Center Grove’s Tyler Lane hits a backhand during Wednesday’s regional final against Connersville.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
The Center Grove boys tennis team now gone five postseason matches without dropping a point.
Things are about to get tougher, as the fourth-ranked Trojans will meet No. 21 Fishers in Saturday’s noon semistate at Center Grove.
’That will be a gritty match,” Center Grove coach David Beasley said of Fishers. “They’re really solid throughout their whole lineup. They beat Hamilton Southeastern (in the sectional). Coach (Dave) Heffern has been there for a long time and does a great job.”
The host Trojans (20-3) dropped just five games in Wednesday’s 5-0 regional final sweep of Connersville; Center Grove had also shut out Triton Central in Tuesday’s semifinal.
“These last two matches we came out and did what we needed to do on the courts, stuck to the game plans and the energy was really good the last two matches.” Beasley said. “Getting off the courts quickly and making sure we’re rested for Saturday’s match was a huge goal for us.”
Beasley hasn’t worried about any letdown for his team.
“We’re blessed that we train all year round and these kids put in the work, literally 365 days a year,” Beasley said. “”The team we played today has a bunch of kids that play other sports. We’re just lucky that we have kids that are almost all one-sport athletes. That benefits us on days like this.”
The Trojans lost to Columbus North in last year’s semistate. In 2022, Center Grove reached the state semifinals before losing 3-2 to eventual state champion North Central; Beasley made his players stay and watch the title match after that defeat.
“These seniors know what it’s like to watch a championship match,” he said. ‘So that’s our goal — to go back and play in the championship match and win it.”
Senior Tylor Lane, who didn’t drop a game against Connersville’s Kolton DeBoard at No. 1 singles, said a state title has been the team’s goal all season.
“I think all of us have another level in us to play, but I think we’re playing solid right now,” Lane said.
Lane said the key against Fishers will be having a lot of energy.
“Getting excited early to get our nerves out and our feet moving and trusting what we practice this year,” Lane said
Lane was slowed by having two fractures in his back and missed the first part of the season.
“I think I’m back close to 100%,” he said.
At No. 2 singles, sophomore Yuvraj Dasari blew past Anthony Struewing 6-0, 6-1. Senior Quinn Smith was a 6-2, 6-0 winner over Clayton Roszell at No. 3 singles in the last match to finish.
At No. 1 doubles, seniors Carson Bush and Daksh Patel only dropped one game in the first set against Maddox Rees and Abel Parsley; Bush and Patel only have one loss this season. The No. 2 doubles team of senior Russell Dean and junior Jack Dybwad topped Jay McMullen and Logan Young 6-0, 6-1.
Also on Wednesday, Roncalli’s Christopher Stanley defeated Shelbyville’s Reece Prickett 6-1, 6-4 to win the individual sectional championship.
