Center Grove Sports Capsule

Center Grove High School (CGHS) softball had a remarkable season, securing a second-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament. The Trojans also clinched the Johnson County Tournament late in the season and maintained their winning streak in postseason play, claiming the sectional, regional and semi-state titles. Despite a hard-fought battle in their 12th state title game, they lost in nine innings to Crown Point, 2-0, marking their fifth softball runner-up finish.

“I am tremendously proud of this team and the impact they had on one another,” CGHS head coach Alyssa Coleman said. “Our program focuses a lot on the legacy you leave behind, not just through your performance on the field, but through the relationships you build and the influence you have on your teammates. Our seniors led with love and a sense of purpose. They created an environment that brought out the best in everyone, setting a tone of support, accountability and connection. It was a joy to witness this team uplift and shape one another in ways that will be felt far beyond this season.”

One of those seniors was Mae Munson, who earned first-team all-state, first-team all-academic and a spot on the South All-Star softball team.

“Playing for Center Grove softball these past four years has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” Munson said. “Being part of one of the top softball programs in the state pushed me to grow not only as a player, but as a person. The high expectations made every practice, every game and every challenge worth it, and going all the way to state my senior year was an unforgettable way to end my journey. But what meant the most to me were the relationships I built along the way. My teammates and coaches became like family, and the field truly felt like home. I was surrounded by people who believed in me, supported me and pushed me to be better every single day. I’ll always be grateful for the memories, the lessons and the lifelong friendships I gained. Wearing that jersey and representing Center Grove softball was an honor, and I’ll carry that pride with me wherever I go.”

Fellow senior Syd Herrmann, who is committed to playing softball at Dartmouth College, is not only an accomplished softball player but also an elite student. She was named the Class 4A IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner.

“CG reloads every year with the deepest talent, so being a part of a school with the best softball tradition in the state means a lot,” Herrmann said. “We are expected to win and compete for softball titles every year. I was fortunate enough to make varsity as a freshman and was able to learn and grow from the players ahead of me. I loved my four years playing softball for CG. Every little girl at the Center Grove Lassie League dreams about playing softball for the high school team. I got that chance and I was able to add two banners.”

Junior starting pitcher Rily Fuhr admired her senior teammates.

“The senior graduating class was such a special group of girls,” Fuhr said. “Playing with them over the past three years was the greatest gift of all time. These girls became the best friends I could have ever asked for, and the trust I built with them was one of a kind. I was never worried because I knew they would have my back no matter what and would always be there for me through thick and thin. Our team looked up to these girls because we knew they would lead us on the right path no matter what adversity we faced.”

“What truly made this group special was their resilience to compete,” Coleman said. “Each player found meaningful ways to help the team succeed, embracing roles, rising to challenges and leading from within. They let the team be the star, something that doesn’t just happen; it’s built through trust, handling adversity and demonstrating effort toward a shared commitment to something bigger than themselves. I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences we shared this season and for the unwavering support from our families and community. This team has left its mark in what is already a tremendous tradition for Center Grove softball, and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

Baseball One Win Away from State Finals

Center Grove baseball was well prepared for another deep run in the state tournament, after being Class 4A state runners-up two seasons ago and losing to state runner-up Mooresville last year in the sectional final. The Trojans played a highly competitive regular season schedule that prepared them for the postseason tournament. CG rallied to beat Mooresville in the sectional opener, 8-6 in 11 innings, and came from behind to beat Franklin Central in the sectional final, 4-3. The Trojans crushed Brownsburg in the regional championship, 14-3. CG defeated Franklin in the semi-state semifinals, 8-1, their third win over their county rival this season. CG was one game away from advancing to the state finals but lost to Evansville North in the final four, 2-1, in nine innings.

“Really proud of the guys this year,” CGHS head coach Keith Hatfield said. “We went through a lot of adversity with the tough schedule we play. They were also really mentally tough with all the rain we had and reschedules. I’m just really proud of how they stuck together and bonded.”

The Trojans say goodbye to eight seniors, including first baseman Cal Schembra.

“It has truly been a blessing in my life to play baseball at Center Grove and represent this great community,” Schembra said. “Not many kids get to be surrounded by so many successful athletes and coaches and have access to all of the facilities we have. This has helped me to understand how fortunate I am by pushing me every day to be better and molding me into a better individual and player. I am most proud of representing the Center Grove community and making an impact on such a great program. Making it to state in my sophomore year and being able to play on Victory Field was something to be proud of. Every time you put on the Center Grove uniform, it means something special, and the bond you develop with these guys is something you’ll never forget.”

Senior Carson Bush has been the starting third baseman for the Trojans for the past two seasons.

“I’m most proud of earning the opportunity to be a starting infielder at one of the best baseball programs in the state,” Bush said. “I’ve loved getting to represent my community while playing with groups of friends I’ve known from a young age. I feel like I’ve developed into the player I am now because of the atmosphere and culture of this program built by all of the talented players that have come before me, as well as the incredible coaching staff. I believe this program is certainly going to help me make the transition into college baseball next year.”

“The seniors are going to be missed,” Hatfield said. “Lots of multi-year players in that class. Cal Schembra played in the state finals a couple of years ago. We won a lot of games with this class. This team will go down as only the fourth final four team in school history. Really proud of what they accomplished. We lose some big pieces, but I’m excited about what we have coming back.”

“This senior class was a very special class and had a lot of hard workers,” said junior pitcher and second baseman Gannon Grant. “They knew how to lead and play the game the right way. This season was one to remember because of the great run we had in the tournament. This program is very special because of the culture and the great coaching staff we have here. Next season we will be senior-heavy, and that’s a great thing. We will have a ton of leaders throughout the team, and we will be ready to make a big run again.”

Boys Golf Wins County, Sectional and Regional Titles

CGHS boys golf concluded the season with a series of victories, winning the county, sectional and regional championships. The Trojans finished seventh in the state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

CGHS head coach Matt Rodman said it was an incredible season.

“We had four regular-season tournament wins, a sweep of sectionals and regionals, and a strong seventh-place finish at the state finals,” Rodman said. “This success was driven by the outstanding leadership of our four seniors, whose commitment, consistency and character have shaped the program over the past four years. Their legacy of excellence will continue to inspire future teams.”

Girls Tennis Returns to the State Quarterfinals

The CGHS girls tennis team had not clinched a sectional title since 2021, losing to Franklin the past three years. The Trojans overcame this hurdle this season, defeating the Grizzly Cubs 3-2. CG senior Ashley Embrey and her number two doubles partner, Maggie Teed, secured the decisive third team point. The team’s journey continued with a regional win and a 4-1 victory over Columbus North in the semi-state championship, avenging a regular-season loss to the Bull Dogs.

“Winning the sectional title was so exciting for our whole team,” Embrey said. “Clinching the match in a third-set tiebreak was so exhilarating and awesome. I loved being able to say that my team and I brought home the sectional title after three years of losing it to Franklin. Beating Columbus North 4-1 in the semi-state was so exciting, especially after how hard our whole team played that match. I just think it was so exciting and cool to tell everyone that we were going to state.”

“I could not be more proud of how well the team played in the state tournament,” CGHS head coach Debby Burton said. “Beating Franklin twice after losing the last six times was great. Despite losing to eventual state champion Jasper in the state quarterfinals, I am proud of how they competed, grew their games and supported each other.”

The Trojans graduate six senior players, three of whom played an integral part on the varsity squad.

“The senior players set the tone early in the season, stating how important it was to work hard all season,” Burton said. “The players not in the starting lineup bought in and cheered our top seven fantastically. It was a great season on and off the courts.”

Embrey said she is proud to have been part of this program.

“It gives me a sense of pride because I know that people around the state know Center Grove tennis, and it makes me want to make people proud, whether that’s Center Grove coaches, players or the community,” she said.

Boys Track and Field Sectional and County Champs

The Center Grove boys track team had another successful season, culminating with a solid showing at the state meet at North Central High School. CG’s regular-season accomplishments included its 26th straight county championship, third consecutive Warren Central Invitational title and the Mooresville Relay championship.

The Trojans won their 20th sectional and sixth straight. Ten CG athletes qualified for the state finals. Yared Seyoum, Cameron Cox, Mason Vrshek and Jayden Salo set the school record in the 4×800 relay, finishing fifth at state. Other top finishes included the 4×400 relay team of Ryke Meyer, Austin Hennessy, Ben Tapak and Brevin Holubar placing third, and Tapak finishing seventh in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

“Although we graduate many of those who qualified for state, we do return a solid nucleus of athletes capable of making a name for themselves at the state level next year,” CGHS head coach Brad Timmons said. “Caison Barber in both the 110 high hurdles and the 300 intermediate hurdles was having a breakout season until a hamstring issue hampered him in the regional meet. Had he remained healthy, he undoubtedly would have had a good shot at making the state podium. Levi Jones will return in the discus, and he was experiencing steady improvement as the season progressed. Blake Matthews and Ryke Meyer made a name for themselves as freshmen this season, playing integral roles on two relays and in open events. They are back for the next few years and show great promise. Last, we have Yared Seyoum and Jaydon Salo. These two were awesome all season, consistently dropping time when it mattered most. They will be juniors next season, and we are expecting continued growth as a result of their incredible work ethic.”

Overall, Timmons said it was a successful season.

“All in all, we as coaches were quite pleased with the season and how it ended up,” he said. “We battled the injury bug throughout April and May, which was quite trying, but it allowed others to step up and contribute where needed. As a result, we have a decent number of letter winners returning for the spring season of 2026, and we are confident that if we can stay healthy, it looks to be another productive showing.”

Girls Track and Field with a Strong Finish at the State Meet

The CGHS girls track and field team won the Warren Central, Mooresville and Center Grove Invitationals and placed second in the sectional and Johnson County meets. Senior Hallie Mimbela won the 800-meter race in the sectional, setting the school record. Thirteen Trojan athletes qualified for the state finals at North Central High School and placed 14th.

“We had another fantastic season,” CGHS head coach Wes Dodson said. “We were in seven of the 16 events in the state meet. Luci Barile led us in the discus, placing runner-up, Khloie Walker placed third in the pole vault, Emerson Vlcan was 10th in high jump, Luci was 10th in shot put, Hannah Smith was 11th in pole vault, and Hallie Mimbela was 15th in the 800. We also finished with three Indiana All-Stars—Luci, Khloie and Emerson.”

Dodson said they had a strong senior class.

“Our seniors were great,” he said. “We had eight seniors who had lettered all four years. That never happens. Typically, it’s two or three. We had great leadership and girls who always competed well every time out. Those eight were Khloie, Hannah, Emerson, Hallie, Diana Hodges, Sukh Chahal, Alana Riley and Marissa Pogue.”

Boys Volleyball Wins Inaugural Sectional Title

Center Grove boys volleyball’s first season as an IHSAA-sanctioned sport was a resounding success. The Trojans won the sectional championship before losing to eventual state runner-up Cathedral in the regional semifinals.

CGHS head coach Andrea Pawlik said it was a fantastic first season.

“We had a lot of program firsts this season,” Pawlik said. “From varsity winning our first game of the season and our home opener, to having our senior outside hitter reach 1,000 career kills, to fielding a freshman team as well as having CG middle school teams that introduced many boys to the sport of volleyball, to hosting and winning sectionals, and hosting regionals. CG boys volleyball had a very successful season with the varsity finishing 24-9.”

The Trojans’ seven seniors paved the way.

“The seniors set the tone this year with their leadership, teamwork, respect and dedication, setting a positive, hardworking culture for the CG boys volleyball program that will last for years to come,” Pawlik said. “Also, the CG administration and athletic department welcomed our sport with open, generous arms and did a stellar job with every conceivable need we had this year! Their support was tremendous! We also had some amazing teachers, parents, fans, managers, coaches, scorekeepers, bus drivers, custodial staff members and refs that made a positive impact on these players, making our first season as an IHSAA sport one to remember.”