Even those closest to Emily Hoy probably won’t remember how matches she won as a member of Center Grove’s tennis program.
Not for this season, last season or over the duration of her career.
However, thinking of Hoy the person, student, teammate and leader is bound to put a smile on the faces of those who have had the good fortune of being on the same roster.
For someone who falls short of 5 feet — the senior is 4-11 — she carries an impressive workload for the Trojans. A varsity player for coach Debby Burton’s program most of the past four years, Hoy has doubled as a manager for the boys team each fall since her sophomore year.
In Hoy’s universe, there is no such thing as too much tennis.
“It definitely helps because I get to listen to (boys coach Ivan Smith) as well. It adds another perspective to how to play the game,” Hoy said. “Also, it’s just really nice to be around people who share the same interest as I do.”
Hoy plays No. 1 doubles for the sixth-ranked Trojans, teaming with freshman Ashlee Fisk for a 15-6 record entering today’s Center Grove Sectional. She’s played everywhere except in the top singles spot during her career.
Hoy’s tennis legacy only adds to her family’s strong athletic lineage.
Her maternal grandfather, Jack Nay, was Greenwood’s boys basketball coach, leading the Woodmen to Johnson County championships in 1964 and 1965. Nay, who passed away in 2010, also coached hoops at Clark Township, Plainfield and Center Grove.
Nay’s daughter, Sherri, is Hoy’s mother. She played women’s tennis at Franklin College.
Sherri is the one who introduced Hoy to tennis, albeit inadvertently.
As a sixth-grader, Emily and older sister, Elyse, who is four years older, were at the courts with their mother. The objective was to get Elyse interested in tennis, but it was Emily who grew to love the sport.
Away from tennis, Hoy is ranked in the top 40 of Center Grove’s senior class with a 4.4 grade-point average. She has been admitted into Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute and will major in cyber security.
“My goal is to be able to defend against hackers. Actually, my goal is to be one of the hackers for FBI or CIA to work as what they say is a digital targeter,” Hoy said. “My dad got me to watch the movie ‘Hackers,’ and I’m just naturally drawn to technology. So it worked out.”
Now in her 20th season, Burton knows she’s been fortunate to coach a lengthy list of young ladies who have helped make her program one of the best in Indiana.
“Emily is very dedicated to her team and an extremely coachable kid,” Burton said. “She’s entirely passionate about the entire program of Center Grove tennis, which is evident from her commitment to the boys team, the girls team and willingness to play wherever. Her attitude and dedication to the team has never varied.
“I think Ivan and I will both miss her next year.”
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Center Grove Sectional
Today
Greenwood vs. Franklin, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
Center Grove vs. Indian Creek, 4:30 p.m.
Whiteland vs. today’s winner, 4:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship, 4:30 p.m.
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