<p>For the Daily Journal</p>
<p>Center Grove boys tennis coach Ivan Smith has won so many matches, including a pair of state titles, in his 40-plus years that he’s even forgotten how much his teams have won.</p>
<p>But he may be remembering Tuesday afternoon’s match in the first round of the Johnson County tournament. That’s because it took less than an hour for the fourth-ranked Trojans to dispatch Indian Creek, 5-0.</p>
<p>What made this match memorable was that every Trojan who took the court was perfect, with every match going 6-0, 6-0.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>After the match, Smith took a few moments to not only ponder the moment, but to recall if the Trojans have ever had such perfection.</p>
<p>“No, I don’t think so,” said Smith. “It doesn’t happen very often.”</p>
<p>Perhaps not, but it further emphasized how strong the Center Grove team is.</p>
<p>All three singles players — No. 1 Trey Thixton, No. 2 Mitch Runkle and No. 3 Mason Runkle — finished within minutes of each other.</p>
<p>It was a satisfying day, according to Mitch Runkle.</p>
<p>“We’re playing well as a team and have a lot of confidence,” he said. “I was happy with my play. I hit the ball cleanly and I didn’t feel tight at all, which is something I’ve struggled with this year.</p>
<p>“It was a nice and loose game.”</p>
<p>Center Grove now faces unbeaten Whiteland, which figures to offer more of a challenge.</p>
<p>“(Whiteland) will be a tougher match,” said Smith.</p>
<p>Today’s semifinals commence at 4:30 p.m. The other match will pit Greenwood against Franklin, which swept Edinburgh in a 5-0 first-round win of its own.</p>
<p>Josiah Rockey survived a three-set battle with Edinburgh’s Coltan Henderson at No. 1 singles, and the rest of the Grizzly Cubs won in straight sets. Nathan Tyler and Sam Auger claimed the other singles points, Adam Johnson and Jackson Klem won at No. 1 doubles and Jared Ross and Jon Ott took the point at No. 2.</p>
<p>Today’s semifinal winners play for the title Thursday at Center Grove.</p>
