Carmel High School boys tennis team celebrates rare triple crown

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As the Carmel High School boys tennis team celebrated, chants of “triple crown” rang out.

After winning their fourth consecutive state team title Oct. 19, the Greyhounds completed the sweep by winning singles and doubles titles Oct. 26 at Pearson Automotive Tennis Club. Rain forced the matches indoors.

“This was one of our goals, to win all three,” Carmel coach Bryan Hanan said. “We thought we had the team to do it. We’ve had a target on our back all year and (in the finals) we just handled pressure and took care of business. It feels good. It hasn’t been done very often.”

The occasion marked only the third time it has been done in IHSAA history since the current format was adopted in 1990-91. Carmel also did it 2016 and North Central accomplished it in 1995.

Senior Presley Thieneman completed a 26-0 season by beating Perry Meridian senior Sajin Smith 6-2, 6-0 in the singles championship. Thieneman didn’t drop a set all year in repeating as singles champion.

“It was tough being chased all year, but to get it done is really awesome,” said Thieneman, who has made a verbal commitment to play at Northwestern. “I’ve gotten stronger and faster, so I think that’s helped a lot. My serve has gotten better. That made it easier for me to hold serve.”

Thieneman, who transferred from Louisville Trinity as a sophomore, played No. 2 singles behind Patrick Fletchall his first season. Fletchall won the state singles title his final two seasons.

Senior Uday Lomada and junior Jones McNamer finished 27-0 by topping Munster’s Charlie Morton and Kathir Venkat 6-4, 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles final. Lomada and McNamer, who played No. 2 doubles together in 2018, lost only one set in 2019.

“We have different games,” McNamer said. “He’s a tall, skinny kid. I’m kind of shorter.”

McNamer said he plays well at the net for being shorter.

“(Lomada) has a really good kick serve,” he said. “It’s tough to break us. I don’t know how many times we’ve been broken all season, but it’s a pretty small amount.”

Lomada said afterwards he picked up a racket for the last time.

“I’m partially serious about that, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “In college, I might do it for recreation.”


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