<p>Five points separated the top four teams at the Mid-State Conference boys tennis tournament on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Once the final groundstroke was delivered, it was Plainfield claiming the championship with 35 points — one ahead of host Whiteland. League newcomer Perry Meridian finished third in the overall standings with 31 points, while Greenwood tallied 30.</p>
<p>Johnson County players were represented in three of the five title matches and four of the five consolation matches.</p>
<p>Greenwood senior Jacob Rothaar, who at 6 feet, 250 pounds resembles a defensive end more than the surprisingly agile No. 2 singles player he is, won his division with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Perry Meridian’s David Mang.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>“I’ve heard that a bunch of times, that I look like a football player,” Rothaar said. “But when I go out there I enjoy tennis so much more. I started in sixth grade and fell in love with it. I stuck with it and have been playing ever since.”</p>
<p>The relatively brisk manner in which Rothaar won his match was a complete contrast with the third-place match at No. 2 singles. Whiteland senior Corey Ullrich won a 2-hour, 11-minute marathon against Plainfield’s Alex Kessinger, 6-3, 5-7, 11-9.</p>
<p>In the super tiebreaker, Ullrich jumped out to a 6-1 lead, watched Kessinger rally to go up, 8-7, and then rebounded himself at the end to prevail.</p>
<p>“Oh, it was rough,” Ullrich said. “I had to fight for every ball, and if I didn’t I wouldn’t have won. I’m just glad I played as well as I did. I have played (Kessinger) one other time this season, and it went to a third-set tiebreaker as well. I won that one, so I’m 2-0 against him.</p>
<p>“I figured it would be a good match. It’s not too hot out, so it’s just the conditions I like. I knew I had a chance and was going to give it my all.”</p>
<p>In a battle of two of the state’s premier underclassmen, Warriors sophomore Quinten Gillespie faced Perry Meridian junior Sajin Smith in the final at No. 1 singles.</p>
<p>Smith won, 6-4, 6-0.</p>
<p>“He hits really hard, and I just try to get every ball back,” said Gillespie, who fell behind 4-1 in the opening set, rallied to within a point and then saw Smith seize momentum the rest of the way. “He played a little more consistent, and was still aggressive when he could. He just started playing better.”</p>
<p>Ethan Gray of Greenwood placed third in the No. 1 division, downing Martinsville’s Jake Dipert, 6-0, 6-1. At No. 3 singles, Whiteland’s Dylan Gross won the third-place match over Perry Meridian’s Enzio Salemi, 6-1, 6-1.</p>
<p>In No. 1 doubles, the Warriors’ duo of Lane Stephenson and Garrison Pelfree lost to Plainfield’s best pairing, 6-4, 6-3. Picking up third place was Greenwood’s tandem of Charlie Brooks and Ben Sobieray.</p>
