WARSAW –  The Warsaw and Plymouth boys tennis teams will enter postseason play as sectional favorites.

So what else is new?

The host Tigers will look to make it four straight sectional crowns this week, while the Pilgrims will be going for number 19 in a row at Bremen.

Pairings for the state tournament series were made by host schools tonight.

Sectional play begins on Wednesday at both Warsaw and Bremen. Regionals are set for Oct. 6-7 with semi states Oct. 10 and the State Finals on Oct. 16-17.

The host Tigers will need three more wins to claim the 28th sectional title in program history. Warsaw, 7-6 on the season, faces Whitko in the opener Wednesday of their own five-team tourney. The Tigers have only played one team in the field this season, notching a 5-0 win at Wawasee on Sept. 15.

“It’s good to play three days in a row because we will have to stay focused,” said Warsaw coach Rick Orbn. “Any team can beat any team on a given day. Our guys have to go in each night focused on playing our best tennis.”

The Tigers are coming off a fourth-place finish Saturday in the NLC Tourney. Junior Andrew Gauger paced Warsaw by claiming a championship at No. 3 singles. Gauger lost the first set 6-4 before claiming the final two sets 7-5 and 6-4 to earn his title.

“Andrew was incredible, especially in his final match Saturday,” noted Orban. “The Goshen kid was the top seed and 7-0 in the conference during the season. I challenged Andrew after the first set about how bad did he want to be All-NLC. I was so proud of how he responded. It was a great tennis match to watch.”

The Tigers will feature a different lineup this week than of late. Senior Chris Herendeen goes back to No. 1 singles from No. 1 doubles. Sophomore Colton Lind will play at No. 2 with Gauger at No. 3. Junior Justin Stout will go from No. 1 singles to join David Homme at No. 1 doubles. The No. 2 doubles team will have Hudson Snyder with freshman Spencer Britton, who is replacing the injured Hayden Steger.

“This will be a more solid lineup for us as far as our team goes,” said Orban of the change. “Chris has played both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles this season. I like the matchups and the dynamics that it gives us as a team.”

Wawasee will face Tippecanoe Valley in one semifinal at Warsaw on Thursday. The Warriors (5-9) are led by the trio of Nate Haines, Cal Heinisch and Nathan Perek in their singles lineup.

The winner of the Warsaw Sectional advances to the Culver Academies Regional on Oct. 6 to play the  winner of the Culver Academies Sectional in one semifinal.

Plymouth, which just won the NLC Tourney title on Saturday, will face Glenn on Thursday in a semifinal match at Bremen. The winner of the Bremen Sectional also advances to the Culver Academies Regional on Oct. 6 to play the Peru Sectional winner in a semifinal matchup.

Triton, which placed second in their four-team conference tourney last week, faces either Bremen or LaVille in a semifinal at Bremen Thursday.

The Trojans are led by brothers Gavin and Mace Eads. The two each won singles titles in the conference tourney, Gavin at No. 1 and Mace at No. 2.

At Warsaw
Wednesday, Sept. 30: 4:30 p.m.: Warsaw vs. Whitko
Thursday, Oct. 1: 4:30 p.m.: Tippecanoe Valley vs. Wawasee
Thursday, Oct. 1: 4:30 p.m.: Columbia City vs. Warsaw-Whitko winner
Friday, Oct. 2: 4:30 p.m.: Championship

At Bremen   
Wednesday, Sept. 30: 4:30 p.m.: Bremen vs. LaVille
Thursday, Oct. 1: 4:30 p.m.: Plymouth vs. Glenn
Thursday, Oct. 1: 4:30 p.m.: Triton vs. Bremen-LaVille winner
Friday, Oct. 2: 4:30 p.m.: Championship