INDIANAPOLIS — The New Palestine boys tennis team turned back the clock on Tuesday night.
For the first time since 2014, the New Palestine Dragons prevailed in the first round of the North Central Regional to advance into Wednesday’s team championship final.
The Dragons (19-3) defeated Heritage Christian, 3-2, in the regional semifinal round to earn the right to face fifth-ranked, host North Central in the finals.
New Palestine’s doubles teams secured the program’s first two points before senior Colin Darley stepped up to bring home the victory at No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-1.
Devon Bird and Moses Haynes were the first Dragons off the court with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles. The No. 1 doubles tandem of Jackson Havel and Clayton Wesley clinched the second point with a 6-1, 7-5 win.
New Palestine senior Zach Au battled but lost at No. 3 singles, 4-6, 2-6, while senior Ezra Schwier fell in a three-set marathon at No. 1 singles, 0-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-10.
North Central defeated No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern, 3-2, on Tuesday to setup Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. regional championship match.
The last time New Palestine reached the regional final in 2014, the program defeated Lawrence North, 3-2, in the semifinal before losing 5-0 to North Central in the final.
The Dragons won the Hancock County and sectional team titles this season and have now added regional finalist to their list of accolades.
Marauders’ Koon moves on
Mt. Vernon’s Adam Koon continued his redemption tour Tuesday at North Central High School.
The Marauders’ No. 1 singles player advanced into the IHSAA’s individual portion of the state tournament on Friday night by defeating New Palestine’s Ezra Schwier in three sets during the team sectional finals.
Koon, a sophomore, had previously lost to the Dragon during the regular season.
At North Central during Tuesday’s individual sectional tournament, Koon avenged another regular-season loss, by defeating Lawrence North’s Kyle Manner, 6-3, 7-5.
Koon’s win secured him another postseason match on Wednesday at North Central as an individual sectional competitor at 4:30 p.m. Koon improved his season record to 17-6.
Cougars duo falls at sectional
The Greenfield-Central No. 1 doubles duo of Corbin Tilley and Jack Weidner lost during the opening round of the IHSAA individual sectional tournament at North Central High School on Tuesday.
The twosome rolled to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Mt. Vernon seniors Isaac Damer and Brock Barr during the team sectional tournament last week to advance as individuals.
The victory marked the seniors’ 14th this season, but their opponents from Warren Central ended their run on Tuesday, 2-6, 4-6.
As a team, the Cougars finished the season 15-6 overall and 5-2 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
Volleyball
Sectional pairings set
The IHSAA released its 2021-22 volleyball sectional pairings this week.
Class 4A Mt. Vernon and Greenfield-Central will compete in Sectional 9 at Yorktown, beginning on Tuesday.
The Marauders drew Richmond in the opening round on Tuesday and will play at 6 p.m. Greenfield-Central will face HHC foe Pendleton Heights in the second quarterfinal game on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The winners from both matches will play in the sectional semifinal round on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. The sectional championship is set for Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
Class 4A New Palestine received a first-round bye in Sectional 10 at North Central, and will open postseason play in the semifinal on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11:30 a.m. They will face the winner between Lawrence North and Lawrence Central, who play in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Oct. 14.
The Sectional 10 championship final is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
Class 2A Eastern Hancock travels to Sectional 41 in Union County this year and opens postseason play on Thursday, Oct. 14.
The Royals face host Union County at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing into the semifinal round on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. against Centerville, who drew the bye.
The sectional championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
Cross Country
Royals take third at MEC
The Eastern Hancock Royals boys cross country team finished third with 102 points during the Mid-Eastern Conference meet on Saturday at Blue River Valley High School.
Wapahani was the team champion.
Royals’ freshman Preston Markley ran a personal best 17:44 to place eighth overall to make the All-MEC team.
Luke McCartney finished with a 19:01, Brandon Metz had a 19:05, Luken Edwards finished with a 19:29 and John Henry Gray ran a personal best 19:59.
Freshman Olivia Evans led the Royals girls team with a personal best 21:50 and was also named All-MEC with her ninth-place finish.
“I’m impressed with the steady improvement of our two freshman and believe they have adjusted to the longer distance and are beginning to peak at the right time,” Eastern Hancock head coach Rex Putt said. “I’m excited to see what they can do at sectional this Saturday.”
