Elida, Shawnee share WBL tennis championship

LIMA - Wapakoneta's Alexander Hager knew he needed to come out more aggressively in Monday's finals of the Western Buckeye League boys tennis tournament at the Collett Street Courts.

Hager did just that when he defeated Elida's Evan Neuman in three sets, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, to win the WBL singles crown.

Hager's victory proved to be critical in the final team standings.  Shawnee won the tournament, scoring 28 points, compared to Elida's 26. St. Marys finished a close third with 22.

However, since Elida entered the tournament with a perfect 9-0 league mark, they shared the overall league title with Shawnee.

In Hager's semifinal match with Shawnee freshman Sam Rutter, the Wapakoneta junior struggled in the first set, losing 2-6. In the second and third sets, however, Hager stormed back, winning 6-2 and 6-0.

Hager said he felt like he was much more aggressive in the finals.

"I came out a lot more aggressive," Hager said of his match against Neuman. "Evan started to get his game going (in the second set) and started to make more shots. So, I had to take a minute to get back on track."

Neuman said he might have tried to force too many shots in his first set against Hager.

"I came out and tried to make it happen like fireworks," Neuman said. "I slowed down (in the second set) and started to let him dictate the shots a little more."

Shawnee's first doubles team of Andrew Weller and Erich Wade won its finals match against Elida's Lance Blass and Brent Sahagun in a hard-fought three-set battle, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, The Shawnee second doubles team of Cody Clark and Hunter Pay also won.

In the second singles finals, Elida's Phil Kirkendall outlasted St. Marys' Michael Schmitmeyer in a marathon match, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3. In third singles, St. Marys' Joseph Brenneman defeated Elida's Joel Perrin, 6-2, 6-4.

Shawnee coach Rob Cusick said the key to winning a share of the league crown was the depth of his team.

 "There are a lot of guys not here today that won matches during the season that made a difference," Cusick said. "I'm really happy that both of our doubles teams won today, too."

Elida coach Denny Schwinnen said this year's WBL tournament was one of the most competitive tournaments that he could remember.

"This is one of the most competitive tournaments that I've ever been associated with," Schwinnen said. "Also, (coach) Rob (Cusick) and I are really good friends...that makes it fun."

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