SMCC's Spicer and Gorty win Bay title at 1st doubles

PORT CLINTON — Luke Spicer and Pavan Gorty had to dig deep. The St. Mary Central Catholic seniors watched a lead in the first set of the first doubles Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division championship match slip away. The two used their experience, though, battling past Port Clinton's Evan Lovitt and Zach Speer 5-7, 7-5, 10-5 on Saturday at Port Clinton High School. "It feels good to win," Gorty said. "This is only my third year. My sophomore year was atrocious. My junior year, we got fourth. It feels really good to come back this year and win it." The quartet of players was quite familiar. Spicer and Gorty won a regular-season contest in two sets Monday when the Redskins slipped past SMCC. Lovitt and Speer bounced back to take a three-set match Thursday as PC defeated the Panthers once again. "It was tough and easy at the same time," Spicer said. "We knew what to expect this time. We knew what to do coming into it and took care of business." Spicer and Gorty led 4-1 in the first set before Lovitt and Speer caught fire on a chilly day where temperatures were in the 50s. Spicer and Gorty grinded out a tough second set and won a third-set tiebreaker, finishing as the last match on court on the day. "I thought they did a really nice job battling some adversity," SMCC coach Daniel Miller said. "They stayed the course and took it one point at a time. I think their senior experience is coming through. I'm proud of how they handled themselves, especially being down 2-5 and forcing a third-set tiebreak." Spicer and Gorty rolled past Fremont St. Joseph (6-0, 6-0) and Vermilion's Mason McFadden and Kaden Hohla (6-3, 6-0) to get to the final. Lovitt and Speer defeated Huron's David Russell and Nathan Lappen (6-0, 6-0) before a tough victory over Willard's Jaxson Hall and Lucas Winans (6-2, 5-7, 12-10). "They're so disappointed right now because it was a tough loss, but those two have to keep their heads up," said PC coach Joe Miller of Lovitt and Speer. "Evan is only a sophomore with a great future ahead of him. Zach literally picked up a racket when our season started. He has adjusted and adapted. I'm really proud of those two." Port Clinton's Payton Wadsworth steamrolled his way to the title at third singles. He topped Huron's Zackery Kuhl (6-0, 6-0), Vermilion's Caleb Drost (6-0, 6-0) and SMCC's Carter Snyder (6-0, 6-1). "Payton is the most improved player on our team from last year," Joe Miller said. "He played JV and did not play varsity. He has put in so much work playing tournaments, taking private lessons and doing all the stuff to improve. It's so cool to see. He is a problem for people at third singles and it showed today." Snyder got past Calvert's Kaylee Kramer (6-0, 6-0) and Willard's Phebe Schag (6-4, 6-4) to reach the final. "Carter had a nice day," Daniel Miller said. "In his semifinal match, he executed what we were asking him to do. He did a nice job. He lost to Schag at third singles twice. He dumped that from the memory and did a nice job." Another championship for Port Clinton came at second doubles from Alex DeFreitas and Aero Wymer. The two defeated SMCC's Jack Davis and Mason Russell 6-4, 6-3. That came after wins over Fremont SJCC (6-0, 6-0) and Edison's Jace Pinkston and Oz Rutger (6-0, 6-1). "Aero has had to overcome some things this season, so I'm really proud," Joe Miller said. "Those two have been quite the combination." The Panthers' Pravir Gorty ran into a buzzsaw at first singles in the form of Willard's Levi Schag. Schag won the final 6-0, 6-0 and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Performer. Pravir Gorty defeated Calvert's Liam Herbert (6-0, 6-0) and Edison's Adin Colbert (7-6 (5), 6-4) before the tough loss to Schag. "Pravir has put in a lot of work in the offseason," Daniel Miller said. "He's had a really nice season. He took Levi to three sets a few weeks ago, but Levi played lights out today." Port Clinton's Charley Kruse was runner-up at second singles. Willard's Mason Dawson won the title 6-1, 6-3. Kruse got past SJCC's Keira Pan (6-0, 6-0) and Vermilion's Sean Rini (6-2, 6-4) before coming up short against Dawson. Kruse topped Dawson in three sets Wednesday. "We knew it would be tough," Joe Miller said. "Mason is a senior and is experienced while Charley is a sophomore. Charley just started playing tennis eight months ago. He goes to Toledo and trains. We're excited about him. For him to be where he is right now as a pretty new tennis player is pretty exciting." Port Clinton is within striking distance of winning the league championship, something Joe Miller hopes to accomplish this week. "We had a really good week as a team," he said. "We are in really good position for a SBC title. We have four matches left there and I think every other team has two or three losses at least and we have none. Our goal right now is to clinch that this week and then we'll move on to sectionals." Championship matches 1st singles: Levi Schag (W) def. Pravir Gorty (SMCC) 6-0, 6-0 2nd singles: Mason Dawson (W) def. Charley Kruse (PC) 6-1, 6-3 3rd singles: Payton Wadsworth (PC) def. Carter Snyder (SMCC) 6-0, 6-1 1st doubles: Luke Spicer/Pavan Gorty (SMCC) def. Evan Lovitt/Zach Speer (PC) 5-7, 7-5, 10-5 2nd doubles: Alex DeFreitas/Aero Wymer (PC) def. Jack Davis/Mason Russell (SMCC) 6-4, 6-3 Clyde wins 3 Lake titles NORWALK — Clyde senior Aric Kauble continued his dominating season by taking home the first singles championship at the SBC Lake Division tournament. He defeated Columbian's Dravyn Dicken (6-1, 6-1) in the semifinals before taking down Norwalk's Jeremiah McCreary (6-3, 6-4) for the title. "Aric played very well today and has all season," Clyde coach Jeff MacFarland said. "He has continued to improve throughout the season and seems to find ways to dig deeper when he gets pushed. Jeremiah is a very strong player, but in his matches this season, Aric has found ways to keep calm and figure out ways to win." The Fliers also swept the doubles championships. At first doubles, seniors Chase Castle and Oscar Webb were hardly challenged. They defeated Bellevue's Lucas Niedernier and Preston Spurlock (6-1, 6-0) before a win over Norwalk's Edward Ramos and Jack Pittenger (6-2, 6-0). "Chase and Oscar played very well today," MacFarland said. "They have developed into a very good doubles team taking advantage of the experience and athleticism. I look forward to seeing them develop more at the end of the season and the postseason." At second doubles, senior Cole Sengstock and sophomore Trenton Brown took care of business for Clyde. They defeated Bellevue's Sam Kinney and Konnor Smith (6-0, 6-0) before dispatching Norwalk's Levi Dickerson and Carter Swick (6-3, 6-2). "Cole and Trenton are relatively new to tennis, but are both picking it up quickly," MacFarland said. "They have embraced the style of doubles we play at Clyde and with their athleticism has helped them to improve quickly. As they gain more experience, I believe they can be a very strong team in the postseason." Sandusky had a pair of runner-up finishes. At second singles, senior Brady Mullins defeated Norwalk's Roman Snyder (6-1, 6-1) before losing to Columbian's Brock Siesel (6-3, 7-5). At third singles, sophomore Ishan Chopra took down Norwalk's Jacob Burger (7-6, 6-4) before a tough loss to Columbian's Parker Nye the final. Nye won 6-2, 3-6, 10-7. Championship matches 1st singles: Aric Kauble (C) def. Jeremiah McCreary (N) 6-3, 6-4 2nd singles: Brock Siesel (TC) def. Brady Mullins (S) 6-3, 7-5 3rd singles: Parker Nye (TC) def. Ishan Chopra (S) 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 1st doubles: Chase Castle/Oscar Webb (C) def. Edward Ramos/Jack Pittenger (N) 6-2, 6-0 2nd doubles: Cole Sengstock/Trenton Brown (C) def. Levi Dickerson/Carter Swick (N) 6-3, 6-2