Crawfordsville defeated Southmont 5-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final of the tennis sectional.
Athenian coach Craig Brainard said the message to his team before the match was to stay focused and play one point at a time.
“I told the guys before the match to play in the present,” Brainard said. “You have to do what you have to do what’s in front of you.”
It took a bit for the Athenians to heed their coach’s instructions, getting off to a slow start.
“I felt we came in a bit tight and it took us a while to get going in the first few games,” Brainard said. “It is a privilege to get to play in the championship.”
In Wednesday’s match between the county rivals Crawfordsville was able to sweep each set.
In the No. 1 singles match Crawfordsville’s Rowan Gambrel defeated Gavin Downey 6-1, 6-1 and No. 2 singles player Wyatt Motz beat Caden Allen 6-0, 6-1.
Athenian Jude Coursey won the No. 3 singles match against Colton Cory 6-3, 6-1.
Crawfordsville’s No. 1 doubles team of Jude Hutchison and Henry Bannon defeated Dean McGaughey and Owen McCutchan 6-3, 6-2. The Athenians’ No. 2 doubles team of Ian Hurt and Nolan Watt defeated Chazz Long and Eden Hernandez 7-5, 6-2.
With the Mounties’ season coming to an end, assistant coach Joe McCutchan complimented his team.
“We finished the season way better than where we started,” McCutchan said. “That is all you can ask for as a coach. We played two good matches in the sectional.”
Southmont’s seniors Chazz Long, Caden Allen, Mikey Hardin and Alex Garcia were on McCutchan’s mind after the match.
“We say goodbye to four guys is bittersweet,” McCutchan said. “They are great guys just like all the guys on this team. They are fun to be around every day.”
