Central Catholic's Delp reaches state tennis semifinal
St. John’s Browns also advance
5/31/2014COLUMBUS — Knowing that he had already surpassed anything he had ever accomplished, Central Catholic senior Dugan Delp played loose during his second-round match of the Division I state singles tournament Friday at Ohio State.
The result was a state semifinal berth for Delp, who will play Springboro senior Zach Berry today at the same site.
Delp lost in the first round of the state singles tournament each of the past two seasons.
“It definitely made a difference when I won the first set of my first match,” Delp said. “Then after I won that match, I knew going into my second match that I’d already done better than last year so the pressure was off.”
Delp is joined on the second day of the state tournament by the St. John’s doubles team of senior Kevin Brown and junior Ryan Brown.
The brothers were fourth at state a year ago, and will play junior Nadim Boulos and sophomore Sean Reid of Mason in a semifinal.
Delp opened state by defeating Chagrin Falls Kenston freshman Austin Barr 6-3, 6-1, and New Albany senior Stephen Miller 6-4, 6-3.
“I felt good [against Barr],” Delp said. “I played well and played smart. It’s the first time I’ve won a match at state, so obviously it’s the first step. I served well and our games matched up pretty well.”
The Brown brothers survived their opening match against Cincinnati Sycamore junior Alex Wittenbaum and freshman Noah Stern 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (9-7), but had less trouble against Solon seniors Eric Goldberg and Dillon O’Brien, winning 6-1, 6-3.
Last year in their state semifinal, the Browns had a match point in the second set before losing to a team from Cincinnati Sycamore.
“I thought we had a rough first match, but we came out relaxed for [the second-round match],” Kevin Brown said. “We got [to a semifinal] last year, and I think last year had some memories for us on the second day, so we’re hoping for better this time.”
Also in Division I doubles was the St. John’s team of senior Jonah Carter and sophomore Rajeev Laungani, who lost to Sycamore senior Mustafa Ahmad and junior Nakul Narendran 6-1, 6-1 in their opening match.
“It means a lot to get here,” Carter said. “It was definitely a goal before the season to get to state and see where it goes.”
In Division II doubles, the Ottawa Hills team of junior Matt Gargas and sophomore Ryan Simon defeated Millersburg West Holmes senior Tim Meyer and sophomore Ethan Meyer 6-1, 6-1 in their state opener.
In the second round, they lost to Cincinnati Country senior Patrick Wildman and freshman Kevin Yu 6-0, 6-2.
“They’ve gotten better every time out after not having played doubles together during the season,” Ottawa Hills coach Jeff Harst said.
In Division I singles, Findlay junior Reid Teatsorth lost to Upper Arlington senior Jeffrey Melvin 6-2, 6-4 in a first-round match.
“I gave him everything I could,” Teatsorth said. “I’m so happy to be here because it’s been my goal.”