Boys Tennis

The Trojans returned to play for the first time in 2020 and began their season with an all-around strong mental performance. #1d Sam McCarthy-Young (12)/James Duncan (12) took a 6-2, 6-4 win for the Trojans’ first point. Close behind was #2d William Pruitt (10)/Alex Konvolinka (10) who saw their match go 6-3, 6-1. Grant Millman (12) at #1s took a close lead in the first set 7-5. Throughout the second set, neither player could hold serve and the final five games were each a break. Grant took a commanding lead in the tiebreak and didn’t look back, winning 7-6(2) to clinch the third point for the Trojans. The fourth point came from #2s Sam Annakin, after falling 3-6 in the first set, collected himself and took a 6-3, 5-0 lead. Sam admits he “got comfortable” and strayed away from his game plan, landing him in a tight 5-4 third set. He closed it out ultimately getting off court with a 6-4 dub.

Against a stronger Ben Davis team than we have seen in a few years, the Trojans kept their cool and prevailed on all courts 5-0.

An “oh what could have been!” The Trojans fall 1-4 on the evening after ultimately possessing a chance to win the match 4-1. The sole point earned for the Trojans was an outstanding performance by #2d sophomores William Pruitt & Alex Konvolinka 6-3, 6-4. Grant Millman saw the light tonight, putting together a heck of a match at #1s. En route to a 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-10 defeat, Millman showed incredible patience and grit. He forced his opponent to beat him in 20 ball rallies time and time again, an outstanding feat considering the history of the name on the front of his opponents jersey. Sam Annakin at #2s had an equally impressive singles battle tonight also seeing an incredible number of 15-20 ball rallies. However, after winning the first set in confident stride 6-2, the Panther rallied to overcome his deficit taking Sam in three sets, 4-6, 4-6.

Varsity saw straight losses come on all courts despite close efforts by #2s Sam Annakin (4-6, 4-6) & #2d William Pruitt/William Dietrick (2-6, 6-7(5)).

The Wildcats put out their three best players at 1-2-3 singles tonight and cleaned house on the Trojans. The closest match was Sam Annakin at #2s, falling 3-6, 4-6. The sole Trojan victory came from an awesome performance by #1d Sam McCarthy-Young/James Duncan winning 6-4, 7-5. Sam McCarthy-Young moved exceptionally well at the net after spending the day before grinding through doubles drills. This earned him the Player of the Week award and shiny new blue tee!

Ethan Pratt (12) took on Levi Wojtalik at #1s and just keeps improving on the year. He played his best tennis to date this season, but Wojtalik was firing on all cylinders. Sam McCarthy-Young/James Duncan were in at #2d and fell down 4-6 in the first set before battling back to a 7-6(6) second set tiebreak win. The duo couldn’t keep up their dominance at the net and dropped a 3-6 third set.

Sam Annakin/James Duncan were in at #1d and took home a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Grant Millman was heavily tested at #1s where he had a very up and down match. He started up 1-0, but fell behind 1-4. He then strung together the next 11/12 games to take a 7-5, 5-1 lead. He let Mark Baker hang around before closing out the second set 6-3. Proud of him as he dug deep and found his way to win. This was Grant’s best match in holding true to his consistency and only taking dictating the point after it had developed into a eight ball plus rally.

#10 Guerin is a tough foe this year. Despite their #1 being out again (but this time due to the ACT), their freshman got the best of Grant Millman 1-6, 0-6. Sam Annakin couldn’t quite repeat his challenging performance last week @ Guerin dropping his match 2-6, 1-6. James Duncan was in at #3s, and despite his best attempt, fell 0-6, 0-6. Sam McCarthy-Young/Ethan Pratt in at #1d just couldn’t hold serve enough to go the distance falling 1-6, 3-6. William Pruitt/William Dietrick in at #2d played such a fun match to watch. They were kings of the sandy court 9 and did their best to test Guerin for two solid hours winning the first set 7-5, while falling behind 3-6 in the second. They ultimately dropped a third set tiebreak 5-10.

Terre Haute North put out a tough 1-2 singles line up besting our guys in straight sets. James Duncan saw the daylight and was determined to earn the W at #3s, but it was just a matter of needing a few more penetrating serves. He fell by a single break each set, 4-6, 4-6. Sam McCarthy-Young/Ethan Pratt faced a #1d team who’s aggression at the net took our guys by surprise. The kings of court 9 were at it again coming out of the gates hot to take the first set 6-3. The two let serving problems plague them in the second set falling 3-6. They jumped out to a rather large early lead in the tiebreak, but let THN hang around too long and come back. THN served out the match to dash the hopes of our Trojans boys in a 9-11 defeat.

The promise that had shone through all day since 10am finally came to fruition about 4:30pm on Saturday. The first win of the day came to the kings of the sand trap on court 9, where William Dietrick/William Pruitt took charge 6-1, 6-1. Ethan Pratt/Sam McCarthy-Young at #1d were outmaneuvered at the net and on their serves, falling 0-6, 3-6. The nerves started to tighten up as Alex Konvolinka dropped his #3s match 2-6, 6-1,8-10. Grant Millman was next court home, earning a 6-4, 3-6, 12-10 win at #1s. Sam Annakin put just enough together after a shaky middle to win in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 and clinched a 3-2 decision for the match.

Grant Millman at #1s took care of business against a fellow senior 6-4, 6-3. Sam Annakin at #2s pulled through in a third set barn burner 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. The sophomore duo of Dietrick/Pruitt came through clutch in a third at #2d 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2 after Covenant pulled a wonky line up on us and put their #1s player who had played nearly the full season at that position suddenly in at #2d. Hmmm!!

Muterspaugh cleaned up his record on the Annakin boys and let us know about it! Boys took a pretty clean licking at Mt. Vernon’s new courts this year. #1s Millman was the closest singles match, falling 4-6, 4-6 after suffering what we later learned a wrist injury chasing a ball into the fence. #2d Dietrick/Pruitt almost took down two seniors after winning the first set 6-4, but fell 6-10 in a third set tie break. Impressive new facility, hoping the BCHS tennis facility looks just like it some day…..Hmmmmm!!!

Great rebound match looking towards city. We never look ahead, but this one felt good for seeds in city. Duncan/McCarthy-Young & Dietrick/Pruitt each snagged a 6-0, 6-0 win at #1d and #2d, respectively. Millman took the the lone clean score at #1s 6-0, 6-0.

The #21 state ranked Braves showed us a good look at a top 25 team. Pretty upperclassmen heavy match between the two teams, looking forward to this one next year. They can put out a good singles line up, but will our young but experienced depth carry us home? To be continued……..

A young Lebanon team gave us a run this evening. Millman got a WHITE BALL 6-3, 6-0 W!! Pratt in at #3s had the most entertaining match of the evening, however, I’m sure his parents and our coaching staffs new gray hairs might not 100% agree! He had a few ebbs and flows, but pulled it out when we needed him 10-7 in the third. McCarthy-Young/Duncan went up against their best position and came out firing with a 6-2 first set win. But, we allowed communication and our inconsistencies to hold us back while dropping the third 1-6.

Wheeewwwiii this was a HUGE match for the city tournament. Probably helped seal a podium finish with some gutsy performances tonight on the Eagles courts. Sam Annakin protected his seed winning 6-1, 6-1, but Millman and Pratt now face an uphill battle as they fell against younger guys. McCarthy-Young/Duncan came through in the clutch tonight 6-4, 7-6(2) just streaking to the finish in their tiebreak. You guys will appreciate what that means for the city draw as well.

James Duncan saw his PT come at #2s where we needed him. He fell 4-6 in a first set, but ran his guy just enough that he came up limp on a point and could not keep playing. The INT (RET) got our only point of the night. Really thought Dietrick stepped up to play in a tight spot, but we couldn’t get the #1d pair across the finish line as they fell 6-7(2) in a third set tiebreak. It was a #1d court with three seniors on it, and our senior and sophomore let that one get away.

A really hard fought 2nd place finish this year. Tough to come by in the 2020 season and these guys did it. We had #2s and #2d in the finals, but that was a barn burner on the finish. Really came down to points, but Grant Millman might be the hero securing us the runner-up with a win against the regular #1s player from Covenant as he had three different casts on four limbs.

We sure do love 3-2 wins! Better than the alternative. Sam Annakin had a de facto #2s win 6-1, 6-1. The doubles got better through the match and played their way into the evening winning both doubles courts. Way to go guys, a nice final regular season win against a good Rebel team.

We drew #14 state ranked Cathedral. After facing them in a dual match, just facing them in city, and now to be sent packing in sectional…it’s always a tough draw. As a coach, I like to see some new blood on court and face off against the Panthers, who we don’t know as well and they don’t know us. Cathedral’s singles guys are all gone next year, but so are ours. They took us 1-6, 0-6 in each of the three. Three out of four doubles players were also seniors! Our guys hung around and played well, but it just was too much age and experience to overcome.
What a season. Man, this entire experience was marked by COVID, new protocols, weird traveling logistics, parents being barred from close viewing proximities, etc. But, in the end we were so fortunate to run a safe, successful, and enjoyable season for these boys. The young guys are itching to get their chance to play in and I hope they take this feeling right now with them and use it as a motivator to keep playing, keep fighting, and keep getting better.
This may also be an interesting look next year as Cathedral graduates 6/7 varsity players. We know they’ll fill in the ranks, but we are excited about what’s coming up through ours!