Osborn, Truckers claim outright title

NORWALK — When the lights turn on, the pressure goes up. Literally. With the match tied 2-2, Norwalk senior first singles player Ana Osborn was locked in yet another lengthy match with Columbian's Leah Weingart on Wednesday. Norwalk needed a win to claim the SBC Lake championship outright, while a win by Weingart meant a co-title between the two teams. But just 48 hours after the two played a three-set marathon on the same Norwalk Middle School courts, Osborn and Weingart again were in another lengthy match. Osborn won the first set, 7-6, by way of a 7-5 tiebreak point. She was leading 4-3 and more than 2.5 hours into the match when the lights were turned on as darkness fell. The pressure was on. "It's a lot (of pressure), but I kind of just have it in my mind that if I push myself hard enough, I'm going to win," Osborn said. "As far as everyone watching, you just kind of get into your own little world. "I don't notice it. I hear the cheering and it's great motivation, but really, I'm kind of in my own little world." That own little world saw Osborn finish off the second set, 6-3, to give the Truckers the 3-2 win and the outright league title for a second straight year. The Tornadoes and Truckers shared the title in 2022. "There is a lot at stake here, but it's all in fun," Osborn said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself, but in a good way." On Aug. 29 in Tiffin, Osborn had won a close 6-4 first set and was up 3-0 when Weingart was forced to retire. This past Saturday at the league tournament, Osborn rallied from 1-6, 2-5 to win in three sets over Weingart, 1-6, 7-6 (1), 12-10. In Tuesday's match, the two continued to play long rally after long rally. "She's extremely consistent," Osborn said of Weingart. "She's very talented, especially for being only a sophomore. I know she's only going to do great things yet in high school. "But she plays very long points, is very consistent, and she has a hard swing that you have to be ready for every time. It's not easy." At second singles, Norwalk sophomore Lydia Trost and Columbian junior Elise Johnston played three sets for a third time this season. Johnson won, 1-6, 7-6 (5) and 6-2. The Tornadoes also claimed the win at third singles as Paris Salyer beat Eva Ott (6-3, 6-3). However, the Truckers cruised in both doubles matches. The No. 1 tandem of seniors Lauren Brown and Kenzie Smith beat Elise Fruth and Kylee Oyster, 6-2, 6-1. At second doubles, senior Shyla Gruhlke and sophomore Addy Rospert defeated Leah Wahl and Carlea Adams (6-1, 6-2). "It's a great feeling to do it with the seniors we have, because I grew up with them," Gruhlke said. "The focus for this match was not to share. It feels great to win an SBC title again. "It feels better to win it outright, and it feels even better to win it three years in a row. It's a great feeling." Norwalk is 14-4 overall and a perfect 10-0 in the Lake. The program is 48-10 over the past three seasons, including 41-1 in league matches. Since joining the SBC in 2017, the Truckers are 98-6 in league matches. Gruhlke had to wait until her senior year to crack the varsity lineup on a full-time basis. She said it was more than worth the wait. "I'm happy to contribute," she said. "It's a great program to be in, whether you're first or 20th on the team. We have great coaches, great people and it's just a great environment to be a part of." Third-year head coach Harry Love was happy to have Tuesday's match at home. It was a similar situation in 2022 when the Truckers needed to beat the Tornadoes at home to force a co-title between the two teams. "It's definitely more comfortable doing it here than anywhere else," he said. "Matches go long, and with the length of those points and getting to turn the lights on as it starts to turn dark … you couldn't ask for a better setting to finish a perfect league season." Norwalk was not without questions entering the season. Osborn made the jump from third to first singles as the Truckers needed to replace Megan Miller and Sidney Stage at the top. Those two won 157 matches combined. Brown and Smith were back at first doubles, but otherwise, the rest of the lineup was in different positions than the past. "We talked to some of the girls at the end of last year about how important they'd be to this season, and a lot of them followed through on that and worked hard in the offseason," Love said. "And those who were in other sports picked up a racket as soon as they were able to." Love and assistant coaches Dave Rehnborg and Chris Higgins settled on a lineup early, and it stuck. "This might be the least amount of changes we made from start to finish with our lineup," Love said. "Addy and Shyla had a phenomenal year and stepped up at second doubles. Lydia stepped up huge at second singles with her spot on the team. "Eva coming back out, then Ana, Lauren and Kenzie … it just all kind of fell into place for us." Norwalk — which hosts Edison on Monday in the regular season finale — won all eight junior varsity matches on Wednesday. Winners included Chloe Hazelwood and Alyssa Gruhlke (6-4); Roxy Brummit and Aubrey Kluding (6-1); Brooklyn Younce and Vanessa Vazquez (6-2); Abby Upton and Nellie Ferguson (6-1); Kinleigh Lesch and Natalie Wiegel (6-3); Lily McDuffie and Sofia Stahl (6-1); Lily Ware and Natalie Morales (6-1); and Kluding and Younce (6-0).