Norwalk secures share of SBC Lake

NORWALK — Being first off the court was fitting for Lauren Brown and Kenzie Smith. The pair have played doubles for the Norwalk tennis program for the past three seasons, including the first position both last season and this season. Brown and Smith dropped just one game en route to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Perkins; Katie Skavnak and Keira Geiger on Tuesday. They were the first to victory at all five positions as the Truckers swept the Pirates, 5-0, to clinch at least a share of the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division championship at the Norwalk Middle School tennis complex. "I'm very excited for the way we played today," Brown said. "We've been playing together for three years now, and it's been an incredible experience to learn and grow with someone. "I think we've played well this season, and I'm just very happy to see it." With the win, Norwalk improved to 12-4 overall and 9-0 in the Lake Division. Columbian's lone loss was by a 3-2 score to the Truckers on Aug. 29 in Tiffin, but that is also the only league match left on the schedule on Sept. 24 in Norwalk. "We're very together as a team," Smith said. "The coaches and players, we all work really hard together every day, and I think that's a big factor in why we play the way we do." At first singles on Tuesday, Ana Osborn defeated Ellie Manion in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Lydia Torst defeated Jaqueline Crawford at second singles (6-2, 6-1), while Eva Ott and Anna Ferback played a third set tiebreaker with the match already in hand. Ott won the first set, 6-4, then Ferback responded with a 6-2 win. Under tiebreak, Ott then cruised to a 10-2 win. The second doubles team of Shyla Gruhlke and Addy Rospert also cruised, posting scores fo 6-2, 6-0 over Jaisey Ackerman and Jencyn Gennari. "We definitely proved ourselves and worked hard," Smith said. "Everyone in their positions played how they needed to and it all ended dup working out very well." Since joining the SBC in the fall of 2017, Norwalk has won six Lake Division championships, and finished second once (2017) and third once (2021). Over the past three seasons, the Truckers are 46-10 overall and 30-1 in Lake matches. "I think the coaches have a lot to do with it," Brown said. "They are very personable with us. I've been doing lessons with Coach Harry (Love) since I was eight and have been on the varsity team for four years. "It's just community, and something I will very much miss at the end of this year." This season, Norwalk also replaced first and second singles, as well as a pair of doubles players. But the Truckers didn't miss a beat, losing only to powerhouse Division I programs like Perrysburg, Sylvania Northview and Toledo Notre Dame, along with Div. II power Ottawa Hills. "We were a younger team entering the season, but we do have the staples of Kenzie and I being together for three years," Brown said. "All our teammates have adapted so well, especially Ana going from third to first singles. "It was hard to find out what kind of team we'd be, but once we started getting some matches in, it all fell into place." Up next for Norwalk is a non-league match on Wednesday at Willard. The individual SBC Lake Division championships are set for Saturday morning at the NMS courts, then comes the big rematch with the Tornadoes on Sept. 24. The regular season ends on Sept. 30 in a rescheduled non-conference match with Edison. "I think yesterday (at Huron) and today were a big confidence booster going into the final stretch," Smith said. "We have such good chemistry and have a lot of energy out on the court." In junior varsity matches on Tuesday, Roxy Brummit and Alyssa Gruhlke won, 6-1. Others competing for the Truckers included Chloe Hazelwood and Aubrey Kluding (0-6); Vanessa Vazquez and Abby Upton (1-6); Kinleigh Lesch and Nellie Ferguson (2-6); Sofia Stahl and Lily McDuffie (0-6); and Natalie Wiegel and Lily Ware (3-6).