GT REG. 8: #2 Carmel upsets #1 Cathedral en route to title

By E. Shawn Aylsworth

Managing Editor

Second-ranked Carmel avenged its only loss of the season when it mattered most, upsetting No. 1 Indianapolis Cathedral, 3-2, in the semifinal round of Regional 8 play May 25 at North Central (Indianapolis).

The defending state champion Greyhounds (17-1) – or “GREAT-HOUNDS,” as coach Sharon Rosenburgh called them following the win over Cathedral – went on to shut out Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 5-0, on Wednesday to capture the school’s fifth consecutive regional crown and 11th overall.

“The Cathedral match was a great high school matchup, with No. 1 going against No. 2,” Rosenburgh said. “Cathedral is certainly a top, top team, and this could have easily gone either way.

“However, the matchups were different this time, and it proved to be to Carmel’s advantage. We were able to make some adjustments and have our entire team together.”

Prospects were not too bright for the Greyhounds as Cathedral took two of three singles matches. Cassia Wajtalik went the distance in downing Mikaela Carlson 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 at No. 2, while Fighting Irish teammate Madison Rothenberger had a much easier go of it in defeating Amanda Nguyen 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3.

But Carmel’s undefeated Courtney Wild went overtime in capturing the first set at No. 1 before completing a 7-5, 6-1 sweep of Kate Winningham, meaning the match would come down to the decisive doubles matches.

That’s where the Greyhounds displayed their duo dominance, winning both contests in straight sets. Sarah Rodefeld and Susie Chen defeated Megan Adams and Megan Fry 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 to remain unbeaten on the season, while Olivia Trancik and Hayley Wild downed Caralon Eckhart and Maurika Edwards 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2.

Carmel then came back the next day to blank Mt. Vernon, with all five matches completed in straight-set fashion. And look at some of these season records: Rodefeld 28-0, Chen 27-0, Courtney Wild 22-0, Trancik 22-2, Mikaela Carlson 16-2, Hayley Wild 22-3.

Rosenburgh credited her squad’s flexibility and depth as attributes that allow Carmel to take some chances (or risks) without changing a lot of player roles.

“We’ve had players all season who have filled in for injury and illness – this is a tribute to the character of all of our players,” Rosenburgh said. “They can all count on each other and share the pressures of the match.”

There figures to be just one more pressure-packed match for the Greyhounds now that Cathedral is out of the way: this weekend’s North Central (Indianapolis) Semistate date opposite third-ranked Park Tudor in a new eight-team semistate format. Win that, and the Greyhounds will be heavy favorites to captures the school’s fifth state title.

“Park Tudor is another fine team, competitive until the end – they certainly have a lot of tradition and have grown used to winning,” Rosenburgh said of the six-time state champion Panthers, who had captured four straight crowns before Carmel snapped that string a year ago.

“We did beat them in the regular season (3-2 back on May 5), and we were without a varsity player that night. But due to matchups, this really has little to do with our next match. It’s a new day, a new beginning … and that is why the contest is played. Very exciting!”

The veteran Greyhound coach is a fan of the new postseason format that allows twice as many schools to reach the state finals. Then again, it doesn’t really affect a program like Carmel’s that has had to make annual runs through brutally competitive sectional, regional, and semistate rounds just to get to the final weekend.

“There are several strong teams spread out across the state, which is to be celebrated – this is good for high school tennis,” Rosen burgh said. “To get to ‘eight at state’ is not easy, and it certainly changes the matchups in the last three matches.

“The intensity of that semistate match increases, and that draw certainly makes a huge difference when seeding doesn’t take place. It will be interesting.”

The Regional 8 results (thank you, Sharon Rosenburgh!):

8. North Central (Indianapolis)

Match 1 – #2 Carmel 3, #1 Indianapolis Cathedral 2

Match 2 – Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 5, Lawrence Central 0

Championship – #2 Carmel 5, Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 0

SEMIFINAL: #2 Carmel 3, #1 Indianapolis Cathedral 2

Singles

No. 1: Courtney Wild (Carmel) def. Kate Winningham 7-5, 6-1

No. 2: Cassia Wajtalik (Cathedral) def. Mikaela Carlson 7-6, 3-6, 7-5

No. 3: Madison Rothenberger (Cathedral) def. Amanda Nguyen 6-3, 6-1

Doubles

No. 1: Sarah Rodefeld/Susie Chen (Carmel) def. Megan Adams/Megan Fry 6-4, 6-2