For the first time since 2018, the Eagles posted back-to-back 5-0 shutouts to win the Delta Sectional.

In two of the previous three years, the sectional championship match had gotten a little dicey as Delta edged Muncie Burris 3-2 in 2021 and then slipped past Yorktown 3-2 in 2023.  There was no such drama this time.

The Eagles wrapped up their 32nd consecutive boys’ tennis sectional title with a 5-0 victory over Yorktown on Saturday morning.  They limited the Tigers to just 10 total games.  This came three days after the Eagles won every game in a 5-0 shutout over Muncie Central in the opening round.

Here were some of the takeaways and highlights:

• The Eagles improved their record to 15-6, which secured at least a 15-win season for the 31st consecutive year.
• The 15 wins comes against a schedule that has included 11 teams that also won sectional titles and nine opponents who have been in the state Top 30 rankings at some point this season.
• The Eagles gained their 60th straight dual-match victory over Yorktown.
• The Delta lineup of two seniors, three juniors, a sophomore, and a freshmen included only three full-time varsity players from a year ago.  Four players — Owen Cupp, Brady Williams, Ben Miller and Luke Atkinson — were playing IHSAA postseason matches for the first time.

First off the court in the finals was senior Kody Vest, who won 6-0, 6-0 over Silas Carder at No. 1 singles.  Vest improved to 14-8 with his 12th victory in the last 13 matches.  He recorded his 49th career varsity victory, which ties him with assistant coach Tate Dishman.  With one more victory, Kody will become the 39th boy in DHS Tennis history to reach 50 career varsity wins.  (37 girls have achieved 50+ wins, including Kody’s twin sister Kelsey who has 52 career victories with one more season to play!)

Next to finish Saturday was freshman Luke Atkinson, who won 6-1, 6-0 over Noah Kelly at No. 3 singles.  Luke is 17-7 this fall.

Junior Aaron Elliott and sophomore Tyce Dishman then finished off a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 2 doubles over Yorktown seniors Tyler Koss and Connor Tinch.  Aaron and Tyce had lost to Koss and a different partner a year ago in the sectional, but this year they won twice by scores of 6-3, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-0.  Aaron is now 17-7 for the fall while Tyce is 12-3 after missing the first month of the season with a broken hand.

Senior Owen Cupp gave the Eagles their fourth point with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Reid Butts at No. 2 singles. Owen, a part-time varsity player a year ago, is 12-12 at No. 2 singles this season and has been a major factor in the team’s success.  Losing more than 30 pounds has helped him with his quickness and endurance this season.

And finally, juniors Brady Williams and Ben MIller sealed the shutout with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles over Seth Cooper and Camden Gilliam.  Brady is 16-8 while Ben is 14-6.  Both are first-year varsity players.

The Eagles will face Jay County in the opening round of the Noblesville Regional at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.  In the other match, 18th-ranked Noblesville will play Frankton.  The two winners will return Wednesday for the finals.  Admission is $7 each night.