WARSAW – The Warsaw boys tennis team took its’ first step in postseason play Wednesday.

The host, heavy favorite and defending sectional champion Tigers opened sectional play with a 4-1 win over Whitko.

Tippecanoe Valley topped Columbia City 4-1 in a semifinal match of the five-team sectional Wednesday.

Warsaw (10-5) meets Wawasee (8-7) at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in semifinal play. The Tigers beat the Warriors 5-0 on Sept. 17 in Syracuse.

The winner of the Warsaw-Wawasee match will face Tippecanoe Valley Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the sectional title tilt. The sectional winner will then advance to the Culver Academies Regional on Oct. 8 to face the winner of the Culver Academies Sectional.

Senior Evan Miller led the way for Warsaw in the victory. Miller defeated junior Cole Bechtold 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles for the defending sectional champion Tigers.

The Tigers, coming off a championship performance in the NLC Tournament Saturday,  also got a strong effort from its’ No. 2 doubles tandem. The team of juniors Caleb Ray and Nic Jansen beat freshmen Alex Robbins and Alex Bechtold 6-0, 6-0.

Senior Kyle Wettschurack of the Tigers defeated senior Blake Castle 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Warsaw’s No. 1 doubles team of seniors Will Petro and Nikos Schlitt topped sophomore Reed Brace and freshman Bailey Platt 6-0, 6-3.

Whitko’s point came at No. 1 singles as senior Tyler Baugher stopped Warsaw junior Sam Rice 6-4, 6-4. Baugher advances on in the individual portion of the state tournament series for No. 1 singles players.

A veteran Vikings’ squad got single wins from Derrick Cunningham and Isaac Shewman to highlight their win over the Eagles.

Senior Cunningham stopped Blake Fearnow 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) at No. 2 and senior Shewman topped Dillon Reed 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3 for Valley.

The Vikings, now 7-12 on the season, also won both doubles matches. The No. 1 team of senior Logan Britton and sophomore Trevor Neeley beat McKade and Matt Kennedy 6-2, 6-1. Valley’s No. 2 team of senior Willy Inglehearn and sophomore Lucas Britton won by default as City did not have enough players to field a complete lineup.

Columbia City collected its’ lone point at No. 1 singles. Nikkos Rongos of the Eagles defeated senior Tanner Neeley 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).