PARK TUDOR REPEATS AS TEAM TENNIS CHAMPION

Top-ranked Park Tudor downed two opponents to successfully claim its second consecutive state championship and third overall Oct. 18 at the 31st Annual IHSAA Boys Team Tennis State Finals at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

The Panthers (20-1), who also won it all in 1990, defeated fourth-ranked Center Grove, 3-2, in the championship match and previously unbeaten Valparaiso, 5-0, in the semifinals. With the title, Park Tudor joined North Central of Indianapolis and Carmel as the only schools to win consecutive state championships. North Central, a 15-time state champion, has won consecutive titles on 11 occasions. Carmel has accomplished the feat once.

With only one senior in its seven-man lineup, coach Dave Heffern's group jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Center Grove to seal the championship behind victories by sophomore John Pearson at No. 2 singles, freshman Brandon Gill at No. 3 singles and the No. 2 doubles team of juniors Casey McGaughey and Scott Sadove. Gill completed a perfect season at 18-0 following two straight-set victories. The Panthers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Eric Gershman and Wade Knall dropped their first match of the year in the championship round to finish 17-1. Park Tudor had defeated Center Grove, 3-1, late in the regular season in a match called because of darkness.

Center Grove, making its third state finals appearance in seven years, defeated Homestead, 4-1, in the semifinals to finish 20-3. Fifth-ranked Homestead, which came in riding a 20-match win streak, finished 21-2 following a 4-1 consolation victory over Valparaiso. The Spartans were after their first championship in their sixth straight year in the finals. No. 12-ranked Valparaiso was appearing in the state finals for the first time and finished 20-2 this season.

The IHSAA Executive Committee selected Homestead senior Rick Phillipp as the 1997 recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Boys Tennis. Phillipp, who improved to 29-1 with two victories, was making his fourth appearance in the state finals and his third at the No. 1 singles position for the Spartans. By remaining perfect in the post-season tournament, he earned a spot in the state singles tournament Oct. 24-25 in Indianapolis. Ranking 39th in his senior class of 396, the National Honor Society student plans to enroll at Wake Forest University next fall. Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Phillipp's name to Homestead High School.

STATE FINALS RESULTS

October 18, 1997

North Central H.S., Indianapolis

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Park Tudor 3, Center Grove 2

Singles

1. Kevin Burnett, junior (CG) def. Kevin Gill, sophomore (PT) 6-3, 6-4.

2. John Pearson, sophomore (PT) def. Aaron Nikou, junior (CG) 6-1, 7-6 (7-2).

3. Brandon Gill, freshman (PT) def. Matt Schuck, freshman (CG) 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles

1. Chad Stone, senior/Andy Baker, senior (CG) def. Eric Gershman, senior/Wade Knall, junior (PT) 6-4, 7-5.

2. Casey McGaughey, junior/Scott Sadove, junior (PT) def. Craig Lammert, senior/Scott Frye, sophomore (CG) 6-2,

6-2.

CONSOLATION ROUND

Homestead 4, Valparaiso 1

Singles

1. Rick Phillipp, senior (H) def. Fred Mas, senior (V) 6-0, 6-0.

2. Ryan Recht, freshman (H) def. Jackie Shropshire, senior (V) 6-3, 7-5.

3. Clint Keithley, freshman (V) def. Lucas Boyer, sophomore (H) 7-5, 6-3.

Doubles

1. Brian Miller, junior/Rob Wuthrich, senior (H) def. Josh Jenks, junior/Mike Handlon, junior (V) 6-3, 6-1.

2. Scott Miller, freshman/Cliff Ellis, senior (H) def. Joe Nixon, senior/Elliott Massuda, senior (V) 6-2, 7-5.

SEMIFINALS

Park Tudor 5, Valparaiso 0

Singles

1. Kevin Gill, sophomore (PT) def. Fred Mas, senior (V) 6-3, 6-0.

2. John Pearson, sophomore (PT) def. Jackie Shropshire, senior (V) 6-1, 6-2.

3. Brandon Gill, freshman (PT) def. Clint Keithley, freshman (V) 6-3, 6-1.

Doubles

1. Eric Gershman, senior/Wade Knall, junior (PT) def. Josh Jenks, junior/Mike Handlon, junior (V) 6-2, 6-3.

2. Casey McGaughey, junior/Scott Sadove, junior (PT) def. Joe Nixon, senior/Elliott Massuda, senior (V) 6-4, 6-1.

Center Grove 4, Homestead 1

Singles

1. Rick Phillipp, senior (H) def. Kevin Burnett, junior (CG) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

2. Aaron Nikou, junior (CG) def. Ryan Recht, freshman (H) 6-2, 6-3.

3. Matt Schuck, freshman (CG) def. Lucas Boyer, sophomore (H) 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles

1. Chad Stone, senior/Andy Baker, senior (CG) def. Brian Miller, junior/Rob Wuthrich, senior (H) 6-0, 6-0

2. Craig Lammert, senior/Scott Frye, sophomore (CG) def. Scott Miller, freshman/Cliff Ellis, senior (H) 6-1, 6-2

18TH ANNUAL SINGLES TOURNAMENT

REGIONAL RESULTS

October 18, 1997

North Central High School, Indianapolis

Second-round winners advanced to State Finals, Oct. 24-25 at Racquets Four Sports Centre, Indianapolis

Players listed in bracket order.

First Round

Ethan Davis, senior, Sullivan def. Bruce Hess, senior, South Central (Elizabeth) 6-3, 6-1.

Andy Martin, junior, Castle def. Jeff Roman, senior, Martinsville 6-3, 6-4.

Brad Evans, senior, Columbus North def. Josh Paddock, senior, Covington 6-0, 6-1.

Jay Bowles, junior, Southport def. Ryan Johnson, junior, Hamilton Southeastern 6-0, 6-3.

Mark Cullnane, sophomore, Carroll (Fort Wayne) def. Jared Seaman, senior, Eastbrook 6-2, 7-5.

Chris Robertson, sophomore, Hagerstown def. Landon Reef, senior, Delphi 6-2, 6-3.

Matthew Howes, senior, LaPorte def. Doug Ruehl, senior, Kankakee Valley 6-0, 6-2.

Aaron Myers, junior, Lakeland def. Joshua Heck, senior, Triton 6-1, 6-0.

Second Round

Andy Martin, junior, Castle def. Ethan Davis, senior, Sullivan 6-3, 6-3.

Jay Bowles, junior, Southport def. Brad Evans, senior, Columbus North 6-3, 6-2.

Mark Cullnane, sophomore, Carroll (Fort Wayne) def. Chris Robertson, sophomore, Hagerstown 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Aaron Myers, junior, Lakeland def. Matthew Howes, senior, LaPorte 6-4, 6-2.

8TH ANNUAL DOUBLES TOURNAMENT

REGIONAL RESULTS

October 18, 1997

North Central High School, Indianapolis

Second-round winners advance to State Finals, Oct. 24-25 at Racquets Four Sports Centre, Indianapolis

Players listed in bracket order.

Play-In Match

Travis Steele, senior/Jason Hawkins, senior, Peru def. Mitch Shifferly, senior/Matt Shifferly, senior, Bellmont 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.

First Round

Kelly Allen, senior/Brandon Lawrence, senior, Clarksville advanced into second round with a bye.

Rick Gruss, senior/Craig Harper, senior, Franklin def. Brian Alderson, junior/Brock Higgins, freshman, North Daviess 6-0, 6-2.

Stephen Smith, senior/David Pflum, senior, Lafayette Jefferson def. Jay McNicholas, senior/Joey Blair, senior, Hauser 6-0, 6-2.

Nathan Felix, senior/Brian Slack, sophomore, Perry Meridian def. John Hamilton, sophomore/Michael Wolf, senior, Greenfield-Central 6-2, 6-2.

Travis Steele, senior/Jason Hawkins, senior, Peru def. Eric Screeton, sophomore/Adam Childs, junior, New Haven 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Clint Newton, senior,/Nick Newton, senior, Cambridge City Lincoln def. Sean Andersen, senior/Joel Keirns, senior, Fort Wayne South Side 6-1, 7-5.

Ryan Gettig, senior/Mike Kelley, senior, Griffith advanced to second round with a bye.

Scott McCool, senior/Nate Cummins, senior, Penn def. Thomas Johnson, senior/Erik Delucenay, senior, Elkhart Memorial 6-4, 6-4.

Second Round

Kelly Allen, senior/Brandon Lawrence, senior, Clarksville def. Rick Gruss, senior/Craig Harper, senior, Franklin 7-5, 6-4.

Nathan Felix, senior/Brian Slack, sophomore, Perry Meridian def. Stephen Smith, senior/David Pflum, senior, Lafayette Jefferson 6-1, 6-4.

Clint Newton, senior,/Nick Newton, senior, Cambridge City Lincoln vs. Travis Steele, senior/Jason Hawkins, senior, Peru, 5 p.m. Monday at Ball State University.

Scott McCool, senior/Nate Cummins, senior, Penn def. Ryan Gettig, senior/Mike Kelley, senior, Griffith 6-4, 7-5.