NorthWood Tennis: Panther Pair Primed For Big Stage
NAPPANEE – Brant Mast and Jared Hoffman are a couple of confident young men.
Why shouldn’t they be?
The outstanding NorthWood doubles duo have come up aces all season long in making history for their program.
The Panther pair will look to add yet another chapter to a storybook season in the State Finals come Friday in Indianapolis.
Mast and Hoffman, both seniors and the first State qualifiers for the NorthWood boys tennis program, are ready to roll as they prepare for what they hope will be the final three matches of their high school careers.
The duo will play in the quarterfinals Friday at 2 p.m. versus the top doubles team from Hamilton Southeastern at Park Tudor High School. The semifinals are Saturday at 10 a.m. with the championship match at 2 p.m.
Both Mast and Hoffman, who spent Wednesday fine tuning their game in a practice session at NorthWood Middle School in Wakarusa, believe they have the ability to open some more eyes starting Friday.
“Being a State Finalist is great and something everyone dreams of,” said Mast, who is also a baseball standout for the Panthers. “But, we are going down there looking to do damage. We know that it’s going to be tough, but I think that if we play our best tennis that we have a really good chance.”
Hoffman, who has overcome big time adversity this season, echoes the sentiments shared by Mast.
“I really feel that Brant and I can play with anybody,” remarked Hoffman confidently, but without sounding cocky. “We just need to go in there with a lot of intensity Friday. I think that if we are focused we can go down there and win three more matches.”
Mast and Hoffman are 25-2 overall, including 6-0 in the state tournament series, in their first season playing together. The combination almost didn’t happen though as Hoffman was not cleared to play until right before the start of the season due to a fracture in his back. The injury, which was discovered during basketball season, required Hoffman to wear a brace for some time.
It was an emotional time for both, especially Hoffman, when they won their second match last Saturday to claim the title of the LaPorte Regional. The duo beat the Chesterton team of Chad Whalen and Blake Ellenwood 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in the finale, which was played indoors at the Lakeland Athletic Club in Niles due to the inclement weather. Mast and Hoffman rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to get the state-clinching victory.
“It was tears of joy,” explains Hoffman of his reaction after match point at the regional final. “There was a time when I was worried that I could not play at all this season due to my back. I prayed a lot about it and God answered my prayers.”
Mast, who plans to play baseball at Spring Arbor University next year, was so close to earning a State berth a year ago. He and No. 1 partner Cam Stillson lost to Penn in the regional final.
“I definitely had flashbacks to last year,” said Mast about winning the regional in his second appearance there. “I felt bad for Cam last year because he was a senior. This was just really special with Jared and I being seniors now.”
Mast and Hoffman have clicked and been at their best in the big matches. The pair lost to Warsaw and East Noble, both in three sets, during the regular season. They then beat Warsaw in the NLC Tournament and topped East Noble in the sectional round, with both of those wins coming in straight sets.
“Jared and I don’t get down on each other and we are really able to help each other out and pick each other up out there during matches,” Mast said. “We just clicked this year and got into a rhythm. Our chemistry has just build stronger as the season went on. He has really good ground strokes from the baseline and my strength is at the net.”
Hoffman says that he and Mast have a great relationship, both on and off the court.
“We’re good friends and not afraid to tell each other what we need to during a match,” noted Hoffman. “Both of us hate to lose and both of us have tenacity. Brant is really good at the net at putting balls away. That’s a comfortable feeling when he’s up there.”
The dynamite duo has also impressed their coach this fall.
“The thing is how hard they have worked,” said NorthWood coach Tif Schwartz. “They communicate well and never truly get down on each other out there on the court. That’s really big for a doubles team.
“I truly believe that they are playing really well right now. I know how much they want to do well, but the pressure is also off now that they are going to State. I want them to have fun too and enjoy the moment.
“Jared wanted to play singles this season, but with his back I thought doubles was the best place for him. He was very open to that. Everyone on our team this season was focused on the team and what was best for the team. Jared has the singles knowledge and can hit angles and keep the ball deep. Brant loves the net. He’s very hungry up there. I think that’s the baseball in him. Those things make them a great doubles team.”
Mast and Hoffman face the team of seniors Mark Slaninka and Andrew Myers Friday in a quarterifinal match. The Hamilton Southeastern duo are 16-9 on the season.
The quarterfinal winner will play the Park Tudor team of seniors Will Emhardt and Drew Weigel Saturday at 10 a.m. in one semifinal. Emhardt and Weigel are 14-5 on the season. The other semifinal pits the Floyd Central team of senior Noah Neuhauser and sophomore Alex Poe versus the duo of seniors Dane Hueston and Matt Etherington from Alexandria Monroe. Neuhauser and Poe are 22-5, while Hueston and Etherington are 26-0.
The state championship match will be contested Saturday at 2 p.m.