SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP Throughout the years at Shawnee, Indians head coach Steve Jones has often paired his top two singles players as a doubles team in order to enhance their chances of getting to state.

While on paper, it sounds like a formula for success it may not work if the chemistry is not right.

But that was not the case when Michael Rutter, the Indians No. 1 singles player throughout the year, and Isaac Hanover, the No. 2 player during the season, formed a doubles team at the onset of the postseason that has advanced to the Division II state boys tournament.

The Shawnee juniors will open state play against the Pepper Pike Orange pair of Santiago Bustamente and Rahul Krisman at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason on Friday.

The Indian duo won the district title Saturday by defeating the Archbold team of Jereme Rupp and Luke McQuade 6-0, 6-1 in the championship match.

I knew Michael had some nagging, small little injuries and I was a little worried about him going singles and all the abuse it was going to take on him so we basically decided that because of how he and Isaac played at the Port Clinton tournament where they won the entire thing in the A division we would put them together, Jones said. There was some chemistry there and some momentum behind those two.

Having started out playing doubles for Shawnee, both were familiar with playing doubles and it did not hurt that the two netters have known each other for quite some time so the transition to playing as duo was not difficult for either one.

Jones said the key to the pairs winning run during the postseason is that both are serious players who work hard in the off season to perfect their games. Primarily working with Jeff Brown, tennis director at Westwood Tennis and Fitness Center, the two have honed their skills.

Jeff works them pretty hard and works on things that he thinks are weaknesses and they end up sort of complimenting each other when they play together, Jones said. One of their weaknesses might be the other guys strength and visa versa.

Hanover and Rutter agreed that the positive experience playing at Port Clinton was the start of a doubles team that could be highly successful.

I thought we had great chemistry, said Hanover, who felt they had the potential to make a big run in the postseason. I thought we played really well against some tough competition and so that kind of led to the decision of playing in sectionals and districts.

Rutter reinforced Hanover and Jones sentiment that the duos showing at the Port Clinton tournament was instrumental in putting the two together for a possible postseason run.

We both have a great set of skills that we can use at the levels weve succeeded at, Rutter said.

At the onset of the sectionals, Hanover said he and Rutter looked at each other and said This is it. This is where we start. And from there the two said they would take it match by match and work together to break down their opponents and expose their weaknesses.

Hanover added the reasons the two work well together is their strong play at the net and they are great at finishing points.

Rutter, who narrowly missed state with his brother two years ago after falling in the district, said the primary goal was to make state. Another motivating factor for Rutter was upholding family tradition. All his brothers have advanced to state and now he has joined that elite group.

The brothers success really motivated me, Rutter said. Tim, Sam, Johnny all went to state one year and that was huge for me. I lost a match two years to go to state with my brother, Tim, against one of the kids we played in district to go to state so that really helped me in that match.

By the time they got to districts, the two began to iron out more of the kinks in the duos play. Another factor that came into play was the right mindset to play at the district level. While this was Hanovers first time, Rutter, who has been to districts three times, was there to offer a little insight of what it takes to win at the district level.

I think he (Hanover) has been doing great, Rutter said. I didnt have anything to say to him other than to do his job and he knows his job well and I am thankful to have him as a partner. The things he can do really help.

Hanover admits that the first day of districts was a little rough but by the second day they had worked out the kinks and dominated the opposition.

Getting over the district hump is a great accomplishment but at state the pair is going to face a whole new level of tough competition.

I think it is absolutely awesome that we have gotten this far, Hanover said. I would like to see us get to the second day of state which I think is very doable and we just have to keep doing what we have been doing and playing smart and playing aggressive.

Rutter added that the goal was to make state and see what they could do there.

Jones said if these two stay focused they can make some noise at state.

They need to play at the top of their game, Jones said. They cannot let anything go. They cannot slide in any way and they have to make sure they capitalize on every mistake the other team makes.

The Shawnee doubles team of Michael Rutter, left, and Isaac Hanover will be playing in the Division II state tennis tournament after capturing first at the Northwest district tournament held at Bowling Green State University.

http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Indian-pair.jpgThe Shawnee doubles team of Michael Rutter, left, and Isaac Hanover will be playing in the Division II state tennis tournament after capturing first at the Northwest district tournament held at Bowling Green State University.

Pair chase state title starting Friday

Reach Jose Nogueras at 567-242-0567 or on twitter @JoseNogueras1

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Chemistry key to Shawnee tennis doubles team's success - Lima Ohio