Columbus North’s Austin Clark hits a return shot in a sectional final tennis match against Greensburg’s Jacob Duerstock at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Sept. 30, 2023.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
It took until late in the second set of the No. 2 singles match for Columbus North to drop a game Friday, but that would be the only one the Bull Dogs would surrender all afternoon.
Second-ranked North put together another dominating performance in rolling to a 5-0 win against Greensburg to capture the North Sectional for the 12th consecutive year.
“It’s good to get another easy win and win sectional,” senior Anvay Atram said. “We played good, but we still have more to go.”
Atram and fellow senior Amrit Kar, last year’s state doubles runners-up, rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win against Jack McKinsey and Reece Beaver at No. 1 doubles.
“It’s great winning sectional again,” Kar said. “Winning a match in general is just a great feeling, but I think we came out there playing aggressive. It was a little sluggish start, but we just kept being aggressive and just taking control of the net and attacking off groundstrokes and everything. We just went with our game plan pretty much.”
That was far from the only 6-0, 6-0 win for the Bull Dogs (18-1). Hank Lin blanked Dan Fisse at No. 1 singles.
“I didn’t play really well,” Lin said. “I think it helped me that it was really cloudy, no sun. I think that helped us.”
North senior Austin Clark, who a couple hours after the match was named Homecoming King at halftime of the Bull Dogs’ football game, blanked Jacob Duerstock 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
“I think everybody played great today,” Clark said. “Obviously, it’s really exciting. I’s normally a pretty easy title for us to win, but we can’t take anything for granted. We’re really grateful, really happy, really excited and looking forward to regional and going all the way to state, hopefully.”
The Bull Dogs’ other 6-0, 6-0 victory came at No. 2 doubles, where Michael Crossman and Yoki Murabayashi blanked Lance Coy and Justin Adkins. Parth Shah beat Mason McNulty 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
“I was really pleased,” North coach Kendal Hammel said. “They’re a young team we’ve not seen before. I thought every position came out and really played well. They were aggressive, they were quick in their points when they needed to. I thought that was a good warmup match to get ready for next week.”
The Bull Dogs, who have traveled to Bloomington for the regional the past decade, will host a regional this year after the IHSAA realigned the tournament. North will host the winner of the Seymour Sectional sometime between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The regional final will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
