Indian Creek boys tennis enjoying successful season

<p>Even with all its success this season, Indian Creek’s boys tennis team continues to search for its first shutout.</p><p>On the flip side, the Braves have finished only one match without a point.</p><p>The past month has mostly been a continuous wave of 4-1 and 3-2 scores. However, to Indian Creek’s credit, it’s come out on top in nearly every competition.</p><p>Winning at Brown County, 3-2, in an August opener against the senior-dominated Eagles was the perfect push in the right direction.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>“To start the season, we beat Brown County, which is our rival,” said No. 1 singles player Jaden Schrougham, one of only two seniors on the Braves’ roster. Schrougham made the jump to the top of the lineup after being part of the No. 2 doubles team last season.</p><p>“That sort of set the standard for the season and gave us a lot of confidence.”</p><p>Indian Creek followed that win with a third place showing at the seven-team Warren Central Invitational. The losses in dual-meet competition have been to Western Indiana Conference foe Northview, Shelbyville and Franklin in the Johnson County tournament.</p><p>After winning Monday’s rematch with the Grizzly Cubs, the Braves boast a record of 11-3. Their busy week continues this afternoon with a home match against 26th-ranked Whiteland.</p><p>Indian Creek’s other two singles players, No. 2 Brendan Conner and No. 3 Aiden Pemberton, are sophomores. Pemberton was undefeated through his first 11 matches and sits at 13-1 entering today’s match.</p><p>Senior Jake Mitchell teams with younger brother Cass, a junior, to comprise the top doubles tandem. Junior Cole Allison and freshman Trent Volz play No. 2 doubles.</p><p>The months leading up to the fall sports season were filled with uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had shut down the spring season. Schrougham, who admits to just being happy to have a tennis season at all, says he and his Braves teammates are thoroughly enjoying practices and matches alike.</p><p>“Our strength is our balance, and everyone is in the right spot for their skill,” Indian Creek coach Mike Perry said. “It’s been a fun ride with a lot of close matches. I think it comes down to the fact that they’ve worked hard for every point in every match.</p><p>“I am a little surprised because I knew we were going to have some young guys. The lineup is totally different than it was at the beginning of the year. It kind of happened through challenge matches, but it’s turned out pretty good.”</p>