Hillsboro Indians are FAC boys tennis champions; stay undefeated in conference games
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Indians have not only clinched the Frontier Athletic Conference boys tennis championship for the first time, but they are still undefeated in the conference with another win on Monday night, defeating the visiting Washington Blue Lions, 5-0.
Hillsboro is 7-0 in FAC games this season, as they have one game left on the conference schedule this Wednesday when they are slated to host the Miami Trace Panthers. As for their win on their home court, HHS also celebrated two seniors with those being Andrew Gunderman and Austin Pendell, both four-year varsity players.
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“We have guys who root for each other and have a lot of fun in playing and play well together,” HHS head coach LaRue Turner said. “That has been the big difference this season. These kids like each other, they play hard and they cheer for each other. That has meant a lot for the team as a whole group.
“Our goal when the season started was number one to win the league, and anything that happens after that would be icing on the cake. This has been a very joyful season and not just because of the wins. Winning is always very good, but it’s because of the players we have.
“We hope this summer to start with bringing more kids into the program and keep the success going. We have a lovely facility here, and we need to start getting the younger people to play tennis so as they grow, the program will grow with them.”
HHS last won a conference title in boys tennis back in 2010 as a member of the South Central Ohio League (SCOL).
In the win, both seniors were a part of victories as Gunderman won his second singles match over Washington’s Blaise Tayese in straight sets at 6-0, 6-0. Gunderman is now 6-0 this season in FAC play.
“Andrew is a four-year player who has played singles his whole career,” Turner said. “He’s played first and second singles in his career here, and he’s a tremendous player with a great attitude. Andrew is a tremendous asset to the program.”
Pendell was a part of a first doubles win as he and teammate Ethan Snapp defeated Ty Rose and Garrett DeWees at 6-2, 6-2. The HHS duo now has a FAC mark of 7-0.
“Austin is another four-year player who has played singles and doubles, but he has found that his niche is playing doubles and this year we’ve seen the results of that,” Turner said. “He is a heck of a good player, great attitude, is a fun guy to be around and is like the leader of the team in terms of pulling people tougher, getting people to laugh and getting everyone to relax.
“As a group in first doubles, Pendell is like the anchor and Ethan picks up the pieces. He’s like the sixth man on a basketball team where he comes in, does his job and the results are there for everyone to see.”
The Indians also had a first singles win with Gabe Gilliland defeating Washington’s Grant Kuhlwein at 6-2 and 7-5. Gilliland is now 5-0 in conference matches this season.
“Gabe is a very good player and could be a lot better player, but Gabe has put all his eggs into being a professional musician, and I applaud him for that,” Turner said. “When he’s out here, you can see the results because he is awfully good.”
In third singles, Hillsboro’s Tyler Snapp won in two sets over Washington’s 6-3, 6-1.
“This is Tyler’s first year of playing singles and during the times when Andrew and Gabe have been out for various school functions Tyler has played as high as first singles this season,” Turner said. “He’s a gutsy player, works hard and with that type of attitude that accounts for the success he’s had.”
The second doubles team of Creed Mullenix and Gabriel Adkins won by scores of 6-1, 6-1 against Sam Schroeder and Olivia Wayne.
“This thing about the second doubles is we didn’t even know about these guys,” Turner said. “They walked on, and this is the first year they’ve played and have worked really hard. They are the first ones on the court to practice and have just worked that hard. It is wonderful to see that kind of commitment in the first year.”
Hillsboro’s win moves them to 10-2 overall on the season.
Hillsboro is 7-0 in FAC games this season, as they have one game left on the conference schedule this Wednesday when they are slated to host the Miami Trace Panthers. As for their win on their home court, HHS also celebrated two seniors with those being Andrew Gunderman and Austin Pendell, both four-year varsity players.
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“We have guys who root for each other and have a lot of fun in playing and play well together,” HHS head coach LaRue Turner said. “That has been the big difference this season. These kids like each other, they play hard and they cheer for each other. That has meant a lot for the team as a whole group.
“Our goal when the season started was number one to win the league, and anything that happens after that would be icing on the cake. This has been a very joyful season and not just because of the wins. Winning is always very good, but it’s because of the players we have.
“We hope this summer to start with bringing more kids into the program and keep the success going. We have a lovely facility here, and we need to start getting the younger people to play tennis so as they grow, the program will grow with them.”
HHS last won a conference title in boys tennis back in 2010 as a member of the South Central Ohio League (SCOL).
In the win, both seniors were a part of victories as Gunderman won his second singles match over Washington’s Blaise Tayese in straight sets at 6-0, 6-0. Gunderman is now 6-0 this season in FAC play.
“Andrew is a four-year player who has played singles his whole career,” Turner said. “He’s played first and second singles in his career here, and he’s a tremendous player with a great attitude. Andrew is a tremendous asset to the program.”
Pendell was a part of a first doubles win as he and teammate Ethan Snapp defeated Ty Rose and Garrett DeWees at 6-2, 6-2. The HHS duo now has a FAC mark of 7-0.
“Austin is another four-year player who has played singles and doubles, but he has found that his niche is playing doubles and this year we’ve seen the results of that,” Turner said. “He is a heck of a good player, great attitude, is a fun guy to be around and is like the leader of the team in terms of pulling people tougher, getting people to laugh and getting everyone to relax.
“As a group in first doubles, Pendell is like the anchor and Ethan picks up the pieces. He’s like the sixth man on a basketball team where he comes in, does his job and the results are there for everyone to see.”
The Indians also had a first singles win with Gabe Gilliland defeating Washington’s Grant Kuhlwein at 6-2 and 7-5. Gilliland is now 5-0 in conference matches this season.
“Gabe is a very good player and could be a lot better player, but Gabe has put all his eggs into being a professional musician, and I applaud him for that,” Turner said. “When he’s out here, you can see the results because he is awfully good.”
In third singles, Hillsboro’s Tyler Snapp won in two sets over Washington’s 6-3, 6-1.
“This is Tyler’s first year of playing singles and during the times when Andrew and Gabe have been out for various school functions Tyler has played as high as first singles this season,” Turner said. “He’s a gutsy player, works hard and with that type of attitude that accounts for the success he’s had.”
The second doubles team of Creed Mullenix and Gabriel Adkins won by scores of 6-1, 6-1 against Sam Schroeder and Olivia Wayne.
“This thing about the second doubles is we didn’t even know about these guys,” Turner said. “They walked on, and this is the first year they’ve played and have worked really hard. They are the first ones on the court to practice and have just worked that hard. It is wonderful to see that kind of commitment in the first year.”
Hillsboro’s win moves them to 10-2 overall on the season.