NEW PALESTINE — As Adam Koon’s attempted forehand shot fluttered short and dropped in front of the net, New Palestine senior Ezra Schwier raised both arms before he gently placed his racket on the court and turned to face the crowd.
“Come on!,” Schwier exclaimed as he hopped around in celebration of the third-set, winning point during his No. 1 singles championship match against Koon, a Mt. Vernon sophomore.
Minutes later, New Palestine’s senior duo of Jackson Havel and Clayton Wesley let out another jovial third-set, winning roar at No. 1 doubles as the former tossed his racket behind him, incidentally striking the fence, and the latter fell to his knees.
The Dragons’ final two individual title victories during the Hancock County boys tennis tournament on Saturday were grueling, but worth every ounce of effort as both highlighted the team’s championship day on its home courts.
After nine consecutive seasons of county dominance from 2010-2018, the Dragons are champions once again, ending Mt. Vernon’s two-year championship run behind four individual tournament titles and a third-place finisher in Colin Darley at No. 2 singles.
The Dragons totaled 30 points to claim their 16th county team title since 1998 and 11th in 13 years, while Greenfield-Central was second (17), Mt. Vernon third (10) and Eastern Hancock fourth (3).
“We felt a little weight on our shoulders, and we really wanted to work hard this year and get it back,” Schwier remarked on the Dragons’ return to prominence. “Sure enough, we were able to build each other up, grow as a team and bring it back.”
For Schwier, his title at No. 1 singles signified a repeat. The Dragons’ team captain rallied back from a 2-6 loss in the first set against Koon to win the next two, 6-4, 6-1.
“I figured experience would kind of give me the edge in this match-up, but I just needed to problem solve throughout the match, whether that be take a step back or different shots. Whatever I needed to do to win the match,” Schwier said.
Schwier never let the moment faze him, even as Koon charged back in the second set and wind gusts reaching up to 20 mph with a steady 12 mph breeze sweeping across the courts throughout the afternoon.
“He’s one of my co-captains and very much a leader. He’s a great role model for the younger kids,” New Palestine head coach Jean Graham said. “His hard work has paid off. I’m so happy for him being a senior. This was very important to him.
“Hats off to the Mt. Vernon player, he’s going to be a force to deal with the next two years. It could have went either way, but he’s the senior with a little bit more experience.”
New Palestine’s Ezra Schwier repeats! Beats Mt Vernon’s Adam Koon in a thrilling, three-set, Hancock County No. 1 singles title match 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Second straight singles title for the Dragons senior @NPHSDragons @GDRsports pic.twitter.com/Z62WEONLEy
— Rich Torres (@RichTorres23) September 11, 2021
The Dragons had confidence on their side after defeating Greenfield-Central, head-to-head, during their regular-season meeting, 3-2, with Schwier winning that match as well.
Greenfield-Central had already defeated Mt. Vernon, 4-1, days prior during their regular-season, Hoosier Heritage Conference match, so it was only fitting the two programs had a combined seven spots of the possible 10 in the tournament’s five championship matches.
The county foes faced off at No. 3 singles where Dragons’ senior Zach Au won over Cougars’ Caden Robertson, 6-1, 6-1.
The only other head-on meeting in the finals unfolded at No. 1 doubles where emotions ran high as Havel and Wesley battled Cougars’ Jack Weidner and Corbin Tilley to win, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-4.
“It was very competitive. That’s what I thought was going to happen going into it. I knew they’ve been preparing ever since we beat them in regular season. They were motivated,” Tilley said. “They had that fire in their eyes to come out and beat us. That’s exactly what they did, fair and square. It was a good match, three sets, and it will come down to sectional.”
Havel and Wesley recently became a pair on the court for the Dragons. The last time New Palestine and Greenfield-Central played in late August, Wesley teamed with senior Devon Bird at two doubles.
The team’s lineup revamp paid dividends the second time around with Greenfield-Central’s Weidner and Tilley winning the first round last month.
“That’s a real good win. They’re both seniors and we switched them up because they compliment their games a little bit better and it’s worked out well,” Graham said. “They’re both very competitive, academically are very strong and good kids. You can count on them.”
Bird was equally as reliable at No. 2 doubles with his new partner, Moses Haynes, a freshman, with the tandem defeating Eastern Hancock’s Peyton Stephens and Mile Wennen in the finals, 6-0, 6-1. The Dragons pushed past Greenfield-Central’s Casey Hunt and Tyler White, 6-2, 6-2, in the semifinals to reach the title match.
“The emotions were extremely high. That’s probably the highest type of emotional in a match that I’ve played in my life. I’ve played a lot of three-setters, but nothing compares to that,” Havel said. “It’s that intense when you scream and yell after every single point, even on double faults or complete whiffs. That’s what it’s like when you play New Pal-Greenfield, I guess.”
The four seniors’ connection on and off the court made it even more entertaining with both doubles teams jarring back and forth after every point.
“Especially, when you’re buddies, and you know each other and play each other, over and over. They got this win, this time,” Tilley said.
The Cougars didn’t leave the tournament empty handed.
Chris Long won the No. 2 singles title with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Eastern Hancock’s Nolan Stout after defeating New Palestine’s Colin Darley in a three-set semifinal, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
“If a few points go our way, we’re right there for sure,” Greenfield-Central head coach Michael Turpin said. “No one plays a perfect game, it’s just a matter of being able to overcome them and move on to the next point.”
The Cougars turned the page in the consolation finals as Matt Hyre and Hunt and White regrouped to place third at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles, respectively.
“This is twice now. We played them during the regular season, and I didn’t have my full lineup. We’re playing them, again, here at county, and I didn’t have my full lineup, and we’re right there,” Turpin said. “So, I’m very excited for sectional (in a few weeks) when we’re all here. I feel very confident going into sectional.”
Mt. Vernon finished with Koon’s runner-up performance and two third-placers in Brady Pearson at No. 3 singles and Manny Downs and Robbie Moore at No. 1 doubles.
The Dragons aren’t done, however.
With a county team title checked off their 2021 to-do list, they are now turning their attention towards a sectional title.
Prior to Mt. Vernon’s back-to-back run at sectional in 2019 and 2020, the Dragons had claimed the trophy for seven straight seasons from 2012-2018 and from 2008-10.
“We’ve all been working super hard. This has been our ultimate goal, and now we’re looking forward to bringing a sectional trophy back to New Pal,” Schwier said.
The Dragons’ 12 seniors overall and six in the starting lineup are determined to pull off the championship double.
“It means so much to us to do this. We came in as freshmen and we didn’t have much of an impact, but we won county our freshmen year as a team, and then Mt. Vernon was incredibly good. We did not perform the way we wanted, so we lost those two years, but it feels so good to win it again and for all of us to be a part of it,” Havel said.
“We know we’re going to run into (Greenfield-Central) again, at least we assume so. If we run into Mt. Vernon, then we’re going to do our best to (beat them) and same thing against Greenfield. We’ve beaten them twice this year now, and I don’t want to jinx it, but we’re obviously, going to go for that three-peat.”
2021 Hancock County Boys Tennis Tournament
Team Scores (Varsity): New Palestine 30, Greenfield-Central 17, Mt. Vernon 7, Eastern Hancock 6.
Varsity Championship Match Results
No. 1 singles: Ezra Schwier, NP def. Adam Koon, MV, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 singles: Chris Long, G-C def. Nolan Stout, EH, 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 singles: Zach Au, NP def. Caden Robertson, G-C, 6-1, 6-1
No. 1 doubles: Jackson Havel/Clayton Wesley, NP def. Jack Weidner/Corbin Tilley, G-C, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 doubles: Moses Haynes/Devon Bird, NP def. Peyton Stephens/Miles Wennen, EH, 6-0, 6-1
Varsity Consolation Match Results
No. 1 singles: Matt Hyre, G-C def. Zeke Dixon, EH, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6
No. 2 singles: Colin Darley, NP def. Matthew Jones, MV, 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 singles: Brady Pearson, MV def. Luke Schilling, EH, 6-3, 4-6, 11-9
No. 1 doubles: Manny Downs/Robbie Moore, MV def. Bryce Wennen/Wyatt Sutton, EH, 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 doubles: Casey Hunt/Tyler White, G-C def. Isaac Damer/Brock Barr, MV, 6-3, 6-3
JV Team Scores: New Palestine 26, Greenfield-Central 21, Mt. Vernon 10, Eastern Hancock 3.
