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

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

October 15, 2005

 

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL WINS FIRST STATE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

Indianapolis Cathedral made the most of its first-ever trip to the 39th Annual IHSAA Boys Tennis State Finals, winning its first state championship with a 4-1 victory over Penn in Saturday afternoon’s championship match played at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

 

Coach Mark Noe’s 22-1 Fighting Irish trailed the championship match, 1-0, after Penn’s number one doubles team of juniors Ben Belleville and T.J. Snelson defeated Cathedral’s Tony Rohana and Charlie Russell, 6-1, 6-3.  Cathedral evened the match when its number two doubles tandem of Brett Barra and Alex Swider moved to 25-1 on the campaign with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Troy Brinker and Gautham Vaidyanathan.

 

All three singles matches were closely-contested two-setters.  Cathedral senior Michael Rohana gave his team a 2-1 lead with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Penn senior Chris Jordan.  Jordan finished 20-2 this season, becoming the first Penn boys tennis player to receive IHSAA Mental Attitude Award.

 

Moments later, Cathedral junior Luke Bielawski gave his team the deciding victory with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Garrett Brinker at #2 singles.  Bielawski completed a 25-1 season, while Brinker fell to 20-2.

 

Cathedral senior E.J. Dechow added the Irish’s final point with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) win against Dean Guyer at #3 singles.  Cathedral reached the finals with a 4-1 victory against Floyd Central earlier Saturday.

 

Penn finished as state runner-up for the second consecutive year.  Coach Rick Dukeshier’s Kingsmen finished 21-2.  Penn defeated West Lafayette, 4-1, in Saturday morning’s semi-final.

 

Floyd Central (17-5) won Saturday afternoon’s consolation match against West Lafayette (19-6) by a 4-1 score.

 

Finals

Indianapolis Cathedral 4, Penn 1

Singles

1. Michael Rohana (IC) d. Chris Jordan (P), 6-4, 6-4

2. Luke Bielawski (IC) d. Garrett Brinker (P), 6-4, 6-3

3. E.J. Dechow (IC) d. Dean Guyer (P), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)

 

Doubles

1. Ben Belleville-T.J. Snelson (P) d. Tony Rohana-Charlie Russell (IC), 6-1, 6-3

2. Brett Barra-Alex Swider (IC) d. Troy Brinker-Gautham Vaidyanathan (P), 6-2, 6-3

 

Order of Finish:  #1 Doubles, #2 Doubles, #1 Singles, #2 Singles, #3 Singles

 

Consolation

Floyd Central 4, West Lafayette 1

Singles

1. Joseph Boesing (FC) d. Ben Seagren (WL), 6-3, 6-1

2. Ben Boesing (FC) d. Brian Kane (WL), 6-1, 6-3

3. Andrew Voll (FC) d. Jason Jang (WL), 6-4, 6-0

 

Doubles

1. Joby Bacher-Phil Luke (WL) d. Craig Kirchgessner-Adam Struble (FC), 6-2, 6-2

2. Ryan Knight-Michael Lilly (FC) d. Jack Farris-Karthik Narsimhan (WL), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3)

 

 

 

Semi-Finals

Penn 4, West Lafayette 1

Singles

1. Chris Jordan (P) d. Ben Seagren (WL), 6-2, 6-2

2. Garrett Brinker (P) d. Brian Kane (WL), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)

3. Dean Guyer (P) d. Jason Jang (WL), 6-1, 6-1

 

Doubles

1. Joby Bacher-Phil Luke (WL) d. Ben Belleville-T.J. Snelson (P), 6-3, 6-3

2. Troy Brinker-Gautham Vaidyanathan (P) d. Jack Farris-Karthik Narsimhan (WL), 6-2, 6-2

 

Indianapolis Cathedral 4, Floyd Central 1

Singles

1. Michael Rohana (IC) d. Joseph Boesing (FC), 7-5, 7-5

2. Luke Bielawski (IC) d. Ben Boesing (FC), 6-2, 6-0

3. E.J. Dechow (IC) d. Andrew Voll (FC), 7-5, 6-1

 

Doubles

1. Craig Kirchgessner-Adam Struble (FC) d. Tony Rohana-Charlie Russell (IC), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)

2. Brett Barra-Alex Swider (IC) d. Ryan Knight-Michael Lilly (FC), 6-2, 6-1

 

 

PENN’S CHRIS JORDAN NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER

Chris Jordan of Penn High School was named winner of the 2005 Mental Attitude Award for Boys Tennis following the competition.

 

Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee present the award to the outstanding senior participant during the state finals each year. The recipient of the award, who was nominated by his principal and coach, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in boys tennis.

 

Jordan led Penn to its second straight state finals this year with a 20-1 record at #1 singles. He helped the Kingsmen to a 4-1 semifinal victory over West Lafayette with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Ben Seagren on Saturday morning.  In 2004, he was undefeated at #1 singles until the state finals.

 

Academically, he maintains a 3.86 GPA while taking a rigorous program of study. Jordan was recently named a Commended Scholar by the College Board in the National Merit competition.  

 

“Chris is an outstanding young man who exemplifies the characteristics of scholarship and service,” said Penn principal Dr. David Tydgat.  “His positive attitude and upbeat personality make him a very special person who contributes much to all around him.  Jordan is active as a peer leader with Penn’s special needs population, helping these students both academically and socially.  He also serves as a Big Brother working with a needy elementary school student.

 

He plans to attend Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, next fall.

 

Chris is the son of Michael and Margaret Jordan of Granger.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a scholarship check for $1,000.00 to Penn High School in the name of Chris Jordan.  Since 1989, over $512,000 in college scholarships have been presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance to deserving high school students in the state.

 

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 Boys Tennis State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday, Oct. 17.

 

STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Couldn’t be in Indianapolis 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).