Columbus North’s Hank Lin returns a shot at No. 1 singles during the state quarterfinals Friday against South Bend St. Joseph at North Central.
By Mark Ambrogi
For The Republic
INDIANAPOLIS — The difference for the Columbus North boys tennis team came down to one third-set tiebreaker.
South Bend Saint Joseph freshman Oliver Hix edged North senior Parth Shah 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 2 singles to lift the 15th-ranked Huskies over the No. 5 Bull Dogs 3-2 Friday in the IHSAA state quarterfinals at North Central High School. St. Joseph’s (18-1) will play No. 1 Brebeuf Jesuit in the Saturday’s semifinals. No. 4 Center Grove and No. 6 Jasper will meet in the other semi.
“We played very well,” said North coach Kendal Hammel, whose team finished with a 20-2 record. “All three singles players went three sets. I can’t take anything away from Parth. He came up a little short. He played a lot of heart into his match as the team did. It didn’t go how we wanted it too, but there is still a lot to be proud of and Hank (Lin) gets to move on to state (singles) next week.”
Lin (24-0) rallied to defeat sophomore Jacob Hix, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 singles. The opening set was the first one Lin had dropped this season.
“Hank stayed with it, he just didn’t fold,” Hammel said. “He hadn’t dropped a set all season. He had to work from behind, get his feet moving, thinking about changing his strategy and what he needed to do, wearing the guy down and then playing through the cramping at the end.”
Leading 5-3 in the third set, Lin suffered cramps for the first time this season.
“I felt the key was to focus on the small details, trying not to look into the future and focus on every single point,” Lin said of the comeback. “I tried to move him around because I know moving him around will open up more opportunities to finish the point, so I really focused on that and staying disciplined. I really focused on keeping the ball in play until I get the open opportunity. It worked out until 5-3 (in the third) when I started cramping. I stuck to my plan and executed well.”
Lin said he felt stronger after some brief medical attention, but felt a few spasms.
At No. 3 singles, North senior Adrian Perez had to replace junior Teddy Littrell, who injured his ankle in the team’s 4-1 victory over Cathedral Oct. 12 at semistate. Ben Brady rallied to defeat Perez 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
“Adrian did well, he won the first set, but that’s a lot to ask for someone who doesn’t play varsity all season,” Hammel said. “He probably played six or seven (varsity) matches, but to be thrown into the state tournament is a whole new ballgame.”
North got its other point at No. 2 doubles, where senior Michael Crossman and sophomore Sashu Sabapathy beat Cormac Kennedy and Jack Mattison 6-2, 6-0. Nick Nguyen and Jake Westberry topped North senior Yoki Murabayashi and junior Vince Sasse 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles.
The Bull Dogs reached the state championship match last season before losing to Carmel 3-2.
“The four seniors have made it to state every single year, so that’s a lot to be proud of,” Hammel said. They had a great four-year career.”
Lin said all the players kept battling. Shah finished with a 21-2 record.
“Parth played an incredible match against a really good opponent,” Lin said.
Oliver Hix got serenaded by his teammates after the victory as he was celebrating his birthday. St. Joseph coach Matthew Halfpenny said although he is freshman, Oliver Hix (17-1) has played in a lot of tough junior tennis matches and also plays hockey.
“He also has an older brother who plays No. 1 (singles),” Halfpenny said. “He’s been in these situations enough whether it be in tournaments or high school or in their driveway, competing against each other. I had full confidence in him. We just had to make sure he was not getting distracted (with everyone watching). I just wanted to make sure he was organized and I always talk with our guys about making sure they are organized and whatever their plan is, go out and execute it, then accept the outcome of that plan. Then move on to the next point. I’m proud of these guys, they did a great job and really, really earned this.”
