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Third-ranked Center Grove (21-2) won all three singles matches and one doubles contest to best No. 5 Zionsville, 4-1, for the state championship in boys tennis at North Central High School in Indianapolis on Saturday.

It was the school’s eight state title overall and the second in boys tennis (2001). The Trojans were coached by Ivan Smith.

Senior Austin Sansone and juniors Justin Spicer and Caleb Fellers each picked up team points for Center Grove at No. 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 more than two and a half 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.

Zionsville's Andrew Kahn Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Zionsville’s 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.

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, the Athletic Advisory Council and served as an NCAA Ambassador for its “Stay in Bounds” program. He also has placed third in the Indiana DECA competition.

Kahn is undecided on his college choice but intends to study Pre-Law at Washington University in St. Louis, DePauw or Amherst.

He is the son of Steve and Cheryl Kahn of Zionsville.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Zionsville High School in the name of Andrew Kahn.