By GREG KEIM
“A tournament team” is one phrase which could be used to describe the NorthWood High School girls tennis squad.
The Panthers lost three times during the regular season and have now avenged all of those defeats during the IHSAA tournament.
The latest reversal was during a 4-1 win over the Warsaw Tigers in the regional championship Wednesday evening at Northridge in Middlebury.
“This team is very focused and playing with a lot of confidence,” NorthWood coach Tif Schwartz said. “Since we lost to Warsaw (3-2) during the season, we didn’t feel any pressure here. That helped calm our nerves.”
NorthWood’s other losses during the season were to Fairfield and Northridge. The Panthers defeated Fairfield 3-2 last Saturday in semifinals of the Goshen sectional and Northridge 3-2 Tuesday in the regional semifinals.
“This is the first regional title in NorthWood tennis history, boys or girls.” Schwartz said. “It was a matter of a couple of points going our way. That made the difference.”
NorthWood (15-3) meets the South Bend Clay regional winner Saturday at 10 a.m. in the LaPorte semistate.
Junior Melissa Ramer put the Panthers up 1-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles over the Tigers’ Allie Tucker.
Seniors Alli Heeter and Kerry Hoffer made it 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 1 doubles over Lauren Sciarra and Carlye Bishopp.
The third and deciding point came at No. 2 doubles, a position NorthWood lost to the Tigers during the regular season matchup.
This time around, seniors Jill Focht and Lindsey Mast defeated Stefani Davis and Jessica Cesaretti 7-6 (7-4 tie breaker) 7-5.
“It was a tough match. We had to play more mentally than physically after they got a line judge out there,” Focht said.
Players are expected to make their own calls, but a line judge may be employed, if requested, to make the final determination in the case of a dispute.
“We let our racquets do the talking after that,” Focht said.
Mast said, “We were not as consistent the first time we played Warsaw. But we are a team made for the tourney. This is the best match we have played this season.”
NorthWood notched its other point at No. 2 singles as senior Courtney Simpson topped Tara Akers 6-3, 6-2.
Warsaw’s point came at No. 3 singles as Sarah Hartle downed junior Ashley McClintic 6-3, 6-1.
