After their first sectional title since 2017 Crawfordsville boys tennis saw their dream 2022 season come to and as they fell 4-1 to Terre Haute South in the Regional Semi-Final on Tuesday.
It was a season that saw Crawfordsville accomplish almost every big goal they set out for. They defeated county rival Southmont in thrilling fashion for their first win of the season back on Sep. 1 and that propelled CHS to a county title. That county title saw them carry that momentum into their first Sagamore Conference title since 2015. That conference title then was turned into a sectional title where yet again they best Southmont 4-1 for the first sectional crown since 2017. All in all it was a season to remember as coach Craig Brainard reflected after seeing their season come to an end.
“The loss stings tonight for sure,” he said. “Terre Haute South is another level of an opponent that we didn’t see much of during the regular season. In the end we’ll remember what a special season this really was. Losing at this point I think will give these guys the fuel they need going into the offseason. We’re going to bring everyone back and will have some middle-schoolers coming up that will challenge these guys and are hungry for some spots. Everyone will have to earn their spots again, but we’re looking forward to making another run with this group.”
The lone win for CHS against the Braves came at two singles as sophomore Wyatt Motz was victorious 6-3, 4-6, 10-6. At one single James Murphy was defeated 6-1, 6-1 and Rowan Gambrel fell 6-4, 6-0. At one doubles the duo of Jude Coursey and Jude Hutchison were bested 6-3, 6-1 while Thomas Bowling and Nolan Watt fell 6-1, 6-0.
The future is definitely bright for these Athenians as they look to defend their county, conference, and sectional titles next fall.
Cox cruises as individual
Southmont’s Adam Cox knows he has the talent to make a deep post-season in his senior season. That run began on Tuesday as Cox competed in the individual sectional tournament against Seeger’s Thomas Lemming. In the end Cox handled his opening round opponent by winning 6-4, 6-1.
“Adam just has to continue to be really ready to play any opponent,” Southmont coach Nathan Poynter said. “The kid he played tonight plays a different style than Adam’s used to seeing so it took him a minute to adjust to that but all in all he handled him well.”
The win for Cox continues his perfect season as he improves to 20-0. He will now square off against Terre Haute North’s James Belmar on Wednesday back at CHS. The winner of that match will play Covington’s Evan Norton for the individual sectional championship on Thursday.
At this point in the season Poynter noted how it’s all about having the right mindset against any opponent that Cox might see down the road.
“We’ve never seen the Terre Haute kid play so Adam just has to be ready to play his style of tennis and not let his opponent control the match. If he can continue to hit the ball deep and continue to hit solid shots like he has all season I think he’ll be fine.”
