Outside of girl’s golf, high school athletics regular season games and matches are set to begin Aug. 14. Before then, North Star will preview each of the Lawrence North fall sports teams. Boys Tennis is our next highlighted team.

The number one can accurately describe last year’s Boys tennis season for Lawrence North. One point kept LN from catching Center Grove for third place at the MIC Championships and one win separated from winning a regional title, two big milestones in the tennis season. While last year’s season remained solid, a mostly underclassmen team left some question marks on the leadership level, something that has already changed this season for assistant coach Brad Cangany.

“They’ve already set a tone that they take this season very seriously. Cade Satz and Robbie Bruner, are one and two singles, are doing the little stuff like picking up balls after practice or going out to breakfast,” Cangany said.

Practice became a key issue of focus for Cangany this season. While the players came fired up for matches, the intensity was often missing during last year’s practices.

“The intensity during a match is almost there, so it’s the intensity in a practice that will prepare them in a match. Hector’s been giving them drills and a different variety of them so that they are working hard in an intense manner. I’d say that we’ve had some really good practices so far.
Despite returning the three singles players, Cade Satz, Robbie Bruner and Zach Pointer, the doubles teams remain blank after the departure of Senior Matt Manner and then sophomore Lucas Wynne.

“We have question marks at the doubles. We have all of our singles players returning but only two doubles players coming back, Kyle McClure and John Salvas. We need to figure out how to give them time to play together and also give other people time to work in at the second people,” Cangany said. “It looks like to get that final doubles spot, we might have five guys that blend together to make a good team.”

In Central Indiana, the struggle for LN has always been to catch the likes of state powers Carmel and North Central. Even with returning talent, Cangany believes the gap is still there, perhaps even greater.

“Well our challenge is always to catch up with the top 3. Last year we lost out to Center Grove by one point. They are really young this year so I don’t know if they’ll be much stronger this year, but they’re historically very strong. Carmel is just heads and shoulders above everyone else. They bring in a freshman singles player that will compete for a top three spot. They already returned three very good players as it is so they can move one of those to doubles. North Central has brought in a young freshman to add to their singles,” Cangany said. “We’re just trying to be competitive and pass Center Grove into third. I think we’re in a position to be competitive and also hold off Pike and Ben Davis. “

LN will get the schedule started next Monday with sectional opponent Heritage Christian before diving into the brutal aspect of their schedule.

Key Returning Players: Senior Cade Satz, Senior Robbie Bruner, Junior Zach Pointer

Important Matches: Lawrence North at Carmel (August 22), Center Grove at Lawrence North (August 29), Lawrence North vs. Perry Meridian (September 19)

Last Year State Tournament Result: Lost in Regional Final (North Central defeat Lawrence North 5-0)