The season that Crawfordsville boys tennis has had is something that will be talked about for quite sometime. After winning 5-0 over county rival Southmont in Friday’s sectional semi-finals, the host Athenians were looking for some redemption in the sectional championship. Lebanon, the team that defeated CHS and won the out-right Sagamore Conference title, was all that stood between the Athenians and two straight titles.
Lebanon took an early 2-1 lead over CHS with wins at one doubles and two singles. Then the two doubles team of Thomas Bowling and Henry Bannon evened the match at 2-2 with a win. That left three singles and Rowan Gambrel. Gambrel who had been in countless three-set matches earlier this season found himself in the most important one of his career. He trailed 3-1 before winning five straight matches to win 6-3 and give the Athenians a thrilling 3-2 sectional title win over the Tigers.
“We used the term cathartic for how this season has gone and how that match went,” Crawfordsville coach Craig Brainard said. “This team has battled injuries multiple times this season and we felt like we had unfinished business with Lebanon. James was unable to play the first time and now we didn’t have Wyatt. Being able to win a sectional title for a second year in a row felt awesome because these guys played amazing and it was some of the best tennis we’ve played all season. I couldn’t be more proud of all of them.”
James Murphy got CHS on the board with a win at one singles, while Bowling and Bannon along with Gambrel secured the three wins that CHS needed. Nolan Watt stepped in two replace an injured Wyatt Motz at two singles for the Athenians. Jude Coursey and Jude Hutchison were bested at one doubles by Jack Ferrell and Reece Guyman.
The fact that Gambrel has been in so many three set matches leading up to the sectional final, it felt only fitting that it would be yet another three-setter and up to him to bring home the sectional title.
“Rowan has just been that three set man for us all season,” Brainard said. “You couldn’t have really scripted it any better than it lined up. For us to have to go through Lebanon to win a sectional and it come down to Rowan again in another close three set match, seeing him overcome that was one of the coolest moments I’ve had as a coach and was probably a top moment of the season for us as a team. Something just clicked with Rowan after he went down 3-1. He played high percentage, consistent tennis but wasn’t overly aggressive. “
Crawfordsville as been through the ringer this season. Murphy missed a good chunk of the year with a foot injury and now CHS didn’t have Motz in the sectional. The adversity that the Athenians have been dealt with and now overcome makes the sectional title a little extra sweeter.
“This is a very special team for sure,” Brainard added. “Even though we’ve been missing guys at different points, everyone just stuck their heads downs and continued to push forward. We could’ve let not having James or not having Wyatt de-rail us but it didn’t. Our job as coaches it to make sure every single player on this team grows. The adversity that they had this year will definitely be with them well beyond the tennis court and that’s what it’s all about.”
Crawfordsville now advances to the Regional which ironically will be hosted by Lebanon beginning on Tuesday. The opponent for CHS will be none other than the top team in the state in the Carmel Greyhounds.
“We’re using the phrase that great moments come from great opportunity,” Brainard said of the tall order that lies ahead. “We had a great opportunity in the sectional final and we made a great moment out of it. Going to go and face the top team in the state is a privilege for us and a reward for all their hard work they’ve put into this season. It’s going to be a cool to go up against a team of that caliber.”
The Greyhounds and Athenians will get underway on Tuesday from Lebanon beginning at 5 p.m.
