Center Grove coach David Beasley got a measure of his boys tennis team’s strengths Tuesday night against No. 18 Whiteland.
The No. 3 Trojans shut out the host Warriors, 7-0, after Beasley and Whiteland coach Mike Gillespie agreed to play two extra doubles matches.
“We’ve been doing that format with a lot of matches this season,” Beasley said. “It’s getting more kids engaged and excited about varsity tennis.”
Gillespie agreed.
“You are just getting more kids meaningful matches,” Gillespie said. “No one is trying to gain an advantage; it’s just trying to get more kids playing at a higher level.”
Despite winning each match in straight sets, Beasley said his players were pushed by the Warriors (8-3) at several spots.
“There’s not a spot out here (Whiteland) can’t play at,” said Beasley, whose Trojans (11-1) have only lost to No. 4 Jasper 3-2.
At No. 1 singles, Tyler Lane topped Spencer Gillespie 6-4, 6-3.
“Spencer is always tough against Tyler; I know that was a great match,” Beasley said. “Spencer is a competitor.”
Beasley said Lane is coming off a fracture in his back and was sidelined for three or four momths.
“He just started hitting a few months ago, so we are hoping by the first of October, he’ll be ready to roll,” Beasley said.
The Warriors also provided a good test at the other two singles spots. The Trojans’ Quinn Smith defeated A.J. Stephenson 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2, while Yuvraj Dasari downed Jeremiah Hunt 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3.
“At No. 2 and 3 singles, they battled,” Beasley said. “Coach Mike has done a great job coaching doubles. Those guys are poaching a lot and being aggressive. Regardless of the score, they’re always coached well and they’re always going to compete, so you can’t give them anything. You have to scrape for everything.”
Six of Center Grove’s top seven players are seniors. The only underclassman in that group is sophomore Dusari.
At No. 1 doubles, Daksh Patel and Carson Bush defeated Issac Phegley and Gavin Stubbe 6-3, 6-1. At No. 2 doubles, Dimitri Kandris and Russell Dean were 6-1, 6-0 winners over Tysen McGary and Quintin Giesking.
Patel played No. 2 singles last season.
“We started floating the idea in early spring that he could start playing doubles with Carson,” Beasley said. “They’ve taken to it very well. Their only loss was to Jasper. They got beat pretty badly against Jasper, to be honest, but we get to see them again in a couple of weeks.”
Beasley said playing No. 1 Brebeuf Jesuit Sept. 17 and No. 2 Carmel Sept. 26 will be good indicators as to whether the No. 1 doubles team can take a shot at a state title this year.
“Everything depends on staying healthy and doing the right things,” Beasley said. “We’ll be able to tell how good our doubles team really is.”
Whiteland figures to be Center Grove’s biggest competition in the sectional.
“We hope we play this team again with a championship on the line or in the first round,” coach Gillespie said. “We’re going to learn from tonight and work on things in practice, and hopefully next time is a little closer. I told my kids when they got off the court, you write down some things it’s going to take to beat this team the next time. Let’s get it done.”
Gillespie said he liked his team’s fight.
“We come out and competed,” he said. “We didn’t come out scared. We’ve played good teams.”
At the No. 3 doubles spot, Austin Crow and Louis Teed defeated Kaden Fender and Brayden Cantrell 6-4, 6-3. At No. 4, Max Fosnot and Jonathan Cracraft were victorious over Rhett Monday and Caleb Stubbe 7-5, 6-2.
Both teams are back in action Thursday, with the Trojans hosting No. 6 Columbus North and Whiteland facing Franklin in a battle for sole possession of the Mid-State Conference lead.
