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Top-ranked Carmel claimed the first three matches including the clincher at No. 1 singles to best three-time defending champion North Central, 4-1 to win the 2016 Boys Tennis State Championship on Saturday.

Junior Patrick Fletchall rallied from a set down and won a third set tiebreaker from North Central freshman Ian Brady, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) to remain undefeated for the year at 16-0 and secure the title for his school. It was the Greyhounds' (17-0) ninth crown in the sport and halted North Central's three-year run as reigning champs. The two schools have combined for the last seven titles with Carmel claiming three in a row in 2010, 2011 and 2012. It was also the third state title for Carmel coach Spencer Fields whose two previous medals came while coaching North Central where he also won as a player in 1992.

No. 2 player Drew Michael accounted for the other singles victory with a 6-2, 6-2 win, while Ethan McAndrews and Jay Natarajan and Timmy Dixon and Rohit Nagaraj gutted out three-set victories at No. 1 and 2 doubles respectively.

Brian McAuley earned North Central's lone point with a 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Nishanth Basavareddy at No. 3 singles.

Carmel found its way to the final match with a 5-0 win over Delta in Friday's quarterfinals followed by a 5-0 win over first-time participant Bloomington North in Saturday morning's semifinals. North Central (15-4), coached by Dan Brunette, reached the final match for the sixth straight year with a 4-1 Friday win over first-timer Richmond and a 4-1 semifinal win over second-ranked Park Tudor.

Richmond's Eric Hollingsworth wins Mental Attitude Award
Following the championship match, Eric Hollingsworth, the No. 1 singles player for Richmond High School, was named the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award.

A National Honor Society student, Hollingsworth owns a perfect 4.0 GPA through both honors classes and Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses. He is a two-time All-State player, team captain, reached last year's semifinals of the state singles tournament and will compete in the same event next weekend. Hollingsworth led his team to the school's first appearance in the boys tennis state finals this year.

The son of Randy and Susan Hollingsworth of Richmond, Eric has verbally committed to play tennis at IUPUI where he plans to study in the School of Nursing.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Richmond High School in the name of Hollingsworth.