Perfect ending for Harrison tennis senior, state champion Aaron Gu

INDIANAPOLIS - Aaron Gu constantly shook his right wrist in an attempt to keep his arm loose.

With his dominant arm cramping and his fingers tensing up in the biggest tennis match of his high school career, the Harrison senior continued to gut it out.

"I could feel my fingers lock up and I was like, 'oh no,' " Gu said. "I really have to dig deep."

Gu led the second set 2-1 at that point and he'd drop consecutive games in a pivotal moment in the match.

But the four-year No. 1 singles player for the Raiders was able to find enough, completing a perfect season with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Bloomington North's Nicholas Shirley at Park Tudor on Saturday to win the IHSAA individual state singles championship.

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"I had to keep the points shorter and if I lose a couple games, I lose a couple games," Gu said. "I've got to keep my mentality right and make sure I finish this match out strong because I knew I had it."

He had it.

Pretty much all season long.

Gu entered the individual state finals as the No. 1 seed. After defeating previously unbeaten Isaiah Hostetler of Westview 6-2, 6-3 in the semifinals, Gu completed an undefeated season with his 30th straight victory by fending off Shirley in straight sets.

Gu finished his senior year losing just one set all season, to Culver Academy's Tyler Li, who lost in the state semifinal to Shirley. Harrison finished the season as the state's No. 1-ranked team and last week lost to North Central in the state championship match 3-2.

Afterwards, Gu received the state's mental attitude award for boys tennis.

"The season was amazing," Harrison coach Chastity Bradley said. "It is unfortunate that we were upset in the finals last week, but I am so proud of Aaron and all the hard work he has put in.

"It wasn't just this year, it's been four years. I remember the first time I saw Aaron. He was playing out at Harrison and my son was playing tennis at the time, like eight years ago. He was just a little, tiny thing. To watch him grow up and have such an amazing year this year, winning the mental attitude, is great. He has been such a great leader for this team."

Gu becomes the second straight individual singles state champion from Tippecanoe County, following West Lafayette's Aidan William last season.

It was William who avenged a regular season loss to Gu in last year's sectional before cruising through the state tournament.

"There was a little bit (of jealousy), but Aidan is like my brother, so I was happy for him," Gu said. "I knew I was that close. I was a couple points away from beating him in sectionals. I knew if I played at that level, I could win it this year."

On Saturday, with William in attendance, Gu did.

Every pivotal point, every momentum-changing game, all seemed to go in Gu's favor.

"It is absolutely massive winning those close games, like at 4-all, 3-all, to have that one-game advantage when your opponent is serving," Gu said. "I need to lock in for those games and I am really glad I won those games and put pressure on him."

Gu never felt the pressure.

He never trailed in the first set and, even when his arm cramped and he was trailing 3-2 in the second set, he bounced back to even the score 3-3, then broke serve to take a 4-3 lead.

Ultimately, Gu played his best defense and when he saw a good opportunity to smash a winner, he aggressively went for it.

The strategy worked and ended with Gu falling backward in what he defined as a shocking and surreal moment after winning match point.

"I couldn't have asked for a better senior season. 30-0. Second place as a team. Won the individual title," Gu said. "This is the stuff kids dream of when they are 5 years old and first watching high school sports - I want to be a state champion. I am still kind of in shock right now. This doesn't even feel real.

"All of my friends and teammates that got me to this point, they deserve this just as much as I do."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Perfect ending for Harrison tennis senior, state champion Aaron Gu