Extreme heat on the hardcourts with three rounds of play, taking place over 7-hours, is a tough environment to play in. 

      Chesterton and three other teams dealt with the brutal conditions at the South Bend St. Joe Tourney on Saturday, played at Leeper Park.  South Bend St. Joe claimed the team title by edging out Indianapolis Westfield and Chesterton took 3rd place over Fort Wayne Dwenger. 

      The format Saturday was 4-singles flights and 4-doubles flights where players played out their flight trying to earn team-points with each victory throughout 3-rounds of play.

      In the No. 1 singles flight, Chesterton’s Fabio Haiduc went 1-2 on the day with losses to St. Joe and Westfield and his win came over FW Dwenger.  Senior Drake Redman lost to St. Joe, but placed 2nd in the No. 2 singles flight as he had wins over FW Dwenger and Westfield.  

      Junior Ian Condes logged-in more court time than any other Chesterton teammate Saturday as all three of his matches were long battles. Condes finished the day 1-2 with a win over FW Dwenger and he lost to SB St. Joe and Westfield.   Chesterton’s Paul Scott finished 1-2 on the day in the No. 4 singles flight with his win coming over FW Dwenger in round #2. 

     “I was very pleased with what I saw in the singles players today,” said Head Coach Tom Bour. “Our top-2 guys got a couple matches against some the Region’s best players and the experience Condes & Scott got will only help them get stronger.  The heat played a big factor in everyone’s final matches, but in Haiduc’s 3rd round match verses Westfield his legs cramped-up throughout the entire second set. I was proud of how he fought through it though.” 

      In the No. 1 doubles flight, David Archbald & Brock Redman went  1-2 as they got their win over FW Dwenger in round #2.  The team of Connor Engels & Grant Flesher also defeated FW Dwenger in round #2 but fell to St. Joe and Westfield in straighth sets as they finished-up 1-2 at the No. 2 doubles flight. 

      In the No. 3 doubles flight, Jai Barath & Mark Jewison were 1-2 on the day with their win coming over FW Dwenger.  At the No. 4 position, Gavin Rivera & Max Haughtington won their opening round match over FW Dwenger and fell to St. Joe in straight sets in round #2.  Playing in place of Rivera & Haughtington in round #3 was teammates CJ Adent & Ben Van Wagner.   Adent and Van Wagner dropped their match to Westfield and the Trojans would combine to go 1-2 in their flight. 

       “Our doubles in every flight just didn’t seem to be able to hold onto leads or keep momentum on their side long enough,” said coach Bour.  “But starting out our season with this tourney, verses great teams, is only going to help us as we go into practices next week.  I saw a lot of things we need to address, but also saw a lot of  positive things out there too.” 

       The Trojans will hit their home courts for a full week of practice next week as they prepare for their home opener and conference play to begin.