, it will not.
Graham said that the class has led the team well.
“They worked through the summer and that’s made a big difference,” she said. “They’re just a good group of boys. Strong academically and they’re good sports and good players and they get along. They’re just a good group and they’re good leaders. Good role models.”
Fishers came in to the match ranked ninth in the state and showed the Dragons why.
The Tigers won four points in straight sets, including two 6-0 sweeps in the No. 2 doubles spot and the No. 3 singles spot.
New Palestine’s No. 1 doubles pairing displayed perhaps the most resiliency in the match.
Ben Blachly and Dane Reid lost the first set 6-0 and went down 4-1 in the second. Even with the match already decided, the pair fought back to a 5-4 deficit before finally surrendering the final game.
Even with the loss, Graham thinks that the Dragons had some major accomplishments this season.
“I’m extremely happy,” she said. “I mean, I won the county. I won the sectional. I’ve got one moving through the regional now here. This is about the best we’ve ever done since I’ve been with the program, so I’m extremely happy with them. I’ve got good boys. They played hard and they gave it their all.”
As for True, Graham thinks that he has a good chance going forward.
“I love his chances, the way he’s playing right now,” she said. “He’ll be tough to beat. He’s playing well and hitting the ball well.”
