Among the many trademarks of Whiteland boys’ tennis under head coach Mike Gillespie the past 24 seasons is an obvious sense of family.
Much of it is already built in.
Over the course of a tenure that includes nine Mid-State Conference team championships, Gillespie has coached all three of his sons (Quinten, Spencer and Grady), not to mention many more sets of siblings who compete or competed at the varsity level.
The roll call is impressive what with the Scott (Jacob, Aaron and Caleb), Mardanzai (Ariss, Haroon and Zackie), Robinson (Travis, Logan and Eric), and, of course, Gillespie families producing three former or current Warriors’ boys’ players.
“I assume this happens at other schools, too,” coach Gillespie said. “Tennis in general is just kind of a family sport. There’s no doubt if I have a player, and he has a younger sibling, I try to get them to play.”
Senior A.J. Stephenson, who is expected to play No. 1 singles for a second consecutive season, has an older brother, Lane, who played for Whiteland. Their sister, Candace, was recently a member of coach Gillespie’s girls’ tennis program before she graduated.
“There are so many (families),” said A.J. Stephenson, laughing. “I think about Quinten and Spencer Gillespie … it’s crazy how many siblings have gone through this program.
“Lane is seven years older than me, and I remember watching him play. He was a big influence on me playing tennis.”
Grady Gillespie, the likely No. 2 singles player for the Warriors for a second consecutive season, surely knows the feeling. Quinten is the boys’ program’s career wins leader with 85, while Spencer is second with 78.
Grady, meanwhile, kicked off his Whiteland varsity career last fall by going 15-6.
Two of this season’s boys’ players, senior Tysen McGary, and sophomore Trent McGary, have a sister, Tenley, who competed for the Warriors’ girls’ squad last spring as a freshman.
A few years back, Chase and Kai Koester were starters for the boys; junior Caleb Stubbe is the younger brother of former WHS player Gavin Stubbe. The current roster includes Josh and Sam Gregory, a senior and sophomore, respectively.
And so it goes.
Older siblings paving the way for others to carry on the family tradition known as Whiteland tennis. Younger siblings looking wide-eyed at the on-court accomplishments, and picturing themselves someday doing the same.
Said Stephenson: “There’s a certain expectation that seems like it has to be met.”
CENTER GROVE TROJANS
Coach: David Beasley
Last year: 20-7 record; won sectional and regional; lost to Hamilton Southeastern, 3-2, at semi-state.
Top returnees: Austin Crow, Yuvraj Dasari, seniors; Maanav Kamath, Alexander Kandris, juniors; Carson Cripe, Isaac Denlinger, sophomores.
Key newcomers: Nicholas Kandris, Hudson Pagels, freshmen.
Outlook: The Trojans welcome back Dasari, the Daily Journal’s reigning Player of the Year, along with three other players who earned some level of All-State status from a 20-7 semi-state qualifier.
Dasari again will play No. 1 singles after reaching the semifinals of the state individual tournament last fall. Crow and Kamath are back after forming a first team All-State doubles pairing; Alexander Kandris was named honorable mention All-State having played singles. Coach Beasley is also excited about the arrival of freshmen group led by Pagels and Nicholas Kandris.
A total of 41 players participated in tryouts this season, which, according to Beasley, is the program’s largest turnout in several years.
EDINBURGH LANCERS
Coach: Pete Khensouri
Last year: 5-11 record; lost to Greensburg, 5-0, in sectional semifinal
Top returnees: Braden Cox, Caden Glick, seniors; Raiden Stanley, junior; Charlie Roberts, sophomore.
Key newcomer: Elijah Roberts, freshman.
Outlook: The Lancers have only five players this season after five from the 2025 team graduated. Moreover, three players previously part of the program opted not to play. Stanley is expected to play No. 1 singles with Cox to be slotted at the second or third spot.
Khensouri is hopeful that Edinburgh adds players as the season progresses.
FRANKLIN GRIZZLY CUBS
Coach: Holyn Stonebraker
Last year: 10-11 record; lost to Whiteland, 5-0, in sectional semifinal.
Top returnees: Carsten Bland, David Strait, Oliver Wiltz, seniors; Corbin Booth, Kail Zulkowski, juniors; Caleb Shoup, sophomore.
Key newcomers: Cooper Bland, Austin Kinnett, Christian Lamb, Nick Nelson, freshmen.
Outlook: The Grizzly Cubs, who bring back three starters in Bland, Wiltz and Booth, look to emerge as a factor in the Mid-State Conference. A portion of that depends on the play of the newcomers.
“We lost a lot of key players last year, but some of the returning players stepping into varsity roles have been working hard over the summer to improve their game,” Stonebraker said. “We have a lot of talent in our freshmen class that will play a vital role. I’m excited to see some players step into new roles and be leaders to a big freshman class, and our goal is to continue to grow as a team, and for players to improve match after match.”
GREENWOOD WOODMEN
Coach: Trey Graft
Last year: Lost to Franklin, 5-0, in first round of sectional.
Top returnees: Braydon Parrott, senior; Beau Syers, junior; Vaughn Schippnick, sophomore.
Key newcomers: Will Schaffer, Luke Winget, freshmen.
Outlook: An entirely new list of regular-season opponents awaits the Woodmen, as the school begins its first school year as a member of the Hoosier Legends Conference.
“Just as we were last year, we are a young team, but we have quite a different schedule this year,” Graft said. “We are very eager to see how we perform in this new conference against multiple teams that we have no experience against. We are looking forward to a year of growth and success.”
INDIAN CREEK BRAVES
Coach: David Chader
Last year: 12-5 record; lost to Center Grove, 5-0, in sectional semifinal.
Top returnees: AJ Emenhiser, Mason Frische, Aaron Hickson, Nolan Weir, seniors; Wyatt Harrell, Grayson Taylor, Abram Wiseman, juniors; Brayden Barrett, Kaiden Burton, Malachi Chapman, Samuel Dickison, Lucas Melton, Luke Morris, Lochard Rainwater, sophomores.
Key newcomers: Mason Lewis, sophomore; Gideon Clark, Reese Cole, Brayton Reese, freshmen.
Outlook: The Braves are in search of another successful season after finishing 12-5 a year ago.
“The team is looking forward to a fun season and improving their games,” Chader said. “About half the team wants to play doubles, and the other half wants to excel in singles, giving us a good balance. We have four seniors on the team this year planning to play varsity, as well as a lot of younger up-and-coming talent looking for a spot on the varsity roster.”
WHITELAND WARRIORS
Coach: Mike Gillespie
Last year: 17-7 record (Mid-State Conference champion); lost to Center Grove, 5-0, in sectional championship.
Top returnees: Ty Chudyk, Tysen McGary, Devin Powell, AJ Stephenson; Gavin Ricke, Caleb Stubbe, juniors; Michael Buttler, Grady Gillespie, Trent McGary, sophomores.
Key newcomers: Michael McCullough, senior; Pardeep Sohal, Andrew Waggoner, juniors; Blaze Franklin, freshman.
Outlook: The Warriors, conference titlists five of the last six seasons, again look to have the ingredients necessary to vie for the top spot. Stephenson and Grady Gillespie were Whiteland’s top two singles players a year ago, while McCullough, who played the 3 spot, also returns. Ricke started at No. 1 doubles as a sophomore,
“We look to build on a successful season last year. We have a lot of varsity experience returning for the season ahead,” coach Gillespie said. “It will be quite the challenge to win (conference) again. We plan to have a lot of fun this season.”