Ornelas and Barteleme make Culver Academy tennis history

Courtesy of https://culverathletics.com/

CULVER — Emiliano Ornelas and James Bartelme are members of the Culver Military Academy (CMA) tennis team.

Ornelas and Bartelme made program history this fall, becoming the first doubles team from CMA to reach the finals in the 36-year history of the IHSAA Individual Doubles Tournament. The pair finished with a 14-2 record as the No. 1 doubles team for Culver, earning victories over several of the state’s top-ranked programs, including the No. 1 doubles teams from schools ranked No. 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 18, 20, 26, and 28 in the final coaches’ poll.
Their only losses came to the No. 1 doubles team from the No. 1-ranked Carmel High School and the eventual state champions from Brownsburg High School.
Their success earned them First Team All-State honors, recognizing them as one of the ten best doubles teams in Indiana. They were also named MVPs for the fall season, helping CMA finish as the No. 5-ranked team in the final state coaches’ poll, the highest final ranking ever earned by a CMA tennis team.
Ornelas and Bartelme played in different positions throughout the season until they settled in as the No. 1 doubles pairing for CMA. Ornelas was 20-2 playing at 1 and 2 doubles, and Bartelme was 26-2 playing both singles and doubles.
Coach Alan Loehr said the pair set an example in practice and match play that demonstrated leadership and confidence.
“They were coachable, played smart tennis, and maintained a good sense of humor even when points did not go their way. These are the silent attributes that younger players really watch,” he said, “They cement a culture of winning courageously and losing graciously, what it means to respect yourself, your family, the Academies, and the game of tennis.”