The 2024 Lewis Cass boys’ tennis team made school history by winning the first-ever Sectional Championship for a Lewis Cass boys tennis team. The team worked hard all season to prepare for the sectional. The team won by beating Logansport High School for the Sectional Championship on October 2, 2024, at 4:45 pm. A few seniors from the team gave their input on the season.
Senior, Riley Johnson, who plays number one doubles and partners with senior, Bryce Rudd, was asked a few questions including how it felt to have such a successful senior season. Johnson said it feels great to have such a great senior season. He also said that he hasn’t had a successful varsity season yet which made this one that much sweeter. The next thing Johnson was asked is if he was excited to enter the region after making school history. Johnson replied by saying yes he was excited, but winning the sectional was so exciting already. Johnson also explained his regular doubles partner (Rudd) was sick and would not be able to play in the regional match. This made it harder as he had to play with a different partner than usual. Sophomore, Jayden Ramer stepped in to play with him. The last question Johnson was asked was what his favorite memory is from his years of playing tennis. Johnson explained his favorite memories come from Coach Thomson and the funny things he would say. Johnson said many times Coach Thompson had him as well as others falling to the ground laughing.
The next senior who gave input on this season was Bryce Rudd, who plays number-one doubles and partners with Riley Johnson. Rudd was asked a few questions as well including how he felt to win the school’s first men’s sectional and make history. Rudd explained how it felt awesome to win and make school history. Rudd also said it was an honor to be on the team that made history, even more so as it was his senior year. Another question Rudd was asked was if he thought the team could take the momentum from the sectional into the regional and play strong matches. Rudd said he did think the team could use the momentum and put it towards the regional matches they played. Rudd explained the team was scheduled to play Western High School. He told how the boys’ tennis team had already played Western this season. Also Western is one of, if not the best team, Cass played this season. Rudd said he believes the team will fight to compete and give it their best shot. Finally, Rudd was asked what his favorite memory from his four years of playing tennis was. Rudd replied saying his favorite memory, although he had many in his four years of playing, had to be winning sectionals as it was such a highlight to his tennis career.
The last senior asked about this season is Nelson Melin who plays number-one singles. Melin is a foreign exchange student from Germany for the 2024 through 2025 school year. Nelson is experienced in tennis as he played before he took an exchange year. Melin was asked a few questions including how tennis is different in Germany than how it is here in America. Nelson explained in Germany they do not have school sports. Since they do not have school sports Germans must play club sports instead (similar to travel sports). Melin also told how he did not have as much competition in matches before he came to the States. He also said the teams in Germany do not have as much team spirit as they do here. Melin was asked what were his personal goals for this season and did he achieve those goals. Melin said his biggest goal was to become a part of the team. He wanted to help the team and make new friends during the season. Melin believes he achieved all of the goals he had for the season. Nelson told how he has made some great friends and feels he is a part of the team, as well as helping the team have a successful season. The last question asked was his favorite memory from the season. Melin replied saying one of the best memories he had was the team dinner at Fire Pizza when the team ate together after winning sectionals. Melin told how he really enjoyed it and also said he loved away matches because he enjoyed time on the bus with his teammates.
The Lewis Cass boys’ tennis team drew Western High School to play for their regional. The team played on October 8, 2024, at Kokomo High School in the Kokomo Regional. The players who competed in the regional were senior Riley Johnson, senior Nolan Hines, senior Nelson Melin, senior Jarin Williams, and sophomore Jayden Ramer who stood in for senior Bryce Rudd. Although the team fell short to Western High School, the boys put up a fierce fight in all their matches. The Kings had an amazing season and were excited to see what they would be able to do next year. Well done, Cass Kings tennis!
