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North Central of Indianapolis edged neighborhood rival Park Tudor 3-2 to win its third consecutive state championship in boys tennis in Indianapolis on Saturday.

The second-ranked Panthers (21-0) earned the title after victories at No. 1 and 2 singles and No. 1 doubles for their state-leading 20th state championship in the sport. Dan Brunette has been the head coach for each of the last three years. Third-ranked Park Tudor (19-5) was coached by Kevin Gill.

Steve Christie, the Panthers No. 1 singles player, defeated Park Tudor's Jaren Katz, 6-1, 6-2, for his third victory of the weekend and stayed alive for next weekend's individual tournament at Park Tudor School where he'll be the top seed.

JT Wynne defeated Drew Wiegel of Park Tudor, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 and J.J. Kroot and Jon Tuerk teamed up to beat Vijay Tewari and Anish Thyagarajan, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Park Tudor's two wins came courtesy of No. 3 singles player Aidan Harris who beat Tim Brady, 6-0, 6-1, and Will Emhardt and Jack Enkkema took a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 triumph at No. 2 doubles from Cole Bosler and Simon Shamo.

It was North Central's third dual victory this season over Park Tudor, each by a 3-2 margin. It was also the second time in three seasons North Central had beaten Park Tudor in the state title match.

North Central had edged top-ranked Carmel in Friday's quarterfinal match, 3-2, and then defeated No. 4 Jeffersonville, 4-1, in Saturday morning's semifinals. Park Tudor earned its way to the final match following 3-2 wins over Jasper on Friday and Leo in Saturday's other semifinal.

Jeffersonville's Sam Coward Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Sam Coward of Jeffersonville High School was selected the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee following the state championship match.

Coward played No. 1 doubles for Jeffersonville's team and helped the Red Devils advance to the state semifinals this season ending in a 22-1 record. Coward and teammate Jackson Reilly teamed for a 21-3 record. He was a First Team All-State Doubles player as a sophomore and Second Team All-State last year.

Ranking third in his senior class of 475 students, he is a member of the National Honor Society and is an Academic All-State honoree. He also serves as a small group leader at his church where he is also a member of the student leadership board.

He is the son of Mark and Jennifer Coward of Jeffersonville and plays to study Business and Finance at the University of Southern Indiana.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, sponsor of the mental attitude award and the IHSAA Champions Network, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Jeffersonville High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Coward.