New Palestine went 7-0 in conference play this season to win its first Hoosier Heritage Conference tennis title since 2010.
The Dragons’ victory was their third overall HHC title – they also won in 2009 – and snapped Delta’s run of six consecutive conference titles. Delta went 6-1 in league play to finish second.
Coach Des Evans’ New Palestine squad posted a 3-2 victory over Delta, and won all of its other conference matches 5-0.
The HHC showed its strength at tourney time, as four HHC schools won sectional championships.
At Mt. Vernon, New Palestine (19-4) won its sixth straight sectional title with a 4-1 win over Mt. Vernon in the championship match in a sectional that featured four HHC schools. NP beat Pendleton Heights and MV beat Greenfield-Central in the semifinals. NP will face Lawrence North in the semifinal of the North Central regional. The Dragons won their sixth straight sectional title and 16th overall.
At Shelbyville, the host Golden Bears (13-7) beat Triton Central 3-2 to win a five-team sectional field. Shelbyville meets Southport in the semifinals of the Center Grove regional. The Bears won their 18th sectional title and first since 2014.
At New Castle, the host Trojans (10-10) beat Shenandoah 4-1 in the title match to clinch the championship. New Castle meets Richmond in the semifinal of the Richmond regional. The Trojans won their fourth straight sectional title and 18th overall.
At Delta, host Delta (17-4) won two 5-0 victories over Muncie Central and Muncie Burris to win the championship. Yorktown fell 4-1 to Burris in the opening round. Delta meets Lapel in the semifinal of the Marion regional. The Eagles won their 25th consecutive sectional and 27th overall.
All of the regional semifinals will be contested Tuesday, Oct. 3, with championship matches to follow the next day.
