Category Archives: Boys Tennis

Pirates Crowe and Wigginton Named School Winners for the Heisman High School Scholarship

Congratulations to Lanae’ Crowe and Eric Wigginton for being named Charlestown High School’s female and male (respectively) Heisman High School Scholarship winners.

The Heisman Memorial Trophy is renowned for symbolizing the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The Heisman High School Scholarship, presented by Acceptance Insurance, extends the Heisman prestige to our nation’s most esteemed male and female high school seniors by recognizing and rewarding outstanding scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories not only happen on the field, but in their schools and communities. These remarkable young leaders set the example and make a game-changing difference every day, paving the way to greatness for everyone around them.

Crowe is a member of the Lady Pirate volleyball, basketball, softball, and track and field teams; Wigginton is a member of the Pirate tennis and baseball teams and is a girls’ basketball manager.  Both have advanced to the state round where those winners will be announced tomorrow.

https://heismanscholarship.com/

Pirate Tennis Claims First Sectional Title in 51 Years

 

Front Row (L to R): Dawson Boyd, Alex Wright, Eric Wigginton, and Clayton Rothbauer Back Row (L to R): Coach Matthews, Jackson Snelling, Nick Broady, Carter Getz, Brandon Broady, James Broady, Michael Gillooly

Members of the Charlestown Tennis team set a very specific goal in August: Win Sectional.  On Friday afternoon, they did exactly that and it was the first title in 51 years for the Pirates.

In the first round of the sectional, the Pirates downed Henryville 4-1 sweeping the singles matches and winning at No. 2 doubles. The championship then began on Thursday afternoon, but was suspended by rain with Silver Creek holding a 2-1 lead having sealed victories at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, while Charlestown’s Dawson Boyd defeated the Dragon’s Josiah French 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles. All that was left to determine the match was No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles.

Heading into the delayed finish on Friday, Alex Wright lead one set and was tied at 5-5 at No. 2 singles.  He went on to defeat Zach Milton in the next two games to win 6-1, 7-5 and tie the match up at 2-2.

The sectional title came down to the No. 2 doubles match of Charlestown’s Clayton Rothbauer and Eric Wigginton against Silver Creek’s Jarrett Garr and John Hurley. Rothbauer and Wigginton had gone 8-0 in Mid Southern Conference play in the regular season with Silver Creek being the only school they did not compete against due to a quarantine. The Pirates’ and Dragons’ No. 2 doubles teams were tied a set and tied 2-2 in games with Rothbauer serving 15-love as play resumed on Friday.  The Pirates’ duo came out with a hot start and quickly took a 5-2 lead over the Dragons, but dropped the next two games to make it 5-4. In the final game, the Pirates took a 40-15 lead then a missed shot into the net by Silver Creek would give the Pirates their second sectional title in school history as Rothbauer and Wigginton would win 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles.

Charlestown Coach Scott Matthews said, “We just tried to keep the ball in play and not think about the outcome and just play points. And that’s what we did.”

Eric Wigginton, the 4th year senior for the Pirates, told WPMQ staff back in August that tennis was “serious business this year” and that the goal was to win a sectional.  After the match he said, “It feels good to take down a powerhouse in tennis with their many sectionals and this being only our second one ever. I think they won like 29 in a row or something before Borden beat them last year. We wanted our shot at them and we got it and took advantage of it.  We said all along this was our year.”

We asked Wigginton about the emotions of winning the first set, losing the second, getting delayed, coming out hot, then dropping two games before finishing it off and he said, “We just had to stay focused. Going up 40-15, I felt a wave of confidence because Alex [Wright] had won so I encouraged our teammates who were watching to get up because I knew Clayton [Rothbauer] and I were ready to end it right there too.”

Charlestown advances to the Silver Creek Regional on Tuesday where they will face Jeffersonville at 4:30 p.m. There is an admission fee of $5.

Members of the Pirate tennis team are seniors Carter Getz, Michael Gillooly (1S), Clayton Rothbauer (2D) and Eric Wigginton (2D); juniors Brandon Broady (1D), Nathan Smith, Jacob Whitten, and Alex Wright (2S); sophomore Dawson Boyd (3S); and freshmen Nick Broady, Jackson Shearer, Ryan Sipes, and Jackson Snelling (1D). The Pirates are coached by Scott Matthews and James Broady.

 

Story and photos contributed by WPMQ Staff.

A WPMQ SPECIAL FEATURE: Brandon Broady Tackles Type 1 Diabetes

 

A WPMQ SPECIAL FEATURE STORY

Brandon Broady Tackles Type 1 Diabetes

By Lizzie Hill and Sara Abell

Brandon Broady, a sophomore student athlete at Charlestown High School, manages school, three sports, and Type 1 diabetes (T1D). It isn’t every day that a student is dedicated to three sports and equally plays them well. It’s even more rare to find a student who does this and manages an autoimmune disease that could greatly impact his health.

Brandon was diagnosed with T1D in 2017. He first noticed his symptoms when his appetite changed and he began to drink excessive amounts of water. When he first learned of his diagnosis, he was curious because he didn’t really know anything about the disease. Type 1 diabetes is a genetic condition in which the pancreas creates little to no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to allow sugar to enter cells in order to produce energy. This affects blood sugar levels and can cause hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, which are both an influx in blood sugar levels. Both of these effects can have a devastating impact on one’s body and if blood sugar levels aren’t controlled this can lead to other illnesses, including death. Blood sugar levels have a direct impact on strength, speed, stamina, and flexibility. It is important that athletes with diabetes keep a close eye on their health to reach optimal performance.

Brandon has had his hands on a baseball since the age of 3, picked up basketball in 3rd grade, and rounded out his sports with tennis in 6th grade. Playing sports is an important part of Brandon’s life and he won’t let any diagnosis stop him from accomplishing his goals. Type 1 diabetes can have a wide range of effects on one’s performance during various sports so Brandon makes sure to keep a close eye on managing his condition in order to continue physical activities. When active in sports, Brandon tries to balance his blood sugar levels as best as he can in order to reach peak performance with an app on his phone and by human nature. He can easily tell if his blood sugar levels are off because he begins to feel tired, which would be an obvious negative effect to a three-sport athlete like Brandon. His go-to snacks to help his blood sugar levels are peanut butter crackers and Gatorade. He says it’s not scary because he has gotten used to it and it’s just a normal part of his life that he has learned to manage. 

With the diabetes have come some opportunities for Brandon. He serves as a youth ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  JDRF has led the search for a cure for T1D since its founding in 1970. And just this week he got to listen to a speech by the Big 10 Baseball Coach of the Year, Jeff Mercer, from Indiana University Bloomington talk about playing ball and it really made Brandon feel good to hear him say that he is willing to work with and help those with some type of disability or impairment.  

Brandon says, “ Type 1 diabetes has inspired me to be more healthy because of the consequences it can have on your body later in life.” Managing Type 1 diabetes and keeping up with sports can be hard, but Brandon has proved it’s achievable. He goes on to tell other athletes to,“Stay strong and keep ahead of the game.”

Pirate Tennis Downs Borden 3-2 in Sectional Semi-Finals

The Pirate tennis team avenged a mid-season loss to Borden in last night’s sectional semi-final when they pulled out three tight matches to overcome the Braves 3-2 in exciting fashion.

After losing the first set at #2 singles 3-6, sophomore Eric Wigginton was the first of the Pirates to emerge as a winner with a 6-3, 6-2 comeback. Wigginton looked as strong physically and mentally as he has all season which is good, not only looking into tonight’s championship, but also into next season for the young Pirates.

The #1 doubles team of freshman Brandon Broady and senior Jacob Roberts won their first set 6-4, dropped the second 5-7, but came back strong to win the match with a 6-2 third set. The #2 doubles team of freshman Alex Wright and senior Jase Smith ended the night, winning with lots of excitement.  They dropped their first set 6-3, rallied back to win 7-4 in the second set tiebreaker, then finished off the Braves 6-4 in the third.

Isaac Bates at #1 singles and Michael Gillooly at #3 singles were both defeated.

The Pirates will take on the Silver Creek Dragons tonight in the Sectional Championship at 4:30 at Silver Creek. Come out and support the Pirate Tennis team!

 

Pirate Tennis Sweeps MSC Matchup at Clarksville

Eric Wigginton at #2 singles returns a serve.

Coach Matthews and the Pirate tennis team traveled to Clarksville for a Mid-Southern Conference matchup and swept the Generals yesterday.

Senior Isaac Bates (#1 singles) won his match in three sets (6-4, 4-6, and 6-1). Sophomore Eric Wigginton (#2 singles) picked up his first varsity singles win in three sets as well, battling back from a 1-4 deficit in the 3rd set (6-3, 2-6, 7-5). To finish out the singles matches, Michael Gillooly (#3) prevailed in two (6-2, 6-2).

At No. 1 doubles Brandon Broady and Jacob Roberts won (6-2, 6-2).  The Generals forfeited the No. 2 doubles match.

The Pirates are back on the courts tonight when they host Providence at 4:30 P.M.

Pirate Tennis Takes Down the Mustangs 3-2 in Re-match

The Pirate tennis team claimed the home win last night against neighboring New Washington after previously losing to them just over a week before. Michael Gillooly won the only singles match for the Pirates, while both doubles teams of Jacob Roberts and Brandon Broady (1D) and Alex Wright and Jase Smith (2D) both recorded wins. Eric Wigginton lost a tough three set match at #2 singles (2-6, 6-0, 7-5) in only his 3rd singles match of the year for the Pirates.

(Story contribution by WPMQ Staff Member Jas Bruce)

(Photo credit: Melissa Stewart)

 

Pirate Tennis Blanks Borden in Sectional; Advances to Tomorrow’s Championship Against Silver Creek

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The Pirate Tennis team had a commanding win against Borden in tonight’s sectional at Silver Creek, giving up only 3 games to the Braves, and winning the match 5-0.  At #1 singles, Steven Delaney won 6-1, 6-0. At #2 singles, Jacob Doherty won 6-0, 6-0, and rounding out the singles action at #3, Alec Sipes won 6-2, 6-0.  #1 (Aaron Meyer and Chase Wray) and #2 doubles (Isaac Bates and Eric Wigginton) both swept their opponents 6-0, 6-0.
The Pirates will face Silver Creek for the sectional championship at 4:00 P.M. tomorrow afternoon.  If you can make it out, come support these boys as they hope to capture the crown.

 

 

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