LINDEN — For the first time since 1991, Southmont boys’ tennis is the Sagamore Conference champion.
And the Mounties did it in dominating fashion.
Southmont swept all six opposing SAC schools 5-0, including county rival North Montgomery on Friday afternoon to complete a perfect league schedule.
“We finished a couple of our regular season goals tonight by winning county and conference titles, which is a nice accomplishment,” Southmont coach Nathan Poynter said. “Now we have a couple of practices next week to get ready for the postseason, so we still have a lot to play for.”
Adam Cox defeated Will McKinniss 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, while Luke Tesmer beat Hayden Turner 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles, and Luke Watson beat Beckett Martin 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the No. 3 spot.
The duo of Mason Hall and Caden Jones beat Nate McCoy and Brookes Walters 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles, while Chayce Howell and Harrison Haddock beat Haze Kashon and Owen Utterback 7-6(6-3), 6-3 at No. 2 doubles.
“I think we came out fine, especially on Tuesday, I think we came out and surprised them a little bit,” North Montgomery coach Dane Baldwin said of the match that was rained out on Tuesday and completed Friday.
North Montgomery is now 3-6 on the season and closes out the regular season against Lebanon on Monday, before the IHSAA Sectional begins at Crawfordsville on Wednesday.
“We’ve been improving in a lot of places,” Baldwin said. “Mainly just getting them in the right mindset to win, just because they’ve never really won before. I think overall they’re improving a lot, there’s just some things we’ve got to work on in the offseason. Overall, they’ve been competing very well and I’m proud with how they’re performing.”
Southmont is the two-time defending sectional champion, and carries an 11-3 record into the postseason.
