The Brown County High School girls tennis team are Western Indiana Conference co-champions. From left: Assistant Coach Nate Tipton, sophomore Anna Tipton, sophomore Julia Burt, senior Mattie Satter, senior Abie Bowman, senior Mary Rygiel, junior Katie Tipton, sophomore Anna Stogsdill and Head Coach Thom Miller.
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After defeating Northview High School, the Brown County High School girls tennis team was named Western Indiana Conference co-champions — the first championship for the team in eight years.
On May 13, the Eagles defeated the Knights 4-1 to close out the 2022 conference season on the Knights’ home court.
This is not the first time the girls tennis team has brought home a WIC championship.
Head Coach Thom Miller said the team had a run of four conference championships from 2011 to 2014.
“Our current players were ages 9 to 11 — or third to fifth graders — when we last won conference,” he said.
After the last championship, the team had an eight year run of mostly second place finishes, Miller continued.
Now the team has a win against a rival to add to an impressive season so far.
“With the exception of losing to Sullivan last year and the missing pandemic year, we have finished second in conference to our rival Northview,” Miller said.
Brown County will share the championship title with Sullivan High School who also finished the season with a conference record of 7-1, Miller said.
Miller highlighted his team’s performance in the match against Northview in a press release to The Democrat.
“Sophomore Anna Stogsdill finished quickly with a win at No. 1 singles. Followed by a win at No. 1 doubles by senior Mary Rygiel and junior Katie Tipton. Senior Mattie Satter lost a close match at No. 3 singles. No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles were both tough battles,” Miller said.
“Sophomore Anna Tipton won in two sets with both sets going to tie breaker. It took three sets for senior Abie Bowman and junior Julia Burt to battle out a win with all three sets going to tie breakers. It was a great match to close out the conference season.”
Miller said WIC is “strong and competitive.” He continued that the season was filled with three setters, tie breakers and matches finishing 3-2.
“This has been a true team effort for our Brown County Eagles team. We’ve had key wins coming in at all five positions against different teams. Match play is filled with cheers, support and encouragement between our players from court to court. They understand that their individual performance matters, but recognize and appreciate that it truly is a team sport,” Miller said of his team.
“These girls have worked hard to prepare themselves to compete and have shown grit and determination when it mattered most. I’m so proud of these kids and grateful to work with them. And of course I’m also grateful for our student managers, coaches, our supportive families, athletic staff and the BCS family. This has been a fun year to watch our young ladies work so hard on and off the court. And on top of that, they’re just such great kids. I’m glad they have earned this recognition.”
The Eagles lost their last regular season match last week against Bedford North Lawrence on May 16 with a final score of 1-4.
The team finished their season on May 20 after winning the first round of sectionals, but losing in the championship round against Columbus North High School. The team finished their season as Steve Makurat Invitational champions with a record of 12-8 and 7-1 in conference play.
