North Central's Chappell wins state tennis title

North Central's Nick Chappell capped off a picture perfect season with a textbook finish last weekend. The sophomore finished the year a flawless 25-0 and 8-0 in the postseason to capture the IHSAAA Individual State Finals Singles Championship at Park Tudor. Chappell's feat gave North Central its first individual state champion since Troy Hahn in 1998-99 and sixth all-time, the most since the tournament's inception in 1967. Chappell defeated Munster's Bill Heuer in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to claim victory. Prior to the finals match, Chappell defeated Robin Marchione of Hanover Central, 6-4, 6-4. Zionsville's Joe Hammond and Nick Laconi became the Eagles' first doubles state champions, scoring a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 win over East Noble's Daniel Desper and Derek Romer, who entered the finals match unbeaten. Hammond and Laconi finished the season 30-1 overall for the IHSAA State Runner-up Eagles, who lost to Center Grove in the state finals match of the IHSAA team tournament. The Zionsville duo earned their shot at immortality by defeating Lafayette Jeff's Conner Braden and Tanner Braden, 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals while temperatures leveled near 50 degrees most of the day.