Unlike most IHSAA sports, tennis is a single class sport. Enrollment size is not considered, so mega-enrollment schools can have a distinct advantage. The undefeated Centerville Lady Bulldog tennis team, and their head coach Randy Ecker, would not accept that they could not win, and were determined to make their case on the court. As a result of their skill and determination, they were crowned regional champions Wednesday evening.
The Centerville tennis program last won a regional championship in 1985. Tuesday, they defeated 4A East Central to hoist the regional trophy and are one of only 16 teams remaining in the state tournament.
Centerville vs Blue River Valley – semi-final round
On Tuesday, May 23rd, Centerville advanced to the finals by defeating New Castle sectional champion Blue River Valley. For Centerville, the Richmond sectional champion, it was just another routine day at the office.
Centerville swept the Lady Vikings 5-0 to improve their season record to 22-0.
In the individual sectional no. 1 doubles competition held concurrently, the team of Ashlyn Smith and Kenzie Scholl, representing Hagerstown High School, were defeated by the no. 1 doubles team from Oldenburg Academy.
Centerville vs East Central – championship match
The East Central Lady Trojans, winners of their own sectional, who defeated Connersville by the score of 3-2, in their hard-fought semi-final round match on the 23rd, squared off against Centerville in the championship match, on May 24, for the right to advance to the Center Grove semi-state.
The Lady Bulldogs captured the title by the score of 4-1.
Results by match:
No. 1 singles: Gracie Helms (C) defeated Peyton Pies (EC) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
No. 2 singles: Gabby Duke (C) defeated Elizabeth Kirchgassner (EC) 6-7, 6-4, 6-0
No. 3 singles: Kelsey Scholl (EC) defeated Lizzie Parker (C) 6-4, 6-0
No 1 doubles: Ava McCurdy and Kylar Marshall (C) defeated Ava Kraus and Olivia Rosemeyer (EC) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 doubles: Makenna Hartman and Ellie Cox (C) defeated Brooke Carpenter and Madison Noel (EC) 6-0, 6-2
Centerville advanced to the Center Grove semi-state for a match with Sullivan High School on Saturday, May 27. The winner will advance to the state-finals quarterfinals at Carmel on June 3.
The Centerville Lady Bulldogs entered their match with the Sullivan Lady Golden Arrows with a sparkling record of 23-0.
A version of this article appeared in the May 31 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.