County tennis programs prep for season

HANCOCK COUNTY — For the first time in a few seasons, there are some questions waiting to be answered surrounding the county tennis teams and the top players entering the year.

Back-to-back Hancock County Boys Tennis Athlete of the Year and state-finalist, Mt. Vernon’s Adam Koon has graduated, along with Greenfield-Central’s No. 1 singles player and second-team All-State member Chris Long.

The Marauders also graduated their No. 1 doubles team of Robbie Moore and Matthew Jones, while the Cougars graduated their No. 2 singles player Caden Robertson and one-half of their No. 1 doubles team, C.J. Michalek, as well as Long.

Both New Palestine and Eastern Hancock return nearly everyone, both losing just a member of their No. 2 doubles teams from last season.

Here’s how all four county schools stack up as they prepare for the 2024 season.

Eastern Hancock

Along with New Palestine, the Royals are the most experienced group.

No. 2 doubles player Griffin Lawrence who cracked the lineup towards the end of last season is the only player not returning from last year’s team that went 8-6 and won the Mid-Eastern Conference for the third straight season.

At No. 1 singles the Royals return head coach Chris Zeilinga’s son, Luke, who occupied the top spot as a freshman last season.

No. 2 singles player and four-year starter Luke Schilling is back as well, along with No. 3 singles player junior Josiah Swauger.

“We have some kids that kind of went year-round,” coach Zeilinga said. “I’ve definitely seen some improvement in the kids, so we should be stronger than what we were last year.”

The Royals biggest changes from a year ago will come at doubles.

Myles Wennen will make up one-half of the No. 1 doubles team for the fourth straight season but will do so alongside a new partner — junior Luke Fletcher.

Fletcher joins the No. 1 doubles team, while Wennen’s duo last year, senior Bo Dixon, will go to No. 2 doubles and play with junior Jaylen Helderbrand to start the year. Sophomore Garrett Bridges is in the mix as well for a spot in the doubles lineup.

“Myles has played one doubles for a while and has been in some really tough matches,” coach Zeilinga said. “Luke hits a big ball too, so our one doubles should be pretty good.”

With a ton of experience back from last season, the Royals, and coach Zeilinga have high hopes heading into the season.

“We’re trying to win conference for the fourth year in a row, and we’re trying to take steps towards catching those other county schools,” Zeilinga said.

Greenfield-Central

The Cougars are coming off their first sectional title since 2007 after defeating Mt. Vernon 3-2 in the championship.

They went on to fall 5-0 to Fishers in the regional championship and finished the season tied for a school-best 20 wins.

To repeat that success, head coach Michael Turpin is tasked with replacing the No. 1 singles player, No. 2 singles player and one member of each of his doubles teams.

At the top singles spot, the Cougars lost Long to graduation who finished his final season with a 19-5 record and accumulated over 40 wins in his career.

C.J. Michalek departs from the No. 1 doubles team where he went 20-4 with Luke Sitzman. Between doubles and time spent at singles, Michalek also surpassed the 40-win mark in his career.

At No. 2 singles, the Cougars lost Caden Robertson to graduation who also spent time at both doubles and singles in his varsity career, and at No. 2 doubles lose Mateo Molanphy who also played both doubles and singles.

Returning with experience to anchor a new-look lineup is the lone senior, Sitzman, who had a strong year at No. 1 doubles alongside Michalek.

No. 3 singles player, junior Alex Michalek, is back as the most experienced singles player. Sophomore Nathan Roberts, who teamed with Molanphy at No. 2 doubles, and was part of the sectional-clinching win in the match against the Marauders also returns.

Both Michaleks, Roberts and Sitzman earned All-State honorable mention last season.

Other members of the team include juniors Nolan Frye, Kasen Jarnecke and Ethan Ortwein, sophomores Sal Sanchez and Jacob Welch and freshmen Nash Berty, Liam Doffin and Guyton Hutcherson.

Mt. Vernon

The Marauders are coming off of a season full of both highs and lows.

They were the outright champions at the county tournament and won the Hoosier Heritage Conference for the first time in school history but fell to Greenfield-Central in the sectional championship.

They’ll also be looking to reload this season after the departure of some key pieces.

At the top of that list is the graduation of Koon, who is continuing his career at the University of Southern Indiana. As a two-time county champion at No. 1 singles, back-to-back county player of the year and state finalist, Koon guaranteed the Marauders a point in nearly every match.

The state finals appearance was the first in school history, he holds the school record for wins in a season with 24 and ended his career at No. 1 singles with a record of 65-13.

With him gone, head coach Graham McMullen will be looking for a new player in the No. 1 spot.

The No. 1 doubles spot is also wide open for the Marauders.

Robbie Moore and Matthew Jones, last year’s top doubles team, have graduated.

While those three are gone, the Marauders return players with plenty of experience in big matches.

The Marauders bring back last year’s No. 2 and No. 3 singles players, senior Manny Downs and junior Tate Cougill, along with the No. 2 doubles team of Bryndan Wylie and Max Orelup.

Downs was voted All-State honorable mention last year.

Key newcomers include seniors Ethan Erdos, Eli Muterspaugh, Spencer Douglas and junior Gavin Weaver.

Challenge matches are still being played to determine the starting lineup for the opening match.

“Varsity spots aren’t given out, they’re earned. You beat the other guy in front of you,” McMullen said. “We have to find out who works well together at doubles and who wants to be a leader. There’s a lot that goes into building a program and finding the right pieces to the puzzle. We may see a few different lineups before we settle on one that we like.”

Even with the lineup still being worked out and the departure of Koon, Moore and Jones, the goals are the same as they always are for the Mt. Vernon program.

“Our goals are to be a team. We want to grow together, learn together, and face adversity together. Tennis may be an individual sport but an individual can only win you one of the five points,” McMullen said. “The overall goal is to find a way to get three points every time we step out there.”

New Palestine

The Dragons come into the year as a group full of experience, returning six of their seven players from last season’s varsity lineup.

All six returnees are also entering their senior season. Overall, the team brings back 11 seniors.

While still doing challenge matches to determine the lineup heading into the opening match, head coach Jean Graham has no shortage of talent to choose from.

Last season’s No. 1 singles player Moses Haynes is back, and with both MV’s Koon and G-C’s Long graduated, enters the year as the most experienced No. 1 player in the county. He was voted All-State honorable mention last year.

The Dragons No. 2 from a year ago, Arjomand Khokhar, is back along with No. 3 player Brady Torzewski, who went a perfect 18-0 and was a county champion at No. 3 singles.

It’s not just the singles where the Dragons lineup is strong, though.

At No. 1 doubles, both Max Havel and Joey McPike are back, and at No. 2 doubles, Tyler Wilson returns.

The lone loss from last year’s lineup is the other half of the No. 2 doubles team, Eli Sloan.

Looking to fill that opening and crack the varsity lineup according to Graham will be senior Joel Dorval, junior Luke Bartusek, sophomore Carson Rush and freshman Tyler Walter.

“The boys have been working hard to better their tennis skills by attending tennis clinic and playing in tournaments,” Graham said. “We should be very competitive and hope to have a successful season.”

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2024 Boys Tennis Schedules

Eastern Hancock Royals

Date;Opponent;Time

Aug. 17;vs. New Palestine;10 a.m.

Aug. 19;vs. Randolph Southern;5 p.m.

Aug. 20;at Southwestern;5 p.m.

Aug. 27;at Rushville;5 p.m.

Aug. 29;at Hauser;5 p.m.

Aug. 31;Mid-Eastern Conference Tournament (Shenandoah);9 a.m.

Sept. 3;vs. Hagerstown;5 p.m.

Sept. 4;at Lapel;5 p.m.

Sept. 9;at Triton Central;5 p.m.

Sept. 11;vs. Connersville;5 p.m.

Sept. 12;at Waldron;5 p.m.

Sept. 14;Hancock County Tournament (New Palestine);9 a.m.

Sept. 16;vs. Frankton;5 p.m.

Sept. 17;at Heritage Christian;5 p.m.

Sept. 18;vs. Blue River Valley;5 p.m.

Sept. 24;vs. Tri;5 p.m.

Sept. 26;vs. Knightstown;5 p.m.

Sept. 28;Eastern Hancock Tennis Invite;9 a.m.

Sept. 30;vs. Pendleton Heights;4:30 p.m.

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Greenfield-Central Cougars

Date;Opponent;Time

Aug. 22;vs. Lawrence Central;5:30 p.m.

Aug. 24;at Franklin Community Invitational;10 a.m.

Aug. 26;at Franklin Central;5:30 p.m.

Aug. 27;at New Castle;5:30 p.m.

Aug. 28;vs. New Palestine;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 3;at Delta;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 4;vs. Triton Central;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 10;vs. Mt. Vernon;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 12;vs. Knightstown;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 14;Hancock County Tournament (New Palestine);9 a.m.

Sept. 16;vs. Shelbyville;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 18;vs. Pendleton Heights;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 19;at Alexandria-Monroe;5 p.m.

Sept. 23;at Whiteland;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 24;vs. Greenwood;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 25;at Yorktown;5:15 p.m.

Sept. 28;vs. Warren Central;9 a.m.

Sept. 30;at Westfield;5:30 p.m.

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Mt. Vernon Marauders

Date;Opponent;Time

Aug. 19;vs. Centerville;5 p.m.

Aug. 24;at Center Grove;8 a.m.

Aug. 26;at Pendleton Heights;4:30 p.m.

Aug. 27;at Guerin Catholic;5 p.m.

Aug. 31;at Noblesville Invitational;9 a.m.

Sept. 5;at Yorktown;5 p.m.

Sept. 10;at Greenfield-Central;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 12;at Shelbyville;5 p.m.

Sept. 14;Hancock County Tournament (New Palestine);9 a.m.

Sept. 17;vs. Bishop Chatard;5 p.m.

Sept. 18;at Franklin Central;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 19;vs. New Castle;5 p.m.

Sept. 21; at Homestead Invitational;9 a.m.

Sept. 25;vs. New Palestine;4:30 p.m.

Sept. 28;vs. West Lafayette;10 a.m.

Sept. 20;vs. Delta;4:30 p.m.

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New Palestine Dragons

Date;Opponent;Time

Aug. 17;at Eastern Hancock;10 a.m.

Aug. 19;at Greensburg;5:30 p.m.

Aug. 20;at Whiteland;4:30 p.m.

Aug. 22;at Yorktown;5 p.m.

Aug. 26;vs. Delta;5:30 p.m.

Aug. 27;at Franklin Community;5:30 p.m.

Aug. 28;at Greenfield-Central;5:30 p.m.

Aug. 29;vs. Shenandoah;5 p.m.

Aug. 31;at Noblesville Invitational;9 a.m.

Sept. 3;vs. Waldron;5 p.m.

Sept. 5;at Shelbyville;5 p.m.

Sept. 11;vs. Lawrence Central;5 p.m.

Sept. 12;at Bishop Chatard;4:30 p.m.

Sept. 14;Hancock County Tournament (New Palestine);9 a.m.

Sept. 16;vs. Pendleton Heights;4:30 p.m.

Sept. 18;vs. New Castle;5 p.m.

Sept. 19;vs. Triton Central;4:30 p.m.

Sept. 23;vs. Richmond;5 p.m.

Sept. 25;at Mt. Vernon;4:30 p.m.