Girls tennis: Season preview

The enthusiasm Maecee Terhune channels into Greenwood girls tennis is no more fabricated than it is a recent occurrence.

Terhune, who was once a three-year starter for the Woodmen, turned 22 in October. And, yet, here she is, a senior student-athlete at Franklin College preparing for her third season in charge of the program for which she once played.

The fact Terhune is entrenched in a high school coaching career that began her sophomore year of college seems determined, to say the least.

But that’s who she is.

“I would say ambitious. When I have an idea, I like to go for it, and do the best I can. I have to prioritize what’s important to me,” Terhune said. “I really enjoy coaching, and I enjoy the players I have.

“The first season was definitely overwhelming with knowing how to coach in certain situations. Now I know how to talk them through things in a match, and know what drills to work on when they’re struggling with different things.”

The time Terhune takes to coach at her alma mater only adds to an already hectic schedule. She’s in her fourth and final season playing women’s tennis at Franklin College. Majoring in business management with a minor in phycology, she also co-owns a pool management company, Indy Water Watchers, with her friend Cody Larson.

Terhune is taking 14 credit hours this semester with three in-person classes and another one online. She conducts practices at Greenwood from 3 to 5 p.m., then drives to campus and practices with her Grizzlies teammates from 5:30 to 7.

Longtime Franklin College coach Rusty Hughes, who also leads the Franklin high school girls, has both coached Terhune and coached against her.

“Maecee, when she played at Greenwood, what I liked about her is that she had such a competitive drive,” Hughes said. “With her, she’s going to continue to get better, and she holds herself to a higher standard. Like all of us, she’ll go through disappointments, but she’s very intelligent, and will work her way through all that stuff. She’s an incredible young lady.”

Most recently, Terhune has teamed with freshman and Franklin grad Ailyn Hendricks as the Grizzlies’ top doubles team, while also playing No. 2 singles.

Regardless of how many directions Terhune’s post-college life takes her, she plans to coach Woodmen squads for as long as possible.

“It’s a little different this year because our college season used to be in the fall,” Terhune said. “This year, we had three or four matches in the fall, and they moved the season to spring.

“My first year of coaching, it was a lot of learning. I didn’t fully understand how to teach, so I definitely think I’ve learned a lot in these three years. What drills can I take that I’ve learned in college, and implement them in high school, and just adjusting them for players.”

The Woodmen open the season at Roncalli on April 1.

SCOUTING THE COUNTY

Center Grove Trojans

Coach: Debby Burton

Last season: Lost to Franklin in sectional championship match

Key returnees: Ava Beecher, Lauren Dick, Emerson Donaldson, Anna Runkle and Peri Small, seniors; Val Arriz, junior; Sloane Small, sophomore

Top newcomers: Aliyeh Boyer, Paisley Carter, Ashley Embrey and Jade Finch, juniors; Kenna Harbin, sophomore

Outlook: Arriz and Sloane Small were both All-County selections in singles last spring. The same claim can be made by all four of the Trojans’ doubles players – Beecher, Dick, Runkle and Peri Small; Donaldson, too, was a starter. It’s the kind of lineup talented enough to challenge Franklin despite the Grizzly Cubs appearing poised to enjoy one of the finest seasons in their history. Center Grove is at Franklin on April 16, giving fans a first glimpse of this latest installment of the rivalry.

“Also, all of our varsity alternates are returning. We have made no lineup decisions and are considering all varsity players from last year as options for our lineup,” Burton said. “We have been impressed with the improvement of our players over the past nine months. Many have been working hard at clinics and competing in tournaments. Our goal is to figure out the best lineup for the tournament and grow throughout the season.”

Edinburgh Lancers

Coach: Rachel O’Brien

Last season: Lost to Columbus North in first round of sectional

Key returnees: Izzy Richardson, Zoey Sida, Lily Turner and Jessica Walsh, seniors; Mia Dodson, junior; Gracie Lawson and Bella Turner, sophomores

Top newcomers: Meagan Clapper, junior; Evelyn Martinez-Luis, Sophia Pace and Kinzie Purvis, freshmen

Outlook: “This upcoming season has a roster full of seniors and returning players,” O’Brien said. “The seniors will be bringing their experience over the last three years and use it to their advantage. We hope to be very competitive in the Mid-Hoosier Conference and throughout the season. With returning players and new members to the team, we hope to excel both individually and as a team.”

Franklin Grizzly Cubs

Coach: Rusty Hughes

Last season: Won sectional, regional and semistate titles; lost to South Bend St. Joseph in state semifinal

Key returnees: Chelsie Rayl, Emma Sappenfield, Mary Sayler, Monica Sayler, Kennedy Urban and Rylie Wilkison, seniors; Madelyn McCullough, Meleah Murphy, Kate Pinnick and Eleanor Stillabower, juniors; Brynn Dodson, Madison Luse, Marnie Moore and Olivia Sappenfield, sophomores

Outlook: The Grizzly Cubs won 27 of 28 matches last spring, were one of the last four teams remaining in the state tournament — and might still have been a year away. The lone setback was a 4-1 decision to South Bend St. Joseph in the state semifinals. Wilkison begins her fourth year at No. 1 singles, having nabbed county player of the year honors following her sophomore and junior campaigns. Rayl played the second singles spot a year ago, finishing 24-2; Moore, Pinnick and Urban were starters in doubles, the latter two making up the tandem that went 22-0 at No. 2.

Greenwood Woodmen

Coach: Maecee Terhune

Last season: Lost to Franklin in sectional semifinal

Key returnees: Maggie Boyce, Ava Gardner, Gracie Gasaway, Brooklyn Hanson and Savannah McCauley, seniors; Joelle Young, junior; Moriah Ellington, sophomore

Top newcomers: Kate Boyce and Mia Shaffer, freshmen

Outlook: Terhune’s team a year ago finished with a 5-12 record, but the talent is there to make definite strides in that department. “We have a strong returning group of players this year, as well as a strong incoming class,” Terhune said. “With this, we have the potential to improve from last year as we lost many matches by close scores. We are hoping to have a great season with our girls improving their skills as well as developing our younger girls to strengthen our team throughout.”

Greenwood Christian Cougars

Coaches: Jennie Jackson and Julie Kirby

Key players: Tristyn Delph, senior; Ana Blow, junior; Kady Lantrip, Brenna Noble, Brooke Potter, Hope Schmidt and Izzy Snell, sophomores; Elliott Rogers, freshman

Outlook: This is the Cougars’ inaugural season, one spearheaded by Blow, the team captain, and Delph, the squad’s lone senior. “We will rely on strong leadership, a solid group of underclassmen and a focus on fundamentals,” Jackson said. “While this will be a year of firsts, we hope to use our eagerness and determination to challenge some veteran squads.”

Indian Creek Braves

Coach: Mike Perry

Last season: Lost to Center Grove in sectional semifinal

Key returnees: Lanie Swanson, senior; Reese Tunell and Lexi Sichting, sophomores

Top newcomers: Lauren Foster, senior; Alaina Perry, junior; Rhiannon Cravens, Lilly Swanson, Eliza Tharpe, Raegan Weddle and Gracie Werden, sophomores; Alivia Long, Inaya Komorek, Lulu Oliver and Londyn Porter, freshmen

Outlook: Returnees Swanson and Sichting formed one of the county’s better doubles combinations last season, but the Braves did graduate four players from a squad that finished 13-5. The return of Foster, who sat out last spring, gives Perry’s team another veteran presence.

“Overall, we are a relatively young team with only two seniors and one junior. It will be exciting, as we spend the first week or two sorting out who is going to earn the varsity spots and what our lineups will look like,” Perry said. “We have a very strong sophomore class that will be competing for some of the varsity spots and the inter-team competition will make every one better.”

Whiteland Warriors

Coach: Mike Gillespie

Last season: Lost to Center Grove in first round of sectional

Key returnees: Karley Hoagland, Namjeet Kaur, Cathy Nguyen, Kinsey Shipp and Candace Stephenson, seniors; Saphira Brown, Alesha Shelly and Rowen Starns, juniors; Taylor Darnell, Mia Kuchaes and Chloe Sui, sophomores

Top newcomer: Alexa Lee, freshman

Outlook: The Whiteland roster includes 12 seniors, providing Gilliespie’s latest squad no shortage of leaders as it looks to improve on its 12-9 record from a year ago. Hoagland posted a 13-6 mark as the team’s No. 2 singles player, while Brown was 5-7 at the third singles spot. Shipp and Starnes were starters last season in doubles; Kaur also played some varsity matches.

“This team has tremendous leadership, so I anticipate a fantastic season,” Gillespie said. “We are going to be good people, compete and have a good time.”