Boys tennis: Season preview

Even before the first serve of his final season of high school tennis, Spencer Gillespie is in position to contribute to what could become a trivia question:

Over the past eight years, which was the one in which Whiteland’s No. 1 singles player had a last name other than Gillespie?

The answer, in case you were wondering, is 2021 (Dylan Gross).

Gillespie has proven to be a most reliable successor to Gross, going 16-5 as a sophomore and 19-5 a year ago; older brother Quinten essentially locked himself into the Warriors’ top spot the moment he entered high school and remained there throughout his career (2017-20).

Their father, Mike, is entering his 23rd season as Whiteland’s coach.

“I’ve grown up in the tennis program here, and this is always what I always imagined,” Spencer Gillespie said. “Meeting new people, and just playing against different players every single year. Obviously, I’ve been holding a racquet since I was a year old. It’s been a dream playing for my dad. I like it because I think I have a deeper connection with him, and it really helps me grow as a player.”

Spencer Gillespie was utilized at No. 3 singles as a freshman. He’s been tabbed second team All-State the past two seasons, and currently sits 13th on the Whiteland boys career victory list with a record of 57-13.

Once the season begins at Avon on Aug. 17, Gillespie can start making his charge toward potential top-five status in that category. Quinten Gillespie is first (85-15), followed by Ty McCullars (78-11, 2023), Gross (76-17, 2022) and Sam Venter (70-26, 2016).

Comparisons to Quinten are inevitable, but their father tries to downplay it as much as possible.

Different young men. Different players.

“What we’ve told Spencer and (eighth-grade son Grady) is just to be your own player,” Mike Gillespie said. “Spencer is very quiet. He has a huge serve, and he tries to win points. He’s way more offensive.”

Spencer Gillespie, an excellent student as evidenced by a 4.17 grade-point average, would like to play tennis at the collegiate level. In the meantime, he wants to make his final prep season the best for both him and his teammates.

“I want to come out of the season with a lot of memories with a lot of the kids I’ve grown up with,” he said. “This is a team that I’m very close to from an emotional standpoint.”

During the summer, Gillespie focused on improving certain aspects of his game, most notably his serving and volleying. His old man isn’t concerned.

“Spencer is a returning captain, so I want him to be more of a leader this season,” Mike Gillespie said. “His tennis game will be fine. I know he’s going to play good players and work really hard, so we’ll see what happens.”

SCOUTING THE COUNTY

Center Grove Trojans

Coach: David Beasley

Last season: 18-7-1, won sectional and regional championships; lost to Columbus North at semistate

Who’s back?: Carson Bush, Russell Dean, Dimitri Kandris, Tyler Lane, Daksh Patel and Quinn Smith, seniors; Jack Dybwad, Max Fosnot and Louis Teed, juniors; Austin Crow and Yuvraj Dasari, sophomores

New faces to watch: Maanav Kamath and Alexander Kandris, freshmen

What to expect: Three-time county player of the year Lane is expected to man the No. 1 singles spot for a fourth consecutive season, an excellent starting point for a team leaning on a senior core. Patel also returns, himself an All-County honoree after going 16-4 at the second singles position; the Bush-Dean pairing netted an 11-5 mark as the team’s top doubles pairing last fall, also worthy of All-County status.

Edinburgh Lancers

Coach: Pete Khensouri

Last season: 4-12, lost to Columbus East in first round of sectional

Who’s back?: Teddy Crawhorn, Braylon Lenker, Jayson Music and Bailey Totten, juniors; Matthew Burton and Braden Cox, sophomores

New faces to watch: Braiden Dewey and Raiden Stanley, freshmen

What to expect: A group of nine freshman players helps make the Lancers an extremely young team that looks to improve as the season goes on. Totten is slotted at No. 1 singles, while Lenker takes over the second spot. At No. 3 singles, freshmen Dewey and Stanley will battle it out; likely to make up the doubles combinations are Crawhorn-Cox and Burton-Music at 1 and 2, respectively.

Franklin Grizzly Cubs

Coach: Holyn Stonebraker

Last season: 11-10, lost to Greenwood in first round of sectional

Who’s back? Reid Davidson, Nathan Neville and Brady Tucker, seniors; Jaxson Doddridge and Luke Sherry, juniors

New faces to watch: David Strait, sophomore; Corbin Booth and Colin Newman, freshmen

What to expect: An early postseason exit should be all the motivation needed for this seasoned Grizzly Cub squad, which will be led by Davidson and Neville, both honorable mention All-County selections last season. Tucker also gained notice after playing doubles as a junior. Stonebraker says her returning players have been working on their games through the summer, and she looks forward to the freshmen poised to make their varsity debut.

Greenwood Woodmen

Coach: Jeremy Runge

Last season: 15-9, lost to Center Grove in sectional championship match

Who’s back?: Carter Chatham, senior; Seth McCauley and Nick Pruett, seniors

New faces to watch: Isaac Apgar and Keegan Lane, seniors; Thomas Satterfield, junior; Beau Syers, freshman

What to expect: The Woodmen graduated four players from the 2023 sectional finalist and were especially hit hard in doubles play, where two potential returnees are out due to an injury and another transferred. Runge nonetheless remains optimistic heading into the season.

Indian Creek Braves

Coach: Craig Davis

Last season: 16-5, lost to Whiteland in sectional opener

Who’s back?: Trevor Cravens and Landon Sichting, seniors; Grant Dalton, junior; Mason Frische and Nick Winters, sophomores

New faces to watch: Landon Hamilton and Will Shobe, juniors; A.J. Emenhiser and Aaron Hickson, sophomores; Grayson Taylor, freshman

What to expect: Graduation hit the Braves hard, as six players departed. The program even has a new voice, as Davis steps in for Mike Perry. Davis likes the fact many of his players have put in the time this summer to improve all aspects of their game, and feels the team should again be among the best in the Western Indiana Conference.

Whiteland Warriors

Coach: Mike Gillespie

Last season: 20-4, Mid-State Conference champion; lost to Center Grove in sectional semifinal

Who’s back?: Spencer Gillespie, Jeremiah Hurt, Isaac Phegley and Gavin Stubbe, seniors

New faces to watch: Haroon Mardanzai and Nathan Pitts, seniors; Cooper Adams, Quintin Giesking, Rhett Monday and Griffin Sanders, juniors; Tysen McGary and A.J. Stephenson, sophomores

What to expect: The Warriors have somehow flown beneath the radar despite their Mid-State Conference dominance, losing only one league match over the course of the past six seasons. Coach Gillespie remains optimistic, in large part because four-year starter Spencer Gillespie, the Warriors’ No. 1 singles player the last two seasons, returns for his final go-round. Hurt earned All-County honorable mention in singles, while Stubbe and Phegley did so in doubles.