Franklin, Davidson win Mid-State tennis titles

<p>Superstars were not needed by the Franklin girls tennis team.</p><p>Just a solid team performance.</p><p>Franklin’s depth and consistent play gave them enough of a cushion to get past Plainfield and take a second straight Mid-State Conference championship Wednesday at Whiteland.</p><p>Franklin scored 46 points to Plainfield’s 38.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>Helping the Grizzly Cubs’ cause was rival Greenwood, as freshman Sophia Davidson topped Plainfield’s Jordyn Pax, 7-5, 6-4 in a battle of unbeatens at No. 1 singles.</p><p>Franklin was a part of three titles, as the No. 2 doubles team of Allison Bennet and Rachel Pinnick won, as did Emma Genter at No. 3 singles.</p><p>Rain washed out the No. 2 singles title match, so Franklin’s Haylie Rayl and Whiteland’s Sarah Scott shared first place.</p><p>“Plainfield, Whiteland, Greenwood, they were all pretty good, so we were happy,” Franklin coach Rusty Hughes said. “We were fortunate that we played well for all three days of the tournament.</p><p>Indeed, as in addition to the Cubs’ three first-place finishes, Franklin players also took a second (No. 1 doubles) and third place (No. 1 singles).</p><p>Plainfield did win the No. 1 doubles final to break up the Johnson County title monopoly.</p><p>“We don’t have any All-Americans on our team, but we have some pretty good players,” Hughes said.</p><p>Two more pretty good players were fighting for that No. 1 honor in Davidson and Pax.</p><p>Davidson started out slow, but for good reason. The freshman had been sick for quite some time, fighting a cold and the flu, according to Greenwood head coach Jeremy Runge.</p><p>“She’s hasn’t been herself since probably the second or third week of the season,” said Runge. “Healthwise, it’s not been one of those seasons she has enjoyed.”</p><p>Runge said that Pax was the first real test for Davidson this season.</p><p>Davidson trailed early, but was able to fight back after a few errors from the Quaker player. Both battled throughout and the contest even had a bit of chatter after scores, most of it coming from Pax.</p><p>Davidson wasn’t quite as noisy, but she wasn’t silent, either.</p><p>“Just trying to work hard and push myself,” said Davidson, who was visibly worn out but happy after the match. &quot;This was the first time I have played in a long time and it was hard for me, so I was actually pretty nervous.</p><p>“I am feeling a little lightheaded right now.”</p>