Girls Golf Swinging for Another Strong Finish in the State Tournament
Center Grove High School girls golf continues to be one of the top programs in the state under seventh-year Head Coach Cale Hoover. CGHS overcame adversity, playing without their top returning senior early in the season.
“The first few weeks were played without Magnolia Miller, our only returning starter and top player,” said Hoover. “This allowed some younger players to get valuable experience, which will pay off in the future. Our lineup features seniors Magnolia Miller, Amanda Wallace and London Dodson. Rounding out the top five are sophomores Zoe Land and Madisyn Bell. A freshman, Olivia Alvey, has also seen action in the top five.”
Once Miller returned to the lineup, the Trojans hit their stride, winning their sixth consecutive Johnson County Tournament with an impressive team score of 300, beating second-place Franklin by 17 strokes. CGHS’s Miller, Wallace, Dodson and Bell earned First Team All-County honors.
Under Hoover’s tutelage, the Trojans have won six county titles, six sectionals and two regionals, and have placed in the top five in the state finals with a runner-up finish and a fifth-place finish.
CGHS will try to qualify for the state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel in October.
Football Setting Records
In his 26th season as the Trojans’ head football coach, Eric Moore collected his 250th win at CGHS with a 42-19 victory at Ben Davis in the fourth game of the season. Despite a 34-28 loss to Westfield in the season opener, senior quarterback Gabe McWilliams set a school record in his starting debut with the most passing yards by a CGHS quarterback on the home field, with 328 yards. The Trojans’ first road trip was game three at Trinity in Louisville, Kentucky. Sophomore wide receiver Drake McClurg helped the Trojans to a 24-10 win over the Shamrocks, with a school record 238 yards receiving. CGHS is striving to win its sixth state championship in November and its fourth in five years.
Volleyball Reaches Milestones
Center Grove girls volleyball has been ranked in the top 10 in Class 4A for the entire season. The Trojans have outstanding leadership from their senior class: Reese Dunkle, Ellen Zapp, Maddi Higginson and Savannah Cook. Dunkle, a Stanford volleyball commit, set the CGHS school record for the most career blocks with more than 300 during her four seasons with the Trojans. Zapp, an Oakland volleyball commit, has exceeded 1,000 kills for her four-year career at CGHS. In her second season, Sophomore Anabelle Schembra has eclipsed 1,000 assists in her young career. CGHS looks to win its 36th sectional title in October and its first regional championship since 2019.
Boys Soccer Overtakes Carmel for the Number-One Ranking in the State
Center Grove boys soccer has had a blistering hot start to the 2024 season, with tenacious defensive play and a very high-octane offense. The Trojans catapulted to the number-one state ranking in the Class 3A poll in early September, surpassing previous number-one Carmel. The Trojans have received outstanding leadership from their seniors: Landon Gilstorf, Evan Hewitt, Matheus Gubert, Austin Lowden, Owen Neely, Charlie Habig, Owen Dorrell, Lucas Brunson, Keaton Barnhizer and Carter Wynberry. The Trojans will vie for their 26th sectional championship when they host the sectional in October, and look to win their first regional title since 2015.
Girls Soccer Is Gaining Momentum
CGHS girls soccer began the season with a 1-0 road loss to East Central. The Trojans responded to the setback with a seven-game winning streak, notching victories over Columbus North, Bloomington South, Bloomington North, Evansville North, Martinsville, Terre Haute South and Roncalli. CGHS will try to continue its strong play heading into the sectional hosted by Columbus East in October. The Trojans have won a state-best 24 sectionals, with their last one coming in 2022.
Boys and Girls Cross Country Give a Strong Showing in the State Preview
CGHS boys and girls cross country competed against the very best in the state at the State Preview at Terre Haute’s Lavern Gibson Championship Course, the site of the state finals. Both teams placed third. The girls top finishers were Hallie Mimbela, 12th; Gretchen Meisberger, 14th; Lexi O’Barr, 16th; and Adri Rosales, 17th.
The boys top placers were Jayden Salo, 12th; Mason Vrshek, 13th; and Michael Leavitt, 16th. In October the girls will compete for their second straight sectional title and 16th overall in the sectional hosted by Shelbyville. The boys will also run in the Shelbyville sectional, vying for their sixth title in a row and 11th overall.
Boys Tennis Eyeing Return Trip to the State Finals
CGHS boys tennis has played a highly competitive regular season schedule, competing against a dozen state-ranked teams, which helps prepare them for the state tournament. The Trojans also won the Center Grove and Jeffersonville invitationals. An impressive senior class of players leads CGHS: Carson Bush, Russell Dean, Dimitrios Kandris, Tyler Lane, Daksh Patel and Quinn Smith. Underclassmen Jack Dybwad and Yuvraj Dasari have also contributed to the Trojans’ success on the court. CGHS advanced to the state final four in 2022, losing to state champion North Central. The Trojans are optimistic for another strong showing in this year’s state tournament.
