Skip to main content

Main navigation


News

No. 2 North Central Tops No. 3 Park Tudor for State Title

Posted: October 19, 2013

For the third time this season, the second-ranked North Central Panthers topped third-ranked Park Tudor - this time with all the marbles on the line, as the Panthers captured a 3-2 victory and the boys tennis state championship.

Rainy weather in the area delayed the start of the semifinals into Saturday afternoon and the championship was taken indoors to Indianapolis Racquet Club East.

With North Central (26-1) leading the match 2-1 after winning both doubles matches, sophomore JT Wynne clinched the championship for the Panthers at No. 3 singles taking a 6-4, 6-3 decision from Park Tudor's Ben Klapper.

It was the state-leading 18th boys tennis title for the Panthers of coach Dan Brunette and their first since 2007. North Central had been the runner-up to Carmel the last two seasons.

For Park Tudor (20-5), it was their first stumble in the state championship match in eight appearances. Spencer Fields, a former North Central player who coached NC to state titles in 2000 and 2007 is in his first year in charge at Park Tudor.

Park Tudor No. 1 singles player Danny Rayl won all three of his matches this weekend to remain undefeated at 28-0. The junior finished as the state runner-up a year ago in the state singles tournament and will take another shot at that title next weekend.

North Central turned away Northeastern in Friday's quarterfinals 5-0 and then beat top-ranked and three-time defending champion Carmel 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers and Greyhounds had split a pair of 3-2 decisions during the regular season.

Park Tudor earned its way to the final by beating Jasper 3-2 on Friday and previously undefeated Evansville Memorial 4-1.

Delta's Brad Wuthrich Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
At the conclusion of the state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Delta High School's Brad Wuthrich as this year's winner of the Mental Attitude Award.

From his No. 2 singles spot, Wuthrich helped guide Delta to its second state finals appearance in four years and a 24-2 record this year.

Academically, Wuthrich ranks second his senior class of 188 students, has served as class treasurer all four years and is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. He also serves as a manager for the girls tennis team in the spring.

Brad is the son of Steve and Anne Wuthrich of Muncie and plans to study pharmacy at Purdue University next fall.

Each year the IHSAA Executive Committee selects a senior player who was nominated by his principal and coach and was determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The Committee presented $1,000 to Delta High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Wuthrich.