Columbus North’s Kathryn Wilson accepts the sectional championship trophy from North athletics director Brian Lewis at Columbus North High School on Friday, May 17, 2024.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
After posting shutouts at No. 1 and No. 2 singles and winning the clinching point at No. 2 doubles soon after, Columbus North had to wait a little while before celebrating its 10th consecutive girls tennis sectional championship.
The co-No. 14-ranked Bull Dogs managed a 4-1 victory against Greensburg on Friday. North had beaten Columbus East and Edinburgh by 5-0 scores the two previous days.
“We knew it was going to get harder,” North coach Kendal Hammel said. “That’s the way tournament play is.”
Columbus North’s Kathryn Wilson returns a shot in the No. 1 singles match against Greensburg in the girls tennis sectional final at Columbus North High School on Friday, May 17, 2024.
James Pence | The Republic
Bull Dog senior Kathryn Wilson, the defending state singles champion, needed little time to blank Mary Harmon 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
“The girl I played was good, so I just had to stay focused and keep playing,” Wilson said.
Columbus North’s Aya Saad returns a serve in the No. 2 singles match against Greensburg in the girls tennis sectional final at Columbus North High School on Friday, May 17, 2024.
James Pence | The Republic
North’s Aya Saad also rolled 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles against Emma Kuntz.
“I was just focusing on attacking the ball and ending the point quickly and being on offense,” Saad said. “I’m really glad we got the win like we should have, and I’m excited to go to regional.”
Columbus North’s Lison Cloteaux returns a serve in the No. 2 doubles match against Greensburg in the girls tennis sectional final at Columbus North High School on Friday, May 17, 2024.
James Pence | The Republic
Columbus North’s Grace Conner returns a shot in the No. 2 doubles match against Greensburg in the girls tennis sectional final at Columbus North High School on Friday, May 17, 2024.
James Pence | The Republic
The third point for North (14-4) came at No. 2 doubles, where Lison Cloteaux and Grace Conner beat Morgan Cain and Claire Nobbe 6-1, 6-3. At The No. 1 doubles match went three sets, with the Bull Dogs’ Lucy Bergman and Lizzie Bodart outlasting Janae Comer and Mya Comer 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
“I think we played really well, especially 1 doubles,” Wilson said. “They really fought hard and ended up getting the win.”
Columbus North’s Grace Conner, left, and Lison Cloteaux high-five after scoring a point in the No. 2 doubles match against Greensburg in the girls tennis sectional final at Columbus North High School on Friday, May 17, 2024.
James Pence | The Republic
With No. 3 singles player Annabelle Sun nursing a shoulder injury, she rested for the second straight day. Ayane Umemura fell to Kayla Kramer 3-6, 6-3, (10-7).
“We had another alternate in there at 3 singles, but Ayane did well,” Hammel said. “She went three sets and had an opportunity. One doubles, they made it a little bit tougher on themselves than they needed to, but those are the things that hopefully, we keep improving on and getting ready for bigger matches down the road.”
Columbus North players and coaches pose with the sectional championship trophy Friday, May 17, 2024. Pictured, from left, are head coach Kendal Hammel, Ayene Umemura, Molly Richards, Natalie Cantu, Grace Conner, Annabelle Sun, Lison Cloteaux, Kathryn Wilson, Aya Saad, Lizzie Bodart, Lucy Bergman, assistant coach Allie Luken and Priyanka Nair.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
North will host the regional on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Tuesday’s semifinals, the Bull Dogs will play East Central.
“It’s the idea of just getting through those matches and doing what we need to do to get to semistate,” Hammel said. “Not that we want to look ahead, but each match is hopefully going to make us better and better. Our singles positions are going to have to keep carrying us through a little bit, and doubles is going to have to step up and do their job.”
If North wins its regional, they would head to the Center Grove Semistate on May 25, where its likely opponent would be No. 6 Franklin. The winner of that heads to the state finals.
“I think we definitely have the talent to do that,” Wilson said. “We just all need to make sure that we bring the energy and just right really hard. We know that regional is going to be tough, and if we can make it to semistate, that’s going to be even harder. So I think we just all need to have a lot of energy and have fun while we’re doing it.”
