Pairings: Penn, South Bend Saint Joseph look to extend boys tennis sectional streaks
The Penn and Saint Joseph boys tennis programs both boast impressive sectional championship streaks.
The pair of perennial powers will look to extend those starting this week.
Pairings for the 56th annual state tournament series, which includes 291 teams, was made by the IHSAA Monday night.
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Sectional play starts Tuesday at some sites with others beginning play Wednesday. Sectionals are set to conclude by Saturday with regionals October 4-5. Semistates are October 8 with the State Finals October 14-15.
Penn has won 20 sectional titles in a row, while Saint Joseph's streak sits at 13 straight. The pair will be big time favorites to extend those marks too.
No. 29 Penn will face Adams in its own sectional scheduled to begin Tuesday. Coach Eric Bower's veteran team is 14-2 with one of those losses a 3-2 NIC setback to Saint Joseph.
No. 26 Saint Joseph headlines the field of the Clay Sectional at Leeper Park. Coach Steve Bender's talented team plays Riley in a first-round matchup Wednesday. Saint Joseph is 15-4 versus a tough schedule.
Saint Joseph beat Penn last year in a regional final before losing in the semistate to eventual state champion Carmel. Bender's team has thrived again this season despite losing its top two players from last year in Daniel Pries and Kyle Fernandez.
Bremen and Goshen will be a pair of other area teams to watch in the postseason.
The Lions have won three straight sectional crowns and a pair of regional titles. Bremen will face Triton in opening round play of its own sectional.
No. 21 Goshen hosts its own tournament. The RedHawks are unbeaten on the regular season, including a win over Saint Joseph. Coach Daniel Love's team won the Northern Lakes Conference tournament title Saturday.
For complete state tournament pairings, visit ihsaa.org.
Area Sectional Pairings
All times ET
At Clay (at Leeper Park)
Wednesday: 5 p.m.: Washington vs. Clay. Riley vs. Saint Joseph
Thursday: 5 p.m.: Championship
At Penn
Tuesday: 4:30 p.m.: Adams vs. Penn. Mishawaka vs. Marian.
Wednesday: 4:30 p.m.: Championship
At Concord
Tuesday: 5 p.m.: Jimtown vs. Elkhart. Northridge vs. Concord
Wednesday: 5 p.m.: Championship
At Goshen
Wednesday: 5 p.m.: Bethany Christian vs. NorthWood. Goshen vs. Fairfield
Thursday: 5 p.m.: Championship
At Bremen
Wednesday: 5 p.m.: Plymouth vs. Glenn. Bremen vs. Triton
Thursday: 5 p.m.: Championship
At LaPorte
Wednesday: 5:30 p.m.: Michigan City Marquette vs. New Prairie. Michigan City vs. LaPorte
Thursday: 5:30 p.m.: Championship
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Area high school boys tennis sectional pairings
