CGHS Athletes Shine Throughout the Field, Court, Mat and Pool
Writer / Kevin Conrad
Photography / Tony Pironello, Beth Krejsa, Provided
The Cherry on Top: Tyler Cherry Named Quarterback Mr. Football
Center Grove High School (CGHS) senior Tyler Cherry has been voted the 2023 Indiana Mr. Football for the quarterback position by the Indiana Football Coaches Association. As the Trojan starting quarterback in 2022 and 2023, Cherry helped CGHS compile an impressive 23-4 record, win the 2022 6A state title, attain one semi-state, capture two regionals, and claim two sectionals. He was also triumphant in one Copper Kettle game over Carmel. Cherry’s impressive passing stats will be etched in the CGHS record book for many years, if not forever:
Season passing yards: 3,156
Career passing yards: 5,461
Season passing touchdowns: 34
Career passing touchdowns: 56
Season completions: 218
Career completions: 364
Season completion percentage: 71.5%
Career completion percentage: 68.5%
Season passing attempts: 305
The Very Deft Ely Detty Earns All-American Honors
Center Grove senior Ely Detty had an incredible four-year soccer career for the Trojans. Detty was selected to the 2023 fall boys High School All-America team, the Great Lakes Region All-Region team two years in a row, and First-Team All-State. The Kentucky commit set the school scoring record for the most goals in a season with 34, and in a career with 75. “I’ve been involved with Center Grove soccer for 37 years and I can say I have not seen a player that is better than Ely Detty,” says CGHS boys soccer Head Coach Jameson McLaughlin.
Grapplers Gobble up the Competition
The Center Grove wrestling team is coming off its best season ever, placing second in the 2023 state finals. With last season’s success, the Trojan wrestling program has obtained great respect across the state and nation, garnering a number-three state ranking and 26th national ranking in the 2023 preseason polls. To begin the season, CGHS won two tournaments at Southport and Bloomington South, defeated New Palestine and Cathedral in dual meets, and placed 19th out of 126 teams in the Ironman, an elite national tournament held in Ohio.
Coach Zach Hahn Attains Hoops History
Center Grove boys basketball Head Coach Zach Hahn became the winningest coach in CGHS boys basketball history in just his 10th season at the helm of the Trojan program. CGHS defeated Bloomington North at home on December 1, 55-44, giving Hahn his 139th career win at CGHS. Hahn surpasses coach Tom Jones, who led the Trojan program from 1969-1979. Under Hahn’s tutelage, CGHS has won a regional, four sectionals and five county titles, and coached the Trojans’ first and only Mr. Basketball and NBA player, Trayce Jackson-Davis, who is now playing professionally for the Golden State Warriors.
Girls Basketball Reclaims County Title
Center Grove girls basketball won four straight county tournament titles from 2017 to 2020 under seventh-year Head Coach Kevin Stuckmeyer. The Trojans hit a two-year drought, losing to Franklin in 2021 and Indian Creek in 2022. CGHS avenged those losses, beating Indian Creek in the 2023 county semifinals, 61-52 in overtime, and Franklin in the finals, 54-47 in overtime. The Trojans have high expectations for the 2024 state tournament with the return of four players from last season’s sectional and regional championship team.
Swimmers Make a Big Splash, but Divers Made a Small Splash with Hall of Fame Classic Title
The Center Grove swimming and diving program hosted the prestigious Hall of Fame Classic on December 2. Combining the boys and girls scores, the Trojans took first place. CGHS also has wins this season over Plainfield, Whiteland, Columbus North and Avon, and the girls also defeated Franklin. Lara Phipps and Henry Lyness represented CGHS swimming at the USA Swimming Winter Junior National Championships at Ohio State University. Phipps placed 16th in the 50-meter freestyle, 22nd in the 100-meter freestyle, and 31st in the 100-meter butterfly. Lyness finished 14th in the 100-meter backstroke.
