The same player managed to hold down the No. 1 spot in Center Grove’s boys tennis lineup for three seasons.
Not, however, without growing pains.
Disappointments experienced early in Trey Thixton’s career made him more motivated, an attribute that eventually paid dividends. The Trojan senior is the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year for a second consecutive season.
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“It’s pretty nice to know that I’ve been able to be consistent at my spot for the last two years,” said Thixton, a left-hander who posted a deceiving 17-10 record this season while playing against some of the state’s best competition.
Coach Ivan Smith’s team finished the regular season ranked fifth in the state. It won sectional, regional and semistate before dropping a 3-2 decision to No. 4 Floyd Central in a state quarterfinal.
Thixton’s varsity debut came during the 2015 season, when Smith inserted the then-freshman into No. 2 singles for what was one of the coach’s more inexperienced squads. He won four matches all season, but moved to No. 1 singles as a sophomore and won nine matches.
“My sophomore year was kind of, I don’t know if it would be considered a kick in the face. I was playing a lot of tough players and I wasn’t winning very much,” Thixton said. “I had to make sure I kept playing and not focus on all the losses. I had to look to the future instead of looking at the past.
“It made me tougher, definitely, but it was hard to take. Not only was I losing a point for the team, we won only four matches my sophomore year. Being the (No. 1), it was hard not to feel responsible for that.”
Thixton hopes to play tennis at the next level, though he has yet to decide where he’ll attend college.
“I have decided I am for sure going to play in college, but I don’t know where yet,” Thixton said. “I’m looking at a few different places right now. I’m looking to stay in Indiana, but nothing is for sure right now.”
Thixton carries a 3.66 grade-point average at Center Grove and plans to major in either business management or economics.
His career on the courts in and around Johnson County have proven as impressive.
“He played No. 2 singles because we weren’t very good,” Smith said, laughing. “To go from four (wins) at 2 to nine at 1 with our schedule is a pretty sizable jump. Trey has always been a player who had a varied game. He didn’t have just one way of playing.
“He could play points from the baseline, he liked to come in to the net more than a lot of the players he played. And I think that helped make him competitive because today’s tennis game, not that many people will come in and put a lot of pressure on you.”
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The 2018 All-Johnson County team for boys tennis:
Singles
Quinten Gillespie, Whiteland sophomore: All-County choice for second consecutive season after going 17-4 as the Warriors’ top singles player … Second in Mid-State Conference … Second team All-State.
Ethan Gray, Greenwood sophomore: Posted 12-6 record for Woodmen at No. 1 singles, including a three-set victory over Center Grove’s Trey Thixton … Named All-District and second team All-State.
Mason Runkle, Center Grove junior: Playing No. 3 singles for the Trojans, Runkle tied for team lead in victories with 23 while helping Center Grove reach state quarterfinal.
Mitch Runkle, Center Grove senior: Posted a 21-7 record while earning honorable mention All-State and Academic All-State … Runner-up in No. 2 singles at MIC tournament.
Trey Thixton, Center Grove senior: First team All-State and All-District pick finished with a 17-10 record … A four-year starter who helped Trojans advance to state quarterfinal.
Doubles
Nic Ballesteros, Center Grove senior, and Grant Herron, Center Grove junior: Completed season with 23-5 record and earned All-District honors … Finished in second place at MIC tournament.
T.J. Embrey, Center Grove senior, and Dhrumil Patel, Center Grove sophomore: Finished with 21-6 mark to contribute to Trojans’ state quarterfinal run.
Honorable mention
Singles: Dylan Gross, Whiteland; Coltan Henderson, Edinburgh; Jake Mitchell, Indian Creek; Josiah Rockey, Franklin; Jacob Rothaar, Greenwood; Corey Ullrich, Whiteland
Doubles: Garrison Pelfree and Lane Stephenson, Whiteland; Charlie Brooks and Ben Sobieray, Greenwood; Wesley Hawk and Travis Robinson, Whiteland
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