North Central's Chappell, Zionsville Teandem Notch Titles
With temperatures hovering near the 50-degree mark, North Central’s Nick Chappell and the Zionsville doubles tandem of Joe Hammond and Nick Laconi claimed state championships in the IHSAA Individual Tennis State Finals at Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis.
North Central’s Nick Chappell capped off an unbeaten season with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Munster senior Billy Heuer. The sophomore finished the season with an unblemished 25-0 record, including 8-0 in the post season, to become the first North Central boys tennis player to capture a title for the Panthers since Troy Hahn in 1998-99. In addition, Chappell’s victory was North Central’s sixth state boys singles tennis title, the most of any school since the tournament began in 1967-68.
Chappell defeated Hanover Central’s Robin Marchione in the morning semifinals, 6-4, 6-4, while Heuer disposed of Lawrence Central’s Dalton Albertin, 6-4, 6-1. Albertin, a senior, finished the season with a 20-2 record while going 5-2 in the postseason.
In doubles, juniors Joe Hammond and Nick Laconi captured the first doubles state championship for Zionsville with a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 victory over the previously unbeaten East Noble tandem of Daniel Desper and Derek Romer. The Zionsville duo finished with a 30-1 season record. Desper and Romer were dealt their first loss of the year finishing 27-1.
In the Saturday morning doubles semifinals, Joe Hammond and Nick Laconi cruised to a 6-2, 6-2, victory over Lafayette Jefferson’s Connor Braden and Tanner Braden to earn a spot in the finals. The tandem of Daniel Desper and Derek Romer defeated Terre Haute North’s Michael Eberle and Richard Holcomb, 7-5, 6-4, to earn the other spot in the championship match.
Date: Oct. 24-25.
Times: Friday quarterfinals at 2 pm ET; Saturday semifinals at 10 am ET; Saturday championship and consolation matches at 2 pm ET.
Admission: Free.
Site: Park Tudor School, 7200 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Singles Qualifiers: Any undefeated No. 1 singles player in semi-state team tennis tourney, whose team was eliminated, may enter the singles tourney on Friday and Saturday, October 19-20; the No. 1 singles player of the state championship team, provided he is undefeated, and any undefeated No. 1 singles player from state team tourney whose team was defeated, may enter the singles tourney on Friday and Saturday, October 19-20; NOTE: Players having played the most matches in team tourney competition will receive preference for byes when possible.
Note: Each individual’s regular season record is listed first followed by their post-season tournament record.
Quarterfinals, Fri, 2 pm ET
Dalton Albertin (12) Lawrence Central (15-0, 7-0) def. Evan Hawkins (10) Harrison (West Lafayette) (16-4, 5-1), 6-3, 6-3.
Robin Marchione (11) Hanover Central (0-0, 5-0) def. Nicholas Volz (12) Evansville Central (19-0, 6-1), 6-4, 6-2.
Semifinals, Sat, 10 am ET
Billy Heuer (12) Munster (16-1, 9-0) def. Dalton Albertin (12) Lawrence Central (15-0, 7-1), 6-4, 6-1.
Nick Chappell (10) North Central (Indpls.) (17-0, 7-0) def. Robin Marchione (11) Hanover Central (0-0, 5-1), 6-4, 6-4.
Championship Match, Sat, 2 pm ET
Nick Chappell (10) North Central (Indpls.) (17-0, 8-0) def. Billy Heuer (12) Munster (16-1, 9-1), 6-2, 6-2.
Consolation Match, Sat, 2 pm ET
Robin Marchione (11) Hanover Central (0-0, 6-1) def. Dalton Albertin (12) Lawrence Central (15-0, 7-2), 6-4, 6-2.
Date: Oct. 24-25.
Times: Friday quarterfinals at 2 pm ET; Saturday semifinals at 10 am ET; Saturday championship and consolation matches at 2 pm ET.
Admission: Free.
Site: Park Tudor School, 7200 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Doubles Qualifiers: Any undefeated No. 1 doubles team in semi-state team tennis tourney, whose team was eliminated, may enter the doubles tourney on Friday and Saturday, October 19-20; the No. 1 doubles team of the state championship team, provided they are undefeated, and any undefeated No. 1 doubles team from state team tourney whose team was defeated, may enter the doubles tourney on Friday and Saturday, October 19-20; NOTE: Players having played the most matches in team tourney competition will receive preference for byes when possible.
Note: Each team’s regular season record is listed first followed by its post-season tournament record.
Quarterfinals, Fri, 2 pm ET
Connor Braden (10) | Tanner Braden (12) Lafayette Jefferson (14-3, 7-0) def. Chris Campbell (11) | Tanner Niehaus (10) Jasper (14-5, 7-1), 6-1, 7-5.
Daniel Desper (12) | Derek Romer (11) East Noble (17-0, 9-0) def. Kenton Austin (11) | Dane Kawamoto (11) Greenwood (16-1, 6-1), 6-4, 6-2.
Semifinals, Sat, 10 am ET
Joe Hammond (11) | Nick Laconi (11) Zionsville (19-1, 10-0) def. Connor Braden (10) | Tanner Braden (12) Lafayette Jefferson (14-3, 7-1), 6-2, 6-2.
Daniel Desper (12) | Derek Romer (11) East Noble (17-0, 10-0) def. Michael Eberle (12) | Richard Holcomb (12) Terre Haute North (16-3, 6-1), 7-5, 6-4.
Championship Match, 2 pm ET
Joe Hammond (11) | Nick Laconi (11) Zionsville (19-1, 11-0) def. Daniel Desper (12) | Derek Romer (11) East Noble (17-0, 10-1), 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.
Consolation Match 2 pm ET
Connor Braden (10) | Tanner Braden (12) Lafayette Jefferson (14-3, 8-1) def. Michael Eberle (12) | Richard Holcomb (12) Terre Haute North (16-3, 6-2), 6-4, 7-6 (2).