Athletic director Tilmon Clark videos the girls as they celebrate their regional title.

For the 20th time in school history — and the eighth consecutive season — the Delta Eagles are IHSAA regional champions in girls’ tennis.

The Eagles (20-3) wrapped up the latest title with a 4-1 victory over Mississinewa in the finals of the Marion Regional on Wednesday evening.

Next up will be a match against Homestead in the Homestead Semi-State on Saturday in Fort Wayne.  The match will start at 11 a.m. after introductions at 10:45. Admission is $7 per person for non-team members.

Homestead has won 26 regional championships in girls’ tennis, the second-highest total in state history. Delta’s 20 is the eighth-highest total.

These two traditional powers will go head-to-head, with the winner advancing to the IHSAA State Finals on Friday, June 2.

Delta will seek to reach the girls’ tennis Team State Finals for the sixth time in school history. The Eagles first reached state in the spring of 2000, when one of the varsity players was Beth Miller.  Her daughter, Macy Parker, now ironically plays No. 1 singles for Homestead!

The Eagles also reached the Team State Finals in 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Against Mississinewa, the Eagles wrapped up the regional title quickly with big wins at both doubles and No. 3 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, Janet Wegener and Katie Manor won 6-0, 6-0 to move to 23-3 on the season.  At No. 2 doubles, Kelsey Vest and Rowan Hinds won 6-0, 6-1 and improved to 22-3. And at No. 3 singles, Iva Witter cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory and is 20-5 for the season.

No. 2 singles player Brylee Beckley added a 6-2, 6-3 win to improve to 16-8.

Mississinewa gained its point at No. 1 singles, where Ole Miss senior Madison Fuqua capitalized on some early opportunities and never broke stride in a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Gabby Knight.  Fuqua will advance in the individual singles tournament.  The loss snapped an 8-match winning streak for Knight, who is now 18-8.

Former DHS tennis player Adam Altobella, now a sports writer for The (Muncie) Star Press, interviews Coach Cleland after the match.