Kate Stillson and NorthWood were all smiles after advancing past Fairfield Wednesday in the opening round of the NorthWood Girls Tennis Sectional. (File photo by Mike Deak)

NAPPANEE – Day one of the NorthWood Girls Tennis Sectional went as the hosts would have hoped.

The Panthers knocked out a pesky Fairfield squad, 4-1, in the lone matchup in the five-team grid.

NorthWood’s singles courts were strong, all three winning convincingly. Reegan Miller posted a 6-1, 6-2 win against Madison Cole, Alex Jesse a 6-2, 6-0 win over Kylie Miller and Gretchen Adams returned from her injured ankle suffered at last week’s Northern Lakes Conference tournament for a 6-2, 6-2 win over Riley Miller.

NorthWood’s fourth win came at two doubles, where Caroline Mullet and Kate Stillson took down Faith Adams and Faith Bontrager, 6-4, 6-3.

Fairfield’s one doubles team of Madeline Gawthrop and Kaylie Gaby kept itself alive in the state individual tournament with its 6-2, 6-3 win against Riley Graber and Lauren Mikel.

The Falcons entered the night with a shuffled lineup, but per IHSAA rules, had to use the submitted lineup to the state from last Thursday before the state draw. It’s assembled lineup Wednesday did not match, with three courts altered, and were forced to revert to the turned-in lineup or heed to a forfeiture.

NorthWood advances to Thursday’s semi-final against Jimtown, while on the other side of the walkway will have Goshen and Bethany Christian locking horns. The two winners will come back Friday for the championship.