Mike Wolanin | The Republic Columbus North’s Anvay Atram, left, and Amrit Kar meet on the court after scoring a point against Columbus East in a No. 1 doubles tennis match at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022.
The Columbus North boys tennis team hasn’t gotten a favorable draw at state in recent years, and this year is no exception.
The fourth-ranked Bull Dogs will be playing the top team in the state in West Lafayette Harrison in the state quarterfinals at noon Friday at Carmel. Should North pull off the upset on Friday, it will take on either 10th-ranked Homestead or Culver Academies at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Carmel, with the finals at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Carmel.
The Bull Dogs (24-2) will be the underdogs going into their matchup with the Raiders. Harrison ended No. 2 Carmel’s quest for a seventh straight team title in the Kokomo Regional last week.
“I’m very comfortable. I think the team overall is confident of the situation,” North coach Kendal Hammel said. “We got a bad draw playing the No. 1 seed, but I think going into this, we’re OK with it. I think we can match up decently in that situation.”
Hammel knows where Harrison’s weak spots are and hopes a third point can be scored elsewhere.
“I think on paper, every one knows what it’s going to come down to. They’re weak spots are their doubles. I want to go in there and take care of business and win both doubles,” Hammel said. “It’ll likely come down to Hank (Lin) at No. 1 singles. I cannot count him out. I know that this guy (Harrison’s Aaron Gu) is the best in the state. I’m not counting Hank out for nothing. He has stepped in there, and every match has been a big match for him. He will be focused and mentally ready. If he gets beat, someone is going to have to beat him. He’s not going to crumble. He’s not going to be afraid to play. He will step up and do the job that he has been doing all year long.”
Lin, a sophomore, is undefeated this year. Even though this will be his toughest challenge to date, Lin will be prepared for the challenge.
“This may be one of the few matches that I’ll come down to him,” Hammel said. “He will handle it very well. I don’t see him not being ready for that match in that situation. He’s stepped up. He’s a talented, smart player that does things on the court with not only power but finesse and movement, and he thinks well. I think that all-around makes him a dangerous player.”
Mike Wolanin | The Republic Columbus North’s Austin Clark hits a shot during a No. 3 singles tennis match against Columbus East’s Brady Redelman at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022.
North’s No. 1 doubles team of juniors Amrit Kar and Anvay Atram likely will have to win their spot if the team wants to have a chance at advancing to the semifinal. Sophomore Parth Shah and senior Parth Gupta will be favored at No. 2 doubles, while sophomores Austin Clark and Steven Sun will look to pull upsets at No. 2 singles and No. 3 singles.
“(Kar and Atram are) playing not only for the team, but playing for that state individual spot,” Hammel said. “I felt like they played a little sluggish at semistate (in a win against Evansville Memorial), but we’ll make sure that they’re ready. The state atmosphere is going to make a difference, too.”
