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October 4, 2012

Sometimes the team comes before the person

By Gregg A. Sims Washington Times Herald

WASHINGTON — There are times when a person puts team in front of self.

Matthew Pancake did that for the Washington tennis team.

Pancake and Tyler Stoll had formed a successful first doubles team, something coach Jason Johnston had expected at the beginning of the season.

They had put together an 11-3 record for Washington, when Pancake and the coaches made an agreement. Pancake would move from doubles to singles.

Washington last won a  tennis sectional in 2003, the same year it  also won the Big 8 Conference title. Neither ever comes easy.

Washington anticipated facing Vincennes Rivet in the recently completed Vincennes Lincoln sectional. The Patriots had defeated Washington, 3-2, in the regular season. The senior and his coaches thought a new plan was needed for the Hatchets to have a chance to find that one needed point at sectional time.

“I talked to the players to get their input,” Johnston said. “I think it’s important to get input from the kids before you just make a change. Matt actually brought up the idea himself. We thought we had a better chance in the sectional with him at singles, and he brought up the idea as well.”

Garrett Burton did that.

The change included moving Burton from singles into Pancake’s first doubles position with Stoll, and Pancake moving into the singles position.

Burton ccertainly did his share. Burton and Stoll combined for a 4-0 record and qualified for the doubles sectional at Jasper this week.

“We just thought that we would have a better chance to get out of the sectional as a team with Matthew playing in singles,” Johnston said. “We always want to try to get out of sectional, and we thought this was our best lineup for that.”

Washington did come close this season. The result against Rivet proved to be the same 3-2 decision in the tournament, but they did come close.

Washington finished the season 15-5. That’s not bad.

Johnston now thinks his team may be in a better position to get to that sectional title next fall.

He has younger players maturing. He lost two seniors, but has a cast of freshmen ready to make their mark on local tennis when that new year begins.

“I think we have a bright future for the next few years,” Johnston said. “I think we improved with each match. It was one of the better seasons we’ve had.”

Freshman Lucas Miller returns as does Stoll, Corey Thompson, Jacob Luttrell, Jonathon Harner, Jake Bedwell, Michael Ramsey and Jaden Barley.

“I think we have a good chance to continue to improve,” Johnston said. “Corey will be in singles with Lucas. Lucas played well this year, and I think he will be better next season. We’ll need some of the younger guys to fill in at doubles and maybe at singles, but our guys know you have to be adjustable.”

Pancake and Burton had that adjustablility this season and the Hatchets were close.

Washington should have the chance to make more noise, especially remembering the changes that Pancake and Burton made.

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