Franklin’s Kennedy Urban reacts after winning a three-setter at first doubles during Saturday’s semistate match against Columbus North.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
The unbeaten Franklin girls had a few things on their minds prior to Saturday’s semistate battle with Columbus North.
One, it was graduation day for four of the Grizzly Cub seniors. Two, trying to make a second straight state quarterfinal appearance. Three, thinking about a bit of gamesmanship that had Franklin seething.
Mission accomplished, as starting seniors Rylie Wilkison, Chelsie Rayl, Kennedy Urban and Emma Sappenfield received their diplomas in a morning ceremony that was changed to accommodate them and then led the Grizzly Cubs to a thrilling 3-2 win over Columbus North on Center Grove’s courts.
Rayl sealed the deal at third singles, beating the Bull Dogs’ Annabelle Sun 6-1, 6-3 in a match that had the crowds on both sides roaring with each point.
Franklin (27-0) now faces Fort Wayne Carroll on Friday in the state quarterfinals, also to be held at Center Grove.
Prior to the match, the Franklin administration had asked Columbus North if the start time could be delayed 30 minutes because of the morning graduation. Grizzly Cubs coach Rusty Hughes was surprised that the Bull Dogs refused the request, but the decision irritated and motivated the Franklin players.
“Feels really good to win, but we need to thank Columbus North for lighting a fire under my players,” Hughes said. “Most schools would help out (on a reasonable request), and 10 years ago we did that by moving back two days to help a team. They wouldn’t do that.”
The Bull Dogs’ top two singles players, senior Kathryn Wilson and Aya Saad, both won, defeating Wilkison and sophomore Marnie Moore.
Wilson, the reigning state singles champion, beat Wilkison 6-0, 6-1, while Saad was a 6-4, 6-2 winner.
Franklin’s doubles teams prevailed, with the No. 1 tandem of Urban and junior Kate Pinnick topping North’s Lizzie Bodart and Lucy Bergman in three sets, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4, while the No. 2 team of Sappenfield and junior Meleah Murphy won 6-3, 6-4 against Grace Conner and Lison Cloteaux.
“We knew they were very good, and they probably have one of the best one-two punches with their singles, but our strength has always been our depth,” Hughes said. “We’re strong at the top and the bottom, and all 12 of our kids can play and that’s what I’m proud of.”
After the final doubles match ended, all eyes were glued on Rayl and Sun’s battle, which featured plenty of good volleys, plays, hits and effort.
Rayl was up 5-1 in the second set when Sun started making a comeback, thanks to her play as well as the support she was getting from her teammates.
Not to be outdone, the Cubs did a lot of urging of their own for Rayl and when Sun’s final return shot went out of bounds, Rayl and her teammates celebrated.
“It was hot, and I was getting tired because we had graduation and my match was long. Our school was nice in letting us get announced first. We were there for an hour then left,” Rayl said. “Every point I was thinking, ‘Keep going, keep going.’”
Rayl knew her match against Sun was going to determine who would be going to state and admitted she felt pressure.
“I know Annabelle and I never played anybody I know before, so that was a different kind of pressure,” Rayl said. “I knew the pressure of winning was on me, but knowing that helped.”
Rayl said her match, which lasted well over two hours, took longer than her high school graduation, but in the end admitted it was worth it and was a nice graduation gift for her and her classmates.
“Oh my gosh, yes!” Rayl said. “I played forever. The heat was definitely challenging.”
Hughes praised Rayl and her teammates and said they were ready for No. 23 Fort Wayne Carroll.
That state quarterfinal match begins at noon on Friday, and the winner advances to a June 1 semifinal at North Central.
“A lot of people put in a lot of hard work,” Hughes said. “The parents, kids, the administration at Franklin, we all work together. If we play well against Carroll, we should win.”
