One of four returning members for Notre Dame’s 2015 state champion girls’ tennis team, Sarah Faith Ingell did not want to start the third set of her No. 1 singles match in the Class A/AA sectional showdown Thursday against Collegedale Academy.
Standing just off the hardcourt surface at the Champions Club, Ingell spent the few minutes between sets rooting for teammate Bowie Strozak to close out her match and secure a return trip to state tournament for the Lady Irish. Strozak spotted Ingell one court over and proceeded to finish her straight-set victory and secure a 4-0 defeat of Collegedale Academy.
Ingell was not finished as an interested spectator, however, as she remained around the courts to witness a moment in school history as the Notre Dame boys battled Hixson. When the No. 1 doubles team of J.R. Davis and Andrew Lisy captured the final point in their match, the Irish’s 4-2 victory gave Notre Dame two state team berths in the same year.
Both Notre Dame teams can now make travel plans for next week’s TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
“I was really hoping that Bowie would win before I had to go back out there. I was even keeping score,” Ingell said. “I had my racket in my hand and I was ready to go back out, but then Bowie came through with the win.