Norwalk clinches share of fourth straight Lake title

NORWALK — The Norwalk girls tennis team continued its winning ways in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division. The Truckers won all five positions, including a three-set comeback win at first doubles, over visiting Perkins on Tuesday. With the win, Norwalk improved to 11-4 overall and 9-0 in the Lake, which clinched at least a share of a fourth consecutive league championship. Norwalk entertains Tiffin Columbian (15-3, 8-1) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The Tornadoes need a win to force a co-title, while the Truckers can claim it outright with a win. In the first meeting on Aug. 28 in Tiffin, Norwalk claimed a narrow 3-2 win. Since 2022, the Truckers are 38-1 in Lake matches, with the lone setback coming at Tiffin Columbian in 2022. In Tuesday's win, junior Lydia Trost claimed a 6-3, 6-4 win over Perkins' Anna Ferback at first singles. Junior Addy Rospert cruised past Olivia Lizzi (6-0, 6-0) at second singles, while sophomore Leksi Jurczek pulled away from Katelyn Troyer in two sets at third singles (6-3, 6-0). The match of the day came at first doubles, where juniors Alysssa Gruhlke and Aubrey Kluding rallied to win in three sets over Brynn Catlett and Jencyn Gennari. The two trailed 5-2 in the first set before coming up just short, 7-5. Gruhlke and Kluding then won 6-2 to force a third set tiebreaker, which they held on for a 10-7 win. At second doubles, senior Chloe Hazelwood and junior Riley Helton won over Emma Beatty and Lexi Green, 6-1, 6-4. In junior varsity matches, Roxy Brummit and Brooklyn Younce won (6-3), as did Natalie Morales and Grace Knight (6-4); Abby Upton (6-2); and Vanessa Vazquez (6-2). Also playing for the Truckers was Libby Lark and Emmie Leber (4-6); Knight and Scarlet Schneider (4-6); Lily Ware and Natalie Wiegel (3-6). Edison 3, SMCC 2 SANDUSKY — The Chargers came away with an SBC Bay win over the Panthers on Tuesday. Liz Campbell got things going at first singles for the Chargers, as she beat Rachel Spicer (4-6, 6-3, 6-2). At second singles, Jenna Keoghan defeated Caitlyn Collins (4-6, 6-3, 6-1). The Chargers had to forfeit at third singles, but the first doubles team of Scarlett Bennett and Faith Maschari defeated Lauren Maxwell and Bella Matthews (7-5, 6-4). At second doubles, Ilah Reynolds and Teagan Farrell lost to Rae Roth and Olivia Swain (6-0, 6-0). Port Clinton 5, Willard 0 WILLARD — The Bay champion Redskins cruised past the Crimson Flashes for another league victory Tuesday night. Grace Arnold beat Emma Steinmetz (6-1, 6-0) at first singles, while Nora Pixler topped Evelyn Martinus (6-1, 6-0) at second singles. Anastasia Hughes then beat Jillian Strong at third singles (6-0, 6-0). At first doubles, Port Clinton's Shantha Weit and Megan Zgodzinski beat Emie Buurma and Cora Clark (6-3, 6-1). At second doubles, Lilly Hatt and Jaelynn Mazur beat Bella De Lara and Marina Ramos (6-0, 6-0).