FISHERS — On a hot day at the tennis regional in Fishers, Pendleton Heights top player Sam Hammel controlled the tempo and the pace of play, needing two wins to advance to the state individual tennis meet. After a quick win in the semifinal, the Arabian senior jumped out to an early lead in the final, only to get beaten back by her opponent, and the heat of the day.

Hammel knocked off Jamie Buhl of Cambridge City Lincoln 6-2, 6-2 in the morning semifinal round, but fell in the title match to unbeaten Morgan Fitzpatrick of Mooresville by a 6-2, 6-1 score.

Hammel ended her season at 20-2 and wrapped up a brilliant athletic career as an Arabian, accumulating 14 varsity letters in tennis, basketball, soccer, and track and field.

“I’ve created bonds with the family I’ve made along the way that, even after high school and college, aren’t going to go away,” she said. “That was the best thing out of the four years.”

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In the finals, with temperatures climbing into the high 80s, the biggest difference was in the service game. Kirkpatrick was successful on the majority of her first serves, while Hammel struggled at times.

“It hasn’t been a factor this year, but she did double-fault more this time than in other matches,” Sam’s father and PHHS coach, Royce Hammel, said. “I think the heat — we’ve played in wind and cold but not this heat — got to her a little bit.”

Despite the disparity in the final score, coach Hammel said he felt Sam had done well at controlling the tempo but could not get key points when needed. And once Kirkpatrick seized the momentum, she never let go.

“Most of the times, Sam was in the points,” coach Hammel said. “She was dictating direction and such, but when (Kirkpatrick) was able to set up and fire, she puts it where she wants it. She’s a good player, she’s all-state for a reason.”

Sam moved into the final with a win in the morning session in which she played similarly but against a different level of talent than Kirkpatrick represents.

“She pretty much controlled the match,” coach Hammel said. “(Buhl) was good, but when Sam was able to hit it here and hit it there, she was overwhelmed. Kirkpatrick is a banger.”

Coach Hammel reflected on his time coaching his daughter the past four years.

“It has been my pleasure and honor to coach Sam in tennis and loved watching her in all the other sports,” he said. “She has put in a lot of time, sweat and tears the past four years.”

She is expected to play basketball at Huntington College in the fall.