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It was only fitting that Senior Derek Reinbold was on the court when Park Tudor clinched the 2009 IHSAA State Championship. A member of the 2006 team that had won the title his freshman year, he had finally come full circle.
"I have to say this one is better," said Reinbold. "Because it's our senior year, we had to finish it out with a win, and we did."
Reinbold, along with No. 1 doubles teammate Matt Neal, pushed the Panthers past Bloomington South's Matt Acton and Ben Stowell (6-3, 6-2) to establish Park Tudor as the 2009 IHSAA Tennis Champions.
After taking a 2-0 lead very quickly, Park Tudor looked as if they were on their way to cruise to the state championship. But Bloomington South took the next point in the No.1 singles matchup when Ronnie Schneider def. Park Tudor's Sam Miles (6-2, 6-2).
With No. 3 singles looking as if Clayton Fletcher could possibly defeat Kishan Shah (the match was 3-6, 6-3, and then was conceded), Reinbold and Neal had to come through with a victory.
"It feels good," said Reinbold's doubles partner Neal. "It feels good to win. We put a lot of hard work in, and we finally won."
The championship is the seventh in the school's history, second overall among school's in the state (North Central has 17), and the second championship under Head Coach Dave Heffern.
"Well I think when we came into the first week of practice, we always talk about it," said Heffern on when he knew this team was special. "There's usually enough talent at Park Tudor if I can get the right line-up, and if the kids will work hard enough, than we can contend."
The Panthers looked like more of a team that came to compete than a team that was just willing to contend Saturday afternoon. Park Tudor took the first two points of the match when No. 2 singles Brendan Tannenbaum def. David Wong (6-1, 6-2) and No. 2 doubles Jack Miles/Sam Geier def. Donovan Thomas/Matt Helm (6-3, 6-0).
But despite the loss, Bloomington South Head Coach was very proud of his team's ability to make it to the state championship, the first team to do so in the school's history.
"Win or lose we knew that we had a special group of kids," said Doyle. "The camaraderie, the atmosphere, the leadership from our senior class, has been second to none all season. So we knew going into the year we had a special group of kids, and it was amazing to see how well they played tennis as the year went on. And I think the athleticism, the leadership, really led to them doing some amazing things. And the best thing about this group is they appreciated every second of it, so it wasn't wasted on them at all."
In the end it was Park Tudor though that would come away with the trophy on Saturday afternoon, and as Mental Attitude Award Winner Kishan Shah points out, it couldn't have been a better ending to a senior's high school career.
"A lot better than the first one, that's for sure," said Shah. "Just different emotions to get back to where we were. It's a good way to go out on top."
"I have to say this one is better," said Reinbold. "Because it's our senior year, we had to finish it out with a win, and we did."
Reinbold, along with No. 1 doubles teammate Matt Neal, pushed the Panthers past Bloomington South's Matt Acton and Ben Stowell (6-3, 6-2) to establish Park Tudor as the 2009 IHSAA Tennis Champions.
After taking a 2-0 lead very quickly, Park Tudor looked as if they were on their way to cruise to the state championship. But Bloomington South took the next point in the No.1 singles matchup when Ronnie Schneider def. Park Tudor's Sam Miles (6-2, 6-2).
With No. 3 singles looking as if Clayton Fletcher could possibly defeat Kishan Shah (the match was 3-6, 6-3, and then was conceded), Reinbold and Neal had to come through with a victory.
"It feels good," said Reinbold's doubles partner Neal. "It feels good to win. We put a lot of hard work in, and we finally won."
The championship is the seventh in the school's history, second overall among school's in the state (North Central has 17), and the second championship under Head Coach Dave Heffern.
"Well I think when we came into the first week of practice, we always talk about it," said Heffern on when he knew this team was special. "There's usually enough talent at Park Tudor if I can get the right line-up, and if the kids will work hard enough, than we can contend."
The Panthers looked like more of a team that came to compete than a team that was just willing to contend Saturday afternoon. Park Tudor took the first two points of the match when No. 2 singles Brendan Tannenbaum def. David Wong (6-1, 6-2) and No. 2 doubles Jack Miles/Sam Geier def. Donovan Thomas/Matt Helm (6-3, 6-0).
But despite the loss, Bloomington South Head Coach was very proud of his team's ability to make it to the state championship, the first team to do so in the school's history.
"Win or lose we knew that we had a special group of kids," said Doyle. "The camaraderie, the atmosphere, the leadership from our senior class, has been second to none all season. So we knew going into the year we had a special group of kids, and it was amazing to see how well they played tennis as the year went on. And I think the athleticism, the leadership, really led to them doing some amazing things. And the best thing about this group is they appreciated every second of it, so it wasn't wasted on them at all."
In the end it was Park Tudor though that would come away with the trophy on Saturday afternoon, and as Mental Attitude Award Winner Kishan Shah points out, it couldn't have been a better ending to a senior's high school career.
"A lot better than the first one, that's for sure," said Shah. "Just different emotions to get back to where we were. It's a good way to go out on top."
