HIGH SCHOOL
Indianapolis Star,
May 10, 2007
They're 2 of a kind
Senior expects 8th-grade brother to be even better
Author: STEVE BROOKS STAR CORRESPONDENT
North Central senior Paul Chappell has signed to play tennis for Arizona State University next season.
Chappell fully expects that in four years younger brother Nick not only might follow in his footsteps but also outgrow them.
Nick, an eighth-grader at Eastwood Middle School, is ranked as the nation's third-best boys 14-year-old doubles player and sixth in singles, according to the U.S. Tennis Association.
He recently teamed with Shane Vinsant of Texas to win the prestigious Easter Bowl USTA National Spring Championship in Palm Springs, Calif.
"I think (Nick) could be one of those guys who gets a full ride (scholarship) to any school he wants," said Paul, who's 53rd in doubles and 151st in singles in the USTA's national 18-year-old rankings.
"He's that good. He's a lefty with a big game, a bigger game than most 14-year-olds. Sometimes I have trouble playing with him."
The two play as often as they can.
"We used to not be able to play each other because we'd fight all the time on the court," Paul said. "The last few years we've been better about that, and now we try to hit together every day that we can."
Nick credits Paul for helping advance his game.
"He started a little late, but when he got into (tennis), I got into it," Nick said. "It's been great following him. He's really helped me learn the game."
Nick, who plans to play for North Central next fall and wants to play professionally, considers himself more of a doubles player.
"It's more fun playing doubles," he said. "I like it because it's a team game. I like it a little better than playing singles."
Paul played other sports until age 11, when he started focusing on tennis. Two years ago, he started thinking seriously about college tennis.
"After my freshman year, I really started playing better," Paul said. "I had a really good sophomore year, and at that time I really started thinking about playing in college."
Paul said he looks forward to playing both singles and doubles at Arizona State and is uncertain about his post-college tennis future.
"I really haven't thought that far ahead," he said. "After college I'll just see where I am. (Playing professionally) is going to depend on how I progress as a player."
October 12, 2007
Stoic Chappell leads North Central boys tennis
Posted by Mark Ambrogi
Indianapolis Star
North Central's Nick Chappell's first bid for a state singles title ended early when Lawrecne Central's Dalton Albertin knocked him in three sets of in the team regional competition.
But Chappell will no doubt have another run next year.
Chappell has had an superb freshman season, taking a a 19-2 mark into Saturday state team tennis finals. No. 1 North Central plays No. 4 Zionsville in the semifinal round. No. 8 Columbus North meets No. 9 Culver Academy in the other semifinal.
Chappell replaced his brother Paul at No. 1 singles for North Central. Paul, who graduated last spring, now plays for Arizona State.
North Central coach Spencer Fields said Nick is the "anti-freshman." Fields said Nick doesn't need much coaching or constant attention like some younger players.
"Chappell's very stoic",Fields said. "If you tell him something, he'll say, 'I get it done,' or 'I'll do it.' "
But off the court, Nick has loosened up.
"He was shy to start with, but the makeup of this team, we like to have so much fun and they're cracking jokes," he said. "We have the most fun-loving guys on this team."
They'll be having a lot of laughs if they come away with the school's 17th state title on Saturday.
October 13, 2007
NORTH CENTRAL SWEEPS CULVER FOR STATE TITLE
Top-ranked North Central of Indianapolis powered its way through two matches to finish unbeaten on Saturday and captured the 2007 IHSAA Boys Team Tennis state championship in Indianapolis.
The Panthers (26-0) blanked Culver Academies, 5-0, in the final and clinched the title winning the first three matches within 10 minutes of each other. It was the school's 17th crown in the sport and first since 2000. No other school has more than six.
North Central's No. 2 doubles team of Reid Garlock and Zach Savka were the first to finish winning their match over Nithin Reddy and Bobby Tehrani, 6-1, 6-1. Freshman Nick Chappell (20-2) won his No. 1 singles match moments later by the same score defeating Rogelio Lemarroy. The clinching moment came at No. 3 singles when Jami Clark toppled Culver's previously undefeated Christian Sunseri (15-1), 6-3, 6-4.
Philipp Siebels of North Central won his match at No. 2 singles handing Frank Sunseri his first setback of the year, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 and David Moss and Max Shelton teamed up to defeat their No. 2 doubles opponents Omar and Shareef Kattan, 6-4, 6-4.
