Columbus North No. 1 doubles player Teddy Littrell moves to hit a shot in the North Sectional final tennis match against Greensburg Oct. 3 at Columbus North High School.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Columbus North seniors Teddy Littrell and Vince Sasse have a special bond together on the court and off the court.
The No. 1 doubles team for the Bull Dogs will look to extend their high school tennis careers for another match when they play in the Center Grove Semistate against Cathedral at noon today.
Columbus North No. 1 doubles player Vince Sasse hits a shot in the North Sectional final tennis match against Greensburg Oct. 3 at Columbus North High School.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Littrell and Sasse began tennis at around 7 years old and played in clinics together at Tipton Lakes Athletics Club. It was there that the friendship started. They were teammates together at Northside Middle School and had opportunities playing at doubles together in middle school.
They played together for a couple matches at JV doubles when both of them were sophomores. Last year, Littrell primarily played No. 3 singles, and Sasse played No.1 doubles.
This year, the duo were paired at No. 1 doubles, and it feels like they didn’t miss a beat, despite some bumpy roads from time to time.
“I feel like we had our ups and downs,” Littrell said. “We definitely had some rocky matches we’d like to get back, but I also think coming out the first time playing doubles for varsity for me, I think we lived up to the expectations, and I think we even surpassed some of the those.”
Sasse agreed.
“I think it’s definitely been a hard adjustment at the beginning of the season, but we’ve gotten very compatible together. I’m excited to go through this tournament,” he said.
“They’ve had their nice big wins and had head-scratching losses,” North coach Kendal Hammel added. “They need to keep the fire and that positive mentality going to be able to go out and play. They’ve got great shots and play well, and all of a sudden they fall apart. They’ve got to get through that stuff, and that’s what it’s going to take to keep going, not for the team but also individually, too.”
Sasse and Littrell played their final match on the tennis courts at North when the beat Batesville in straight sets in Thursday’s regional final. It was a bittersweet moment for both of them, knowing it was the last time playing competitive tennis on the courts they’ve called home the past four years.
“It was definitely a lot of emotion, but it was a good match for sure to end on,” Sasse said. “I’m totally happy with it. It’s been a great season this year.”
Littrell added, “I’m looking forward to keeping it rolling, playing doubles together, and it was a great last match to have here.”
Littrell and Sasse will remain friends following high school, but are likely heading separate ways next year in college. Sasse said he will likely attend Purdue to study finance, and Littrell said he is looking at Notre Dame to study cyber security.
Today, the duo are ready for one of the biggest matches of their careers.
“We’re working on our flaws. We’re strong and prepared to make a run in this tournament together,” Littrell said.
