Center Grove tennis advances to state quarterfinals

<p>For Center Grove’s Ivan Smith, his team’s 12th trip to the state finals in his 41 years as coach is extremely satisfying considering the struggles the program had endured in the recent past.</p><p>However, Smith figures it has to be even better feeling for his players.</p><p>“They are the ones that had to take the lessons on the court when they were getting thrashed,” Smith said.</p><p>The fifth-ranked Trojans (20-4) shut out No. 28 Richmond 5-0 to capture the semistate Saturday at Center Grove High School. They will play No. 4 Floyd Central in the state quarterfinals at 3 p.m. Friday at Carmel. Center Grove’s last state appearance was 2014.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>After winning a mere five matches in 2015 and four in 2016, the Trojans started the sectional last year with a 9-11 record but finished with a winning record after reaching the semistate.</p><p>“Just the experience of playing deeper into the season was a benefit for them,” said Smith, whose team captured state championships in 2001 and 2008.</p><p>Senior Nic Ballesteros said this trip to the state finals is special.</p><p>“It’s incredible to see our team has gone this far because I never knew that we had this potential,” Ballesteros said. “Freshman year everyone just beat us down. We never expected to have this much success.”</p><p>Ballesteros and junior Grant Herron got the clinching third point at No. 1 doubles on Saturday, beating Richmond’s George Dickman and Jake Miller 6-2, 6-2.</p><p>“We started out quickly and executed the points we needed to get,” Ballesteros said. “Towards the second set, some of us started to tighten up and forgetting our technique. Once we got back on to our rhythm, finishing points and executing quicker that led us end the match quickly.”</p><p>Ballesteros and Herron are 21-5 at No. 1 doubles and unbeaten in the postseason, keeping them alive in the individual state doubles competition.</p><p>Thixton topped the Red Devils’ Ryan Hollingsworth 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Senior Mitch Runkle beat Kyle Hollingsworth 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles and the Trojans’ No. 2 duo of senior J.T. Embrey and sophomore Dhrumil Patel topped Joey Chimenti and Luke Hays 6-2, 6-2.</p><p>Junior Mason Runkle got the final point, rallying to beat Josh Jones 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. Despite the fact that all his teammates were done before he finished the second set, Runkle resisted any temptation to celebrate and kept his focus.</p><p>“The No. 1 thing when you’re in a long match is to keep your focus,” Runkle said. “It’s crucial you keep your focus on your opponent. Even if you are tight, you know they are tight, too.”</p><p>Runkle said he tried to return more shots after dropping the first set.</p><p>“I came out with a slow start, but in the last two sets I got in a rhythm and played better, “ he said.</p>