Indiana High School Athletic Association

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

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                                                                                                                              June 3, 2006

 

PARK TUDOR BECOMES FIRST REPEAT CHAMPION IN 10 YEARS

Park Tudor became the first school since Evansville Memorial (1993-96) to successfully defend its girls tennis state championship with an impressive performance in the 32nd annual IHSAA Finals on Saturday at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

 

Coach Dave Heffern’s 17-1 Panthers defeated top-ranked and previously-undefeated Munster (18-1), 3-2, to record the school’s fourth state championship in the past nine years.  Park Tudor opened Saturday play with a 4-1 triumph over seventh-ranked Terre Haute North (21-3).

 

Park Tudor freshman #3 singles player Sarah MacPhail clinched the victory in the championship match with a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Munster senior Lindsay Weiss.  Mental Attitude Award winner Mary Beth Winingham had given the Panthers a 1-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Munster junior Maureen Modesto.  Park Tudor had taken a 2-0 lead with a 6-3, 6-2 win at #2 doubles by sophomores Elizabeth Emhardt and Heather Rogers.  Emhardt and Rogers were the heroes in Park Tudor’s 3-2 semi-state win over second-ranked Center Grove last Saturday when they rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the third set to prevail in a tie-breaker.

 

Munster freshman Mary Hill completed an undefeated season at #2 singles (24-0) by defeating 2005 IHSAA singles champion Megan Martzolf, 6-4, 2-1, retired.  The Mustangs’ #1 doubles team of junior Katelyn Laszlo and senior Shobha Pai earned their team’s second point with a 7-5, 6-3 decision over Park Tudor senior Katie Schier and junior Cameron Thomas.

 

Munster reached the finals with a dramatic 3-2 semi-final win over previously-undefeated Homestead earlier in the day.  Weiss was the hero with a marathon 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Homestead’s Christine Antrobus in a match that lasted three hours and 52 minutes.

 

Homestead edged Terre Haute North, 3-2, in the consolation match.  North’s #1 doubles team of seniors Katie Clagg and Molly Williams won both of its matches at the finals to remain unbeaten in the tournament and advance to the IHSAA Singles and Doubles Finals at North Central next Friday and Saturday.

 

PARK TUDOR’S MARY BETH WININGHAM WINS MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD

Park Tudor senior #1 singles player Mary Beth Winingham is the 2005-06 Mental Attitude Award winner for girls tennis as selected by members of the IHSAA Board of Directors.

 

Winingham helped Park Tudor become the first school since Evansville Memorial (1993-96) to successfully defend its state championship in girls tennis with singles wins against Terre Haute North and Munster in Saturday’s state finals.  Winingham finished her senior campaign with a 24-2 record for the Panthers.  She is a four-time all-state performer who compiled a perfect 22-0 record for Park Tudor’s 2005 state champions.

 

In the classroom, Winingham graduated with a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, earning the John C. DeVoe Scholarship and AP Scholar awards.

 

 “Mary Beth is the epitome of the word ‘student-athlete’,” said Park Tudor principal James Leffler.  “Other students look up to her and it is apparent that they admire her because she cares for them as fellow students and friends.”

 

Winingham served as class president her first three years at Park Tudor, as a student ambassador her senior year, and she attended the first IHSAA Student Leadership Conference.  She has volunteered for over 200 hours of community service, spearheading the Varsity Club Food Drive.

 

The recipient, nominated by her principal and coach, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in girls tennis.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000 check to Park Tudor School in the name of Mary Beth Winingham.

 

Winingham, the daughter of William and Maureen Winingham, plans to attend Dartmouth College and major in psychology.

 

VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site on Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE

For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.

 

STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Couldn’t be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).