<p>Not too many star tennis players would have done what Isabella Schoolcraft did last season.</p>
<p>Firmly established as Center Grove’s best player, Schoolcraft took one for the team as a junior and moved to No. 1 doubles, where she not only helped the Trojans advance to the state quarterfinals but also teamed with classmate Cassidy Hardin to win the individual state doubles title.</p>
<p>As much as she enjoyed that ride, she was back to be in her familiar role as the top singles player as a senior, re-establishing herself as one of the best in Indiana — and an easy choice as the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year.</p>
<p>Schoolcraft, who finished the year with a 22-5 record, got the Trojans back to the state quarters again this spring, in part by logging her biggest win of the season at the semistate against Erin Freidrich of Terre Haute South.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>"I had lost to that girl last year and earlier in the season, and I beat her in straight sets," Schoolcraft said of her 6-1, 6-4 win. "I was just proud that I went out there and focused more on playing well instead of the girl across the net."</p>
<p>Having gotten back to playing against the best competition this year, Schoolcraft is excited to continue doing so at the Division I level next year. She’s signed on to play at Valparaiso University.</p>
<p>In addition to the high-level opposition, Schoolcraft knows she’ll also be getting everything else that she enjoyed about her time with the Trojans.</p>
<p>"I loved high school tennis because it’s a team sport, and typically all the other months of the year it’s not," she said, "so I’m excited to be on a team with a bunch of girls that are pretty much at the same level or better than me."</p>
<p>Schoolcraft plans to study biology at Valpo and then likely venture off to dental school.</p>
<p>"Since I was young, I would describe people by their teeth. I’ve just always been interested by teeth; I don’t really know why."</p>
<p>She’s seldom bitten off more than she could chew on the court.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="All-County team" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>The 2018 All-Johnson County team for girls tennis:</p>
<p><strong>Singles</strong></p>
<p>Jillian Garrett, Center Grove junior: Posted a sterling 23-4 mark at No. 3 singles and was the lone Trojan to win each of her postseason matches.</p>
<p>Reese Johnson, Whiteland junior: Led the Warriors from No. 1 singles spot with an 18-5 record, advancing to the individual sectional tournament.</p>
<p>Isabella Schoolcraft, Center Grove senior: Went unbeaten against county and sectional competition while posting a 22-5 mark at No. 1 singles and helping Trojans return to state quarterfinals.</p>
<p>Ellie Strube, Center Grove junior: Went 22-5 at No. 2 singles, helping the Trojans to win county, sectional, regional and semistate titles.</p>
<p><strong>Doubles</strong></p>
<p>Holyn Aukerman and Abby Hoard, Center Grove sophomores: Won 20 of their 24 matches together for the state quarterfinalist Trojans at No. 2 doubles.</p>
<p>Ashlee Fisk, Center Grove freshman, and Emily Hoy, Center Grove senior: Finished with a 20-7 record at No. 1 doubles, winning all of their county and sectional matches.</p>
<p>Bri Harwell, Whiteland junior, and Sarah Scott, Whiteland freshman: Went 17-5 and earned All-District honors for the Warriors.</p>
<p><strong>Honorable mention</strong></p>
<p>Singles: Maddie Bright, Greenwood; Katie Burkman, Indian Creek; Haley Darling, Whiteland; Emma Gentry, Franklin; Katie Heuchan, Franklin; Sophie Venter, Whiteland; Alexa Wilkison, Franklin</p>
<p>Doubles: Allison Bennett/Rachel Pinnick, Franklin; Hannah Blum/Riley Burnside, Whiteland; Daryn Hyneman/Abi Smith, Franklin</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
