INDIANAPOLIS
Franklin senior Emma Sappenfield went through a wide range of emotions after her final high school match.
Sixth-ranked Franklin lost its first match of the season with a 4-1 decision to No. 2 Fishers in the girls tennis state semifinals Saturday at North Central.
Sappenfield and junior Meleah Murphy (23-1) suffered their first loss at No. 2 doubles to Emma Beehler and Meredith Ober 6-1, 6-3.
“It sucks to go down this way,” Sappenfield said. “I’m proud of everyone and all that we accomplished this season leading up to now. It’s sad. It’s bittersweet, but I’m happy we made it here.”
Sappenfield was one of four senior starters along with Rylie Wilkison, Chelsie Rayl and Kennedy Urban.
This was the Grizzly Cubs’ second consecutive appearance in the state semifinals. Sappenfield is optimistic about the team’s future.
“They’ve got the ball rolling, so they have to keep it going for the next couple of years,” she said. “I think they should do well next year. I’ll definitely be keeping in touch to see how they do. I’m done with (playing) sports. I’m going to Bulter University to study accounting.”
This just closes the high school chapter for Wilkison, who will play tennis at the University of Southern Indiana next season.
“We’ve all played really well, so I’m proud of our team,” Wilkison said. “I think the (younger) girls try really hard and, hopefully they do really well next year.”
Wilkison, who finished with a 24-2 mark, was shut out by Mischa Briggs at No. 1 singles.
“She’s a different player, so it was frustrating,” Wilkison said.
Rayl (25-1) suffered her first loss to Fishers’ Izzy Ireland 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) at No. 3 singles.
At No. 1 doubles, the Tigers’ duo of Cassie Maurer and Caroline Ober downed Urban and junior Kate Pinnick 6-1, 6-0.
Sophomore Marnie Moore captured Franklin’s lone point by rallying to defeat Madelyn Barron 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
“Marnie is a fighter,” Grizzly Cubs coach Rusty Hughes said. “Our team is made up of a lot of fighters. Chelsie almost came back and won. Marnie did a great job. She is going to leave it all on the court. That’s the person Marnie is; she’s not going to quit.”
The Grizzly Cubs finished with a 27-1 mark.
“We came here to win, but we just played a really better team today,” Hughes said. “They were No. 2 for a reason, but our kids played really well. Through the course of the season, different people stood up and played better matches on certain days. We beat a really good Center Grove and a really good Columbus North team on the way here. We’re proud of the kids, proud of the community and proud of the families.”
Franklin advanced to the semifinals with a 4-1 victory over No. 23 Fort Wayne Carroll 4-1 in the state quarterfinals.
Hughes said while the Grizzly Cubs lose four strong seniors, they have good players returning.
“We just have to keep working,” he said.
In the individual tournament, Center Grove’s doubles team of Ava Beecher and Lauren Dick won a pair of matches to advance to state this coming weekend. The tandem defeated Terre Haute North’s Hannah Wineinger and Rigley Irby 6-1, 6-0 and then got past North Central’s Caroline Robinson and Carrie Grissom in a 7-5, 7-5 battle.
