Football Makes Another Strong Run in State Tournament, Falls Short to Brownsburg
The class 6A number-seven Center Grove Trojans won their seventh-straight regional title – the 18th under head coach Eric Moore and 19th overall. The Trojans won the regional number-four final at Warren Central, 23-15. CGHS senior running back Jack Browning led the Trojan attack with two rushing touchdowns. Sophomore Drake McClurg contributed a 74-yard punt return for a score, and sophomore kicker Dallas Cornpropst added a 30-yard field goal. Junior Cooper Pio had two interceptions, junior defensive lineman Jeremy Stanley had two sacks, and junior defensive lineman Lincoln Bright and senior linebacker T.J. Williams each had six tackles.
The Trojans hosted the class 6A number-four Brownsburg Bulldogs in the southern semi-state championship. It was the first meeting between the schools on the gridiron since 1990. CGHS lost the final-four battle to the Bulldogs, 31-27. Senior quarterback Gabe McWilliams threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, and his top target was senior wide receiver Tristan Baxter, who had 111 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. Junior running back Nolan Rees led the ground attack with two rushing touchdowns. Williams once again led the Trojan defense with 12 tackles. Brownsburg won the 6A state title the following week over Westfield, 22-17.
CGHS concluded the season at 8-5, and were regional and sectional champions. Trojan offensive lineman C.J. Scifres was named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 All-State Team. Baxter, McWilliams and Williams were each named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 6A Senior All-State Team. McClurg and junior tight end Dom Berry were named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 6A Junior All-State Team.
Girls Basketball Wins County Title
Center Grove High School (CGHS) girls basketball began the 2024-2025 season with nine straight wins, and two of those victories came in the Johnson County Tournament. The Trojans beat Indian Creek in the county tourney semifinals 62-26 at Greenwood. Junior Gracyn Gilliard led the Trojans with 24 points, and seniors Lilly Bischoff and Ava Grant each added 13 points. CGHS squared off against Franklin in the finals, beating the Grizzly Cubs 57-29, giving the Trojans’ Head Coach Kevin Stuckmeyer his sixth county title in eight seasons. Gilliard netted a season-high 33 points and had eight steals in the victory.
“Congratulations to our seniors and this team on winning the county,” said Stuckmeyer. “It’s a blessing to win championships. We don’t take them for granted; these girls have earned it. This senior class has put some hardware on their shelf and earned it, and hopefully they continue that. I know they have bigger goals moving forward. It’s a process day by day, and getting better toward the end of the season.”
The Trojans’ ninth win of the season came on their home court against the Plainfield Quakers, 58-48. Once again, Gilliard paced CGHS with 23 points, and she scored her 1,000th career point in the game.
Wrestlers Ranked Among the Very Best in the State
The Center Grove boys wrestling program has been one of the strongest in the state in the past two seasons, with state runner-ups in 2023 and 2024, championships in the 2023 semi-state, regional and sectional, as well as the 2024 sectional title. The third-ranked Trojans began the 2024-2025 season with wins over Lawrence Central, Columbus North and sixth-ranked Cathedral, and first-place finishes in the Bloomington and Zionsville tournaments.
“When you graduate the last couple of years nine or 10 really good varsity starters, guys have to fill those spots,” said CGHS wrestling Head Coach Maurice Swain. “Some of our new guys are getting a chance to wrestle at a more optimal weight and are performing well. The team is starting to come together and gel together.”
The Trojans will compete against the best in the Team State Duals on January 11 at Brownsburg. CGHS will compete in the state tournament in February, beginning with the sectional at Mooresville on February 1.
Swimming and Diving Wins Hall of Fame Classic; Diver Sets School Record
The CGHS boys and girls swimming and diving teams combined to win the Hall of Fame Classic. The boys placed first among eight teams, and the girls finished third. Besides the Hall of Fame Classic victory, the fifth-ranked boys have defeated Plainfield, Whiteland and Columbus North. In the win over Plainfield, CGHS freshman boys diver Dathan Schramm set the six-dive school record with a score of 298.15. The boys will compete in the sectional at Franklin on February 22. The Trojans will be vying for their 30th sectional title. The 29th-ranked girls will host the sectional on February 8. They have won three straight sectionals and will aim to win their 30th sectional title overall.
