Reprinted courtesy of:
Elwood Call-Leader
By ED HAMILTON
Call-Leader Sports Editor
ANDERSON — In the first of possibly three head-to-head battles this season,
Frankton High School’s boys tennis team beat Elwood 4-1 in Saturday’s
consolation round of the Madison County Tournament.
A few hours later, Frankton suffered a 4-1 loss to Alexandria in the battle for
fifth place, while Elwood fell to Lapel 5-0 to finish eighth.
Frankton Coach Larry Shively and Elwood Coach Joe Veger saw promise in their
players’ efforts.
Despite falling to 0-6 on the season, Elwood’s Panthers made headway, said Veger.
“With having a young team, we have different kinds of goals (other than winning
meets),” said Veger after the Frankton match.
“Our first match we won five games; our second match we won 19 games. I said,
‘OK, now I want to see you win more than 19 games,’ and they won 20, then today
we won 32 games.
“We just have to keep building on that, have something (positive) to look at,
instead of going, ‘Oh, we’re oh for the season.’ Look where we’re at, that we
are improving.”
And maybe, by the time the Eagles and Panthers meet again in the regular-season
finale Sept. 28 at the EHS courts, Elwood might turn the tables.
“It was very competitive,” said Veger, “and I think the second time around, it
could be different. You never know. I mean, if we win the two super
tie-breakers, it would have been different today.”
Those tie-breakers came at No.2 singles and No.3 singles.
At No.2, Frankton’s Jacob Clark outlasted Nick Wiand 6-1, 3-6, 10-3. At No.3,
the Eagles’ Nathan Lennon bested Drake Mengelt 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.
At No.1 singles, Frankton’s Ryan Willmann downed Justin Wiand 6-1, 6-1.
Elwood’s only point came at No.1 doubles, where Robbie Baker and Kyle Kaszuba
fought past Mickey Deckard and Tyler Harvey 6-2, 7-5.
With only five players, Elwood again had to forfeit the No.2 doubles match to
Frankton’s Jake Shively and Kevin Funk.
“This was Kyle and Robbie’s first win of the season, and Nick won his first set
of the year,” said Veger. “I’m really proud of all of these boys. They’re all
working hard, all working hard to get better.”
Willmann was Frankton’s only winner against Alexandria, beating Taylor Mevzek
6-1, 6-0.
Willmann, who has won three matches this season for the 1-7 Eagles, shows the
confidence his teammates are striving to gain.
“Once these other guys win a set or two, then win some matches, that confidence
is gonna come,” said Coach Shively. “You could see that out there today against
Elwood.
“Like Jacob Clark, you could see him improve today. The kid has talent, but he’s
never won (on varsity). This was his first win this season. And Nathan Lennon,
that was his first win.
“Our kids are still learning how to win. I brought ‘em out about an hour early
today and we talked about some things. It’s early, but we needed a little
attitude adjustment already and I think you could see it worked today.”
Shively hopes to see it continue in practice this week, since the Eagles aren’t
in action again until Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Hamilton Heights. They will begin
conference play the next day against Madison-Grant.
Elwood plays two home meets this week, facing County runner-up Anderson on
Tuesday and Tipton on Wednesday.
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