Center Grove took home the team championship at the Johnson County girls tennis Tournament on Saturday by defeating Greenwood, 5-0.
Franklin Community earned third place, beating Whiteland 3-2.
With every starter back from a year ago, the Trojans (6-3) turned in dominating singles performances, and their doubles teams lost only one set, that in a 4-1 semifinals victory against Whiteland.
Center Grove coach Debby Burton said her team did exactly what it needed to do — ignore the elements and get after it.
“Spring season always challenges you weather-wise. It just make you tougher. It is what it is. Both sides are playing in the same weather — chilly, cold, sleet, rain, hot. You never know what you’re going to get,” Burton said.
Burton added that the Trojans continue to work through an always competitive schedule to get them ready for postseason play.
“Our young people are getting some good playing time and getting things figured out, so that shows mental toughness,” she said. “We’re figuring out the parts and pieces and getting enough hits on the court, building and learning from the things we do well in addition to growing from our mistakes.
“This is a young team working hard and playing well, and as a coach I’m always looking to the future, so I’m excited.”
Center Grove’s only losses have come against top-10 ranked teams Carmel, North Central and Jasper.
In the championship match against Greenwood, Trojans sophomore Isabella Schoolcraft got off to a slow start and was briefly tested by her No. 1 singles opponent, Abby Chatham.
But once she caught her stride, Schoolcraft turned in a 6-1, 6-1 win.
In the morning semifinals, Schoolcraft led the Trojans to a 4-1 win against Whiteland by defeating Warriors freshman Bri Harwell, 6-0, 6-0.
Center Grove junior Katelyn Gray pulled away in each of her No. 2 singles matches, beating Greenwood junior Molly Jacobs, 6-0, 6-1, and Whiteland freshman Reese Johnson, 6-0, 6-1.
At No. 3 singles, Trojans junior Maddie Weeks was victorious against Greenwood junior Maddie Bright, 6-1, 6-0, and Whiteland junior Paityn Gossett 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles, Center Grove senior Bailey Sammons and freshman Ellie Strube came from behind to defeat Greenwood seniors Ally Newman and Joanna Moran, 5-7, 6-4 and 11-9 in a super tie-breaker.
Sammons and Strube fell to the Whiteland duo of juniors Aveneet Badwal and Danielle Patterson in the semifinals, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Center Grove’s lone senior in the lineup, Madison Smeathers, teamed with sophomore Emily Hoy to win both of their matches on the day against Greenwood senior Sadie Brooks and sophomore Alyssa Roscoe 6-1, 6-1.
The Smeathers-Hoy tandem won against Whiteland sophomores Hannah Blum and Riley Burnside, 6-0, 6-0.
Greenwood (6-1) defeated Franklin (4-3) in the morning semifinals. Whiteland’s record fell to 2-6.
