Center Grove boys tennis team prides itself on its depth.
It was certainly needed in the sectional, as the Trojans won two matches without the services of three starters. After edging Greenwood 3-2 Thursday, the No. 7 Trojans slipped past No. 22 Whiteland 3-2 in Friday’s sectional final at the Center Grove courts.
The Trojans (15-5) will face Shelbyville in Tuesday’s regional first round at Center Grove.
“We always practiced with the reserves and include them as much as possible,” Trojans coach Ivan Smith said of his team’s depth. “I think they helped us today. Those kids played well.”
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryWhiteland coach Mike Gillespie’s team finished 19-2, with both losses coming to Center Grove. The Trojans also won 4-1 in the Johnson County tournament final.
“It was the way a sectional championship should be, where either team can win and every match is close,” Gillespie said. “They’re obviously a very deep team. What they had to do is very impressive, losing three players the way they did and still come out and play as well as they did shows the depth of their program and the quality of their players and coaches. But I’m super proud of my guys. We came out and we competed. I’m not happy we lost, but I’m very happy with how we performed.”
Senior Quinten Gillespie, the coach’s son, didn’t lose a game against Center Grove freshman Max Williams at No. 1 singles to advance in the individual portion of the tournament.
“I hope he can make a nice run,” Mike Gillespie said. “I know he had Ethan (Gray) will probably have to play each other at some point in time. That will be a heck off a match. They’ve played two twice and the matches both went to three set super tiebreakers (with Gray winning both). Every time they play it’s super close. It’s a shame either one of them is going to have to lose because they are both legitimate possible state champions.
Whiteland got its other point at No. 3 singles as junior Dylan Gross rallied to defeat sophomore Evan Davis, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the final match to be completed. Davis and Williams were both substitutes for missing starters.
“Davis played really well today too, so hopefully he can get a win,” Smith said.
After wining both doubles matches, the Trojans had clinched a third point when senior Luke Embrey topped sophomore Ty McCullars 6-1, 6-1 in the second longest match.
“I decided I can play long points with this guy, I can stay on the offensive and he can’t hurt me,” said Embrey, who beat McCullars 6-1, 6-3 earlier this season. “I felt I remained consistent and came to the net, I could close it out.”
Smith said McCullars is tough to play against.
“If you don’t have any patience, you are going to lose against him,” Smith said.
The Trojans No. 1 doubles team of senior Ryan Wiseman and sophomore Carson Contos won 6-3, 6-2 over senior Christian Felker and junior Ariss Mardanzai. Center Grove’s No. 2 doubles team of senior Glenn Swaney and junior Bennett Strain beat seniors Josh Pitts and Travis Robinson 6-1, 6-4
Wiseman, subbing for the third missing starter, had only played one match this season with sophomore Contos before winning Thursday’s match against Greenwood. They played together once in 2019.
“Ryan played last year too, so it’s not like he was inexperienced,” Smith said. “He played well today. He kind of fell out of the lineup but he worked hard every day. I thought he was solid today.”
In other sectional action at Columbus North, Edinburgh was eliminated by Columbus East in a semifinal match, 5-0.
