Ivan Smith has been coaching boys tennis at Center Grove since 1977, so he’s had big senior classes before.
His current roster includes 10 players enjoying their final weeks of high school competition.
Whether experience and depth can push the Trojans to the top at this week’s Johnson County tournament remains to be seen. Center Grove’s No. 5 state ranking makes it the favorite, though undefeated and 24th-ranked Whiteland seems capable, as does a Greenwood squad off to a 10-2 start.
The latter squads each feature an elite player at the top of their respective lineup; the Trojans are constructed somewhat differently.
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“(Having 10 seniors) definitely helps because we have a lot of matches to draw from,” said Luke Embrey, Center Grove’s No. 2 singles player. “And the doubles players know each other, which helps them work together. As a team, we have strong singles play, and our doubles are starting to hit their stride.”
The lack of a normal spring and summer practice schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected all programs, though players used the opening part of the regular season in an attempt to return to form.
“We’ve had some fire and we’ve had some rain,” Smith said. “We’ve had some positions that have played fairly solid, but I wouldn’t say we’re at a comfortable level right now. Luke Embrey has been real dependable.
“At the tournament at Jasper, Dhrumil (Patel), who is our No. 1 singles player, was taking the SAT, so we moved Luke up.”
Embrey responded with a victory at No. 2 singles and two wins at No. 1 singles. Overall, he’s 9-1 on the season. Patel holds a 4-4 mark at the top singles position for Center Grove, while Seth Jasek is 7-1 at No. 3 singles.
On Saturday, the team started six seniors in a 4-1 victory over 13th-ranked Columbus North. That includes the first doubles pairing of Landen Finlinson and Carson Contos. At No. 2 doubles, senior Glenn Swaney combines with junior Bennett Strain.
As expected, Whiteland and Greenwood, squads led by four-year starters at No. 1 singles, are enjoying success. Senior Quinten Gillespie is 10-1 for the Warriors, his lone loss coming in a three-set thriller to Woodmen senior Ethan Gray.
As a team, Whiteland is 11-0 and recently finished 7-0 against Mid-State Conference opponents for a third consecutive season. Sophomore Ty McCullars hasn’t lost a match at No. 2 singles, Ariss Mardanzai is 10-1 at No. 3 and the doubles tandems — Dylan Gross/Christian Felker at No. 1 and Travis Robinson/Josh Pitts at No. 2 — are a combined 21-1.
“As long as we stay healthy, we have a chance to beat a lot of teams,” Whiteland coach Mike Gillespie said. “Two of my four doubles players are new to varsity, but they’ve been playing well. You’ve got to think Center Grove is the favorite, but we go out there and play the way we play.
“If it’s good enough, great. And if it’s not, so be it.”
Gray is unbeaten in 12 matches for Greenwood. Meanwhile, Nick Belovic is 10-2 at the second singles spot and Charlie Brooks 11-1 at No. 3 singles.
“I think it’s going to be really, really close,” said Woodmen coach Jeremy Runge, whose team could be facing Center Grove in Wednesday’s semifinal round. “It’s going to be great tennis, for sure.”
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Johnson County tournament
Today
Indian Creek at Franklin, 4:30 p.m.
Edinburgh at Greenwood, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday
at Center Grove
Indian Creek-Franklin winner vs. Whiteland, 4:30 p.m.
Edinburgh-Greenwood winner vs. Center Grove, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
at Center Grove
Championship, 4:30 p.m.
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