Columbia City’s Eli Jones pounds home a point against Whitko’s Aiden Hoffman Thursday in the Warsaw Boys Tennis Sectional semi-finals. (Photos by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – If Thursday’s lightning-quick 5-0 results from Warsaw and Columbia City were any indication, Saturday’s championship could be a war.

Both the Tigers and Eagles each rolled up quick semi-final wins over Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko, respectively, to set up what could potentially be a very competitive sectional tennis championship match.

Warsaw 5, Tippecanoe Valley 0

Tippecanoe Valley’s Seth Hoffman

Aside from the first set in the three singles matchup, all the other pairings were heavily tilted in Warsaw’s favor. Both the No. 1 singles court won by Colton Lind over Seth Hoffman and the No. 2 doubles court taken by Reuben Williams and Nolan Knight against Jeremy Landis and Connor Frentzel were via shutout.

Kyler Bartol lost just one game to Eric Wright at No. 2 singles as did the Tiger No. 1 doubles of Bailey Buhrt and Spencer Britton against Payton Mills and Dakota Parker.

Caleb Williams’ 7-5, 6-1 victory over Garrett Feldman saw Feldman work stroke for stroke with Williams’ placement, content to take what he was given. After Feldman tied the first set at five, Williams rallied for the next game rather quickly before holding on for the first set. From there, it was virtually all Williams to close out the shutout for the Tigers.

“It’s one and done,” said Warsaw head coach Rick Orban. “There isn’t any team that’s showing up here that’s planning on losing. We have to stay focused and concentrate. One of the concerns, Tippy Valley was outmatched, there’s no doubt about that. But one of the concerns as a coach is, OK, you win the first set 6-0, what’s the score of that second set? Now do you lose focus, do you quit doing what got you to that point?

“I’m pleased with the fact that they focused, they concentrated and they didn’t change their game at all. Matter of fact, they may have upped their games in the second sets. That I was thrilled about.”

Orban, who saw a little of the Eagles top two singles players in action from his resting post near the scorers table, was impressed with what he saw. Even a tad nervous seeing the City scores come speeding into the clipboard.

“They are solid, they don’t miss and they work the points,” Orban said of the Eagles. “They were consistent throughout. I was listening to the points as they were reported to the desk, and trust me, tomorrow we’ll be talking about that.”

Columbia City 5, Whitko 0

Whitko’s Aiden Hoffman

Taking business in the same manner on the other end of the complex, the upstart Eagles made quick work of its Whitley County rivals.

Both doubles teams won via shutout, Jordan Lee and Kendall Smith taking down Bryce Tucker and Kaige Michael at No. 1 and Jackson Lengenbauch and David Kyler over Charles French and Nguyen Lu at No. 2.

Garrett Anspach and Eli Jones both lost just one game in beating Nathan Smith and Aiden Hoffman at No. 1 and No. 3 singles. Braden Baker at No. 2 took care of Devon Akers three and zero.

The matchup Saturday with Warsaw was the goal from the start said City head coach Chris McGehee.

“I give my guys a lot of credit, and one of our season goals is to make it to the sectional finals,” McGehee said. “We know Warsaw is a strong program and we are at the point in our program where priority number one was building the size of our program. We are just trying to get the guys to put the time in. They did their job and did what they needed to do.

“We really preach ‘SWNP’, which stands for ‘So what, next point,’” continued McGehee. “When we hit a bad shot, and our guys know they will hit some bad shots, and they are going to hit some great shots. Being able to battle through those one points, you can’t let those one points define the match. Really, that consistent or great shot they are going to hit, tip your hat to them, great, now we come out and win the next point.”

Saturday’s championship between Warsaw and Columbia City will take place at 9 a.m. at the Warsaw Tennis Complex. Warsaw is seeking its 30th sectional title and sixth in a row. City is trying for its second, the only title coming in 2011 when City defeated Warsaw 3-2.

Warsaw’s Caleb Williams