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September 28, 2012

Loogootee wins tennis sectional

By Gregg A. Sims Washington Times-Herald

LOOGOOTEE — Conner Wittmer achieved beyond what he has done before in tennis, Hayden Bell and Will Nonte kept everyone on the edge of their seats, and in the end, Loogootee coach Rick Graves felt good to be back where he belonged.

Loogootee edged Blue Chip Conference foe Northeast Dubois, 3-2, for the Loogootee Tennis Sectional championship Thursday.

The results were as close as the score indicated.

Wittmer won a 7-6 (6), 6-4, decision against Tyler Haas. It was the first time in his career the Loogootee senior had been able to beat his Northeast Dubois counterpart.

“I told a couple of people that if he (Wittmer) has played better in his career, I don’t know when,” Graves said.

Bell-Nonte rallied from a first set, 5-2, deficit to win the opener only to drop the second to Jeeps Ethan Kieffner-Patrick Betz, 7-5, 2-6.

With the Lions only needing to win one point, and second doubles and singles still underway, the Lion twosome won going away in the third set, 6-1, to give Loogootee its needed third point.

“Doubles is a game of momentum, and Dubois had the momentum in the first set and we turned it around. They got the momentum in the second set. I told them (Bell-Nonte) they needed to play good, smart tennis with good returns. Just don’t overdo it, and that’s what they did.”

That clincher was made possible after Lions Gabe Nolley-Waylon Matthews were the first result to come home, winning, 6-1, 6-2, against Tristen Linne-William Schepers.

“They (Nolley-Matthews) have played the better part of the last two years together,” Graves said. “They don’t overpower people. They use good angles. Serve well, volley well, just play well all around.”

Graves, a 21-year coaching veteran of boys tennis, was coaching for the first time in five years. He was looking for wins in both doubles. That he got.

He needed a win in singles, and Wittmer came through.

“He (Wittmer) played a great match,” Graves said. “We needed a point in the singles, and he really came through for us, He did a super job.”

Jeep Gage Knies defeated Jesse Horney at second singles in the tournament’s final match, 6-4, 7-5, but that match ended only seconds after the win at second doubles for Loogootee.

“Jesse gave everything he had,” Graves said. “Jesse was up against a really good player.”

While the match was decided in two sets, both players grinded through long rallies that often lasted up to 20 and more shots per point.

Cayden Knies won at third singles for Northeast Dubois, defeating Tyler Booker, 6-1, 6-3.

“I think Tyler has lost only three matches this season,” Graves said. “He had a rough night, but these things happen.”

Graves left the Loogootee program winning a sectional title, and has now returned in the same fashion.

“I do remember how this feels, and I do enjoy it,” Graves said. “We were just glad to get the three points we needed.”

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