From ihsaa.org

Third-ranked Center Grove (21-2) won all three championship singles matches and one doubles contest Oct. 18 to best No. 5 Zionsville, 4-1, at the 42nd Annual IHSAA Boys Tennis Team State Finals at North Central (Indianapolis).

It was Center Grove’s eighth state title overall and the second in boys tennis, the other coming in 2001. The Trojans were coached on both occasions by Ivan Smith.

Senior Austin Sansone and juniors Justin Spicer and Caleb Fellers each picked up team points for Center Grove at Nos. 1, 2, and 3 singles, respectively, while the senior tandem of Alex Moffett and Chris Webb won at No. 2 doubles.

Sansone claimed a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Zionsville’s Andrew Kahn, Spicer beat J.P. Dwyer of Zionsville, 6-3, 6-1, and Fellers defeated Conner Dunn, 6-0, 6-1. Moffett and Webb took a 7-5, 6-1 decision from Max Watson and Taylor Wong.

Zionsville (21-3) earned its only point at No. 1 doubles, where juniors Joe Hammond and Nick Laconi outlasted Center Grove’s Cameron Hardin and David Schoch, 6-7 (7-6), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) in a match that lasted nearly three hours.

Zionsville, coached by Dan Layton, was playing in the state championship match for the first time after falling in last year’s state semifinals.

Center Grove earned its spot in the final match by defeating No. 8 and previously undefeated Munster, 4-1. Zionsville bested No. 12 Columbus North by the same score.

In the consolation match, Columbus North (23-3) edged Munster (22-2), 3-2.

The afternoon results:

CHAMPIONSHIP: #3 Center Grove 4, #5 Zionsville 1
Singles
1. Austin Sansone (12), Center Grove, def. Andrew Kahn (12), Zionsville 6-2, 6-3
2. Justin Spicer (11), Center Grove, def. J.P. Dwyer (11), Zionsville 6-3, 6-1
3. Caleb Fellers (11), Center Grove, def. Conner Dunn (11), Zionsville 6-0, 6-1

Doubles
1. Joe Hammond (11)/Nick Laconi (11), Zionsville, def. Cameron Hardin (10)/David Schoch (12), Center Grove 6-7 (7-6), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Alex Moffett (12)/Chris Webb (12), Center Grove, def. Max Watson (11)/Taylor Wong (12) Zionsville 7-5, 6-1

CONSOLATION: #12 Columbus North 3, #8 Munster 2
Singles
1. Billy Heuer (12), Munster, def. Austin Smith (11), Columbus North 6-4, 6-2
2. Robert Nieters (12), Columbus North, def. Aaditya Shah (10), Munster 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3
3. Zakk Tritsch (11), Munster, def. Caleb Fuller (12), Columbus North 7-5, 2-6, 6-3

Doubles
1. Chase Harris (10)/David Nieters (12), Columbus North, def. Eli Wilson (11)/Austin Wynn (12), Munster 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
2. Brandon Hedrick (11)/Sean Mahoney (10), Columbus North, def. Ryan Heuer (9)/Chandler Marcus (10), Munster 6-3, 6-4

Zionsville’s Kahn named Mental Attitude Award winner
Zionsville No. 1 singles player Andrew Kahn was selected by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s winner of the Mental Attitude Award. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Zionsville High School in his name.

The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.

As a singles player, Kahn has helped the Eagles advance to the state finals each of the last two seasons – the school’s only trips to state. He has won the Hoosier Crossroads Conference Tournament each of the last three years, twice at No. 2 singles and this year at No. 1.

Academically, Kahn was recently recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist and has earned academic honors every semester of his high school career. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Athletic Advisory Council, and he served as an NCAA Ambassador for its “Stay in Bounds” program. He also has placed third in the Indiana DECA competition.

The son of Steve and Cheryl Kahn of Zionsville is undecided on his college choice but intends to study pre-law at Washington University in St. Louis or at DePauw or Amherst.

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