The Helias boys tennis team advanced to the championship match of the Class 1 District 8 Tournament with a 5-1 win against Father Tolton in Tuesday's semifinal match at Washington Park.
The match started with doubles, and the Crusaders emerged with a 2-1 lead after that portion. T.J. Hagenhoff and Ryan Pollock won 9-7 at No. 1, while Dylan Grawe and Dalton Buschjost won 8-3 at No. 3. In the No. 2 match, Klint Braun and Tristan Grawe fell 8-3.
Helias then clinched the match by winning three straight singles matches. Pollock won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3, Dylan Grawe won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4 and Buschjost won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5.
The Crusaders were leading the three singles matches that were halted. Hagenhoff was up 7-5, 3-1 at No. 1, Braun won the first set 6-2 before trailing 3-1 in the second at No. 2, and Tristan Grawe was up 6-3, 5-0 at No. 6.
Helias (9-6) will host the title match at 4:30 p.m. today against the winner of Tuesday's match between top-seeded School of the Osage and fourth-seeded Richland.