FORT BRANCH – The Head Coach Kyle DeBord-led Gibson Southern High School Boys Tennis program, after breaking through and capturing the 2023 IHSAA Sectional 9 Championship at Princeton Community, continued its success in 2024 en route to posting an 18-5 season record, capturing the program\u2019s second-consecutive Sectional Championship and advancing to the IHSAA Regional Championship Match. Following that success, the Titans have set their sights on more in a 2025 season that is slated to begin with a doubleheader of road matches (at Sullivan and South Knox) on August 16.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s hardcourt Titans, 26 in number, will feature a blend of returning talent from last year\u2019s Sectional titlists as well as other student-athletes looking to step up into new roles at the Varsity level, as they return four starters from the 2024 Varsity lineup.<\/p>\n
Winning two-straight Sectional titles \u201chas helped us create a winning tradition. There’s excitement at all levels of the program,\u201d DeBord said. \u201cIt took us a little bit to get \u2018over the hump\u2019, and that second one was affirmation that \u2018Yes, we belong here!\u2019, and this is how we do it at Titan tennis. Those guys that were only here for the first one set the tone, and are a huge part of why we are where we are as a program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coach DeBord noted that several members of the team put in a great deal of work to improve their game between seasons, including hitting over the Winter at local indoor facilities, playing in multiple tournaments and continuing to hone their skills throughout the spring and summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose kinds of things add up,\u201d DeBord shared. \u201cWe had great numbers in our summer camps, and we gave them options to be able to compete throughout the year. We\u2019re just really excited for the year ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom day one, our guys have been highly competitive in everything we\u2019ve done. We started competing for spots and competing in challenge matches right away with the start of official practice on Monday (August 4),\u201d said Coach DeBord. \u201cWe\u2019re continuing to try and figure out who\u2019s going to be in that Varsity lineup. We have six-or-seven guys that are competing for the three singles spots, and we have four guys that are pretty level, pretty equal in doubles. We\u2019re still identifying who plays best together at those doubles spots. People will see a lot of action at the net. Carter and Collin are 6\u2019 1\u201d and 6\u2019 3\u201d, so they\u2019ll give us some size. Each of them can hit the ball with some firepower.\u201d<\/p>\n
Debord also noted that the team has focused on utilizing its skill set and being able to execute them in appropriate situations in its practices ahead of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want our guys to be a little bit more aggressive in their shot selection,\u201d he stated. \u201cWe\u2019ve also worked on transition scenarios, executing a plan and finishing points when we get to the net.\u201d<\/p>\n
A look at this year\u2019s Titans:<\/p>\n
Seniors: Carson Agee, Devin Bane, Noah Bodenstein, Lance Evetts, Landon Schmitt, Mark Stunkel<\/p>\n
Schmitt, along with McClellan, each return at No. 1 doubles after an outstanding season a year ago that saw both players progress exponentially.<\/p>\n
\u201cLandon played one doubles last year,\u201d said his coach. \u201cHe\u2019s going to play with Brogan again this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCarson has really worked hard,\u201d added DeBord, \u201cas has Noah. Noah has taken lessons and improved greatly. Devin and Mark are always finding a way to contribute to the team. They bring great energy and work really hard in everything they do. Lance is new to tennis, and just wants to be part of the team and contribute wherever he can. He has a great attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
Juniors: Jaxon Curl, Carter DeBord, Brogan McClellan, Cooper Wahl<\/p>\n
Curl, a \u2018Day One\u2019 starter for the Titans, served as a valuable contributor at No. 3 singles in both his freshman-and-sophomore seasons and now looks to step into the No. 1 singles role following the graduation of Class of 2025 seniors Noah Kiesel and Lucas Church at Nos. 1-2 singles.<\/p>\n
\u201cLosing those two seniors, it\u2019s like \u2018What are we going to do?,\u201d shared DeBord. \u201cThe guys behind those two have completely embraced the work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJaxon\u2019s making a huge jump from three singles to one singles, but he\u2019s worked on his game and played in quite a few tournaments,\u201d DeBord added. \u201cHe\u2019s working really hard in an effort to make that next jump. As a junior, he\u2019s experienced all the highs-and-lows of playing Varsity tennis, but he\u2019s going to have to step up and be a leader for us in singles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStepping into the \u2018one-singles\u2019 spot, you have to have a certain mentality,\u201d DeBord shared. \u201cIt\u2019s not an easy job to go out and play every team\u2019s best player. He\u2019s continuing to prepare himself physically and mentally to step into that role.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter DeBord emerged at two doubles in the latter part of the season, and figures to pair with Grabbe in doubles play. Coach DeBord noted that competition is ongoing to see which duo plays at each doubles spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrogan and Carter each have Varsity experience in doubles,\u201d noted DeBord. \u201cIt\u2019s just fun to watch our doubles players compete against one another on a daily basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBrogan has an even-keeled, calm demeanor, and Carter (the son of Coach DeBord) is going to think about every-single aspect of the game (with a high tennis IQ).\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophomores: Conner Bailey, Collin Grabbe, Bo Higgs, Carson Jones, Mitchell Ritter, Kelton Sokeland, Rhys Sorgius<\/p>\n
Sorgius, who saw limited Varsity time as a freshman and won each of those matches, has emerged as a candidate to earn the No. 2 singles spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to continue being challenged, but Rhys will have a big job in playing at two singles this year,\u201d said his coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cRhys and Collin have gotten better, and it\u2019s been awesome to see,\u201d said DeBord. \u201cThey each have bright futures and there are some other sophomores that are ready, and guys like Carson, Mitchell and Conner have the potential to make a lot of noise. It\u2019s just a lot of fun seeing these younger guys continue to grow. They\u2019ve shown flashes and they continue to get better, which is huge for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freshmen: Tate Bane, Noble Doerner, Cruz Heldt, Patrick Hughes, Bennett Neidig, Leyton Schmitt, Hayden Walker, Aidan Williams, Jack Williams<\/p>\n
In a similar path to Curl, who started right away as a freshman, Coach DeBord noted that Aidan Williams has emerged as a strong candidate for the No. 3 singles spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cAidan is a \u2018stone-cold killer\u2019 that has been at No. 1 singles in junior high for two-or-three years. He\u2019s so even-keeled, which will serve him well in singles.\u201d DeBord stated, \u201cbut he can\u2019t get comfortable, because there are two-or-three guys that are \u2018champing at the bit\u2019, including (junior) Cooper Wahl and (sophomore) Carson Jones.\u201d<\/p>\n
DeBord described the majority of the Titans\u2019 freshmen class as one that \u2018is very green and are just starting out in tennis\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re having a great time, and they\u2019re continuing to grow and absorb things,\u201d noted DeBord. \u201cThey have a great approach, and they\u2019re a fun group to coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Titans\u2019 schedule, while primarily consisting of conference matches, is front-loaded with non-conference matches and will also feature a challenging weekend in the Silver Creek Invitational.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur first four matches are non-conference, and a few of those are ranked in the (IHSTECA) district,\u201d DeBord noted. \u201cWe will play some tough competition as we get started. It will be a \u2018measuring stick\u2019 of where we are, and I want our guys to be prepared for any possible scenario and situation we may face in the Sectional. We\u2019ll have opportunities to see where we are throughout the year, and we\u2019ll be able to grow from each of those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith as deep as this team is, talent-wise, one of our keys to having the most successful season we can is knowing that one person doesn\u2019t have to do too much,\u201d DeBord shared. \u201cEach of our guys have a \u2018Do-Your-Job\u2019 and \u2018Three-Blue\u2019 mentality. These guys are going to fight for every ball and compete at a high level in every practice and match.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople that come out to watch Titan Tennis are going to have a good time,\u201d concluded DeBord. \u201cThey\u2019re going to put on a show.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FORT BRANCH – The Head Coach Kyle DeBord-led Gibson Southern High School Boys Tennis program, after breaking through…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":73461,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[442],"tags":[49,48,45390,82,593],"class_list":{"0":"post-73460","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tennis","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-local_sports","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-tennis"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73460\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}