Charlestown Pirate Tennis competed in the annual New Albany Invitational this past Friday and Saturday.  Charlestown finished fifth out of eight teams; as Steven Delaney finished 1-2 (5th) in #1 singles play; Jacob Doherty finished 2-1 (3rd) in #2 singles play; and Alec Sipes finished 1-2 (7th) in 33 singles play.  Aaron Meyer and Chase Wray finished 1-2 (6th) in #1 doubles play; and Isaac Bates and Jacob Roberts finished 2-1 (4th) in #2 doubles play.  The Pirates are next in action on Tuesday at Borden.

Charlestown Pirate Tennis hosted local rival New Washington Thursday evening and was able to improve their record to 3-2 on the season with a five nothing shut out of the Mustangs.  Pirate Steven Delany won #1 singles 6-0, 6-2 over Gavin Schindler; Jacob Doherty won #2 singles 6-1, 6-0 over Mason Huff, and Alec Sipes won #3 singles for the Pirates 6-0, 6-1 over Isaac Leezer.  Charlestown’s Aaron Meyer and Chase Wray won #1 doubles 6-3, 6-3 and AJ Walter and Fernando Diaz won #2 doubles 6-1, 6-1.  Next up for the Pirates is the annual New Albany Invitational, Friday and Saturday, August 25th and 26th.

The Pirates’ tennis team, under the direction of third-year Head Coach Scott Matthews, took to the courts tonight for their first match of the 2017 season against the Christian Academy of Indiana Warriors and won 5-0.

Senior Steven Delaney won #1 singles, defeating CAI’s Daniel Boesing 6-2, 6-4 . Senior Jacob Doherty won #2 singles defeating CAI’s Jeremiah Robison 6-0, 6-1. Rounding out singles action at #3, Senior Alec Sipes defeated CAI’s Caleb Schultz 6-2, 7-5.

In #1 doubles action, CHS’s Aaron Meyer and Chase Wray defeated CAI’s Andrew Gallman and Hosea Xi 6-0, 6-0. Finally, in #2 doubles, CHS’s Isaac Bates and Jacob Roberts defeated CAI’s Lucas Couch and Sam Wright 6-0, 6-1.

Steven Delaney, who looks to lead the Pirates this year said, “I’ve got to slow down a little bit and take each point in stride.” Aaron Meyer added his thoughts on the match: “I came out with a familiar partner in Chase Wray from last year and we started off great. It’s going to be a good season ahead.” Finally, Jacob Doherty had some motivating words for his teammates: “It was a good start to to the season. All the seniors came away with a first match win, so it looks to be a promising season.”

The Pirates will be right back in action tomorrow afternoon as they make the short trip down Highway 403 where they will take on the Silver Creek Dragons at 4:30 PM.

Charlestown High School Pirate Senior standout Miles Matthews recently gathered with family and school officials to official sign his intent to attend and play college tennis at the University of the Cumberlands in southern Kentucky.  Matthews, after his Senior season, was named to the 2016 Senior All-Star team, representing the Southeast Section of Indiana; as well as to the 2016 All-District 8 Singles team.  Miles led the Pirates in #1 singles play all season, in helping the team finish 13-4 during both his Junior and Senior seasons.  Miles has compiled a career singles record of 55-31, including finishing 17-6 his Senior season.  Joining Miles for his signing, were his parents Scott and Candice Matthews as well as Jeff and Paige Barrett, sisters Samantha and Sloane, Charlestown HS Athletic Director Chad Gilbert, and Cumberlands Head Tennis Coach Chin Tan.  Coach Tan commented that Miles is a very good student athlete, “just like what the University looks for”; and was impressed by the initiative Miles showed when making a recent visit and working out with the program.  Miles plans to major in business and pre-law while attending the University of the Cumberlands; and learned of the advantages of their tennis program from talking with area coaches.  Miles gives the following advice to up coming student athletes wanting to play sports at the next level:  “Work hard, push through obstacles, never give up on your goals; and work just as hard in the classroom as on the court or field.”  Congratulations to Senior Pirate for Life Miles Matthews, Charlestown’s newest college bound student athlete.

The Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association recently announced that Charlestown Pirate Tennis Senior Miles Matthews has been named to their 2016 Senior All-Star team, representing the Southeast Section of Indiana; as well as to their 2016 All-District 8 Singles team.  Miles led the Pirates in #1 singles play all season, in helping the team finish 13-4 during both his Junior and Senior seasons.  Miles has compiled a career singles record of 55-31, including finishing 17-6 during the recent 2016 season.  Miles will join fellow 2016 Indiana All-Stars Saturday, October 29th, on the campus of DePauw University; representing Charlestown High School and the Southeast Section in three rounds of All-Star competition.  Miles becomes Charlestown’s second Boys Tennis Indiana All-Star in recent years.  Congratulations Miles Matthews, outstanding job representing Pirate Nation!

The Charlestown Pirate Tennis team improved their record to 13-3 (7-2 MSC), finishing third in the final conference standings Tuesday, by dispatching Salem on the road 5-0.  Miles Matthews won #1 singles (6-3, 6-3), Trey Woodward won #2 singles (6-4, 6-4), and the Pirates won #3 singles by forfeit.  In doubles #1 play, Pirates Josh Copeland / Jacob Doherty won (6-2, 6-2) and Steven Delaney / Chase Wray won #2 doubles (6-1, 6-0).  The Pirates begin Sectional play Wednesday versus Silver Creek at Silver Creek beginning at 4:30 pm.