Senior staff writer
No. 5-ranked Center Grove opens play in the boys tennis eight-team state finals Friday at 3 p.m. against No. 4 Floyd Central at Carmel. The Trojans qualified for their first trip to the finals in four years by sweeping No. 28 Richmond in the semistate Saturday at Center Grove. The Trojans dominated the match as Trey Thixton and Mitch Runkle swept their singles matches in two sets while Mason Runkle rallied to defeat Josh Jones 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. In doubles, No. 1 Nic Ballesteros and Grant Herron and No. 2 J.T. Embrey and Dhrumil Patel each won in two sets.
The winner meets the Carmel-Homestead winner in the semifinals Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by the state championship at 2 p.m. North Central, Culver, Columbus North and Park Tudor are in the opposite bracket. Admission is $5 per day.