The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1463745
South Gibson Star-Times GSHS Spring Sports Preview Tuesday, March 29, 2022 C-9 By Andy Heuring SG Star-Times Sports sports@sgstartimes.com The Lady Titan tennis pro- gram is an exciting place to be in 2022. "We have said for a long time there is a momen- tum building in our tennis pro- gram," said Head Coach Matt Grabbe. That momentum is easy to see. They have won 11 con- secutive sectional champion- ships. Washington joining the Pocket Athletic Conference and COVID broke up their 10 consecutive PAC titles. Gibson Southern returns all three of their singles starters and two of their doubles play- ers from last years sectional champion and conference run- ner-up. Their feeder program is loaded with 56 girls playing in their third to eighth grade program. Grabbe said they have not started their playoff series yet to establish who is going to be playing where. But all three singles players return. "We let them play it out, but I would expect it to be the same." Junior Gracia Jones, who played number one last year returns. "Gracia has made a concerted effort on getting better. Almost essentially go- ing tennis full time. She takes lessons in Evansville and plays in tournaments. As a team we have done a lot more lifting. She is buying into everything we are doing. She wants to play tennis in college," said Grabbe. "Intelligence is her biggest strength. She is a super smart girl." Jones lost her freshman sea- son to COVID, so when she played number one last year as a sophomore it was her first year of playing varsity. Sydney Purcell, also a ju- nior, played number two sin- gles last year. Coach Grabbe said Purcell isn't physically intimidating. "You think she isn't going to be that good. But she surprises you how good she is. When she is hitting at you, you take a step back be- cause you don't think it is go- ing to be coming at you that fast." He adds, "Her ground- strokes are definitely her strength." Helen Kiesel is a senior who has been in the program for a long time. "She is like a brick wall and never gets tired." Grabbe said her cross-coun- try training helps her fitness and endurance. "Her ground-strokes have gotten a lot better. Last year was her first year on varsity and she just progressively got better." Grabbe said they will have an eight-girl tournament to decide who will play the four doubles positions. "The girls will play it out." However, he said two start- ers from last year will proba- bly be in the mix. Lillie Booth, a junior, played number one singles last year. Also, sophomore Lilly Schmitt played varsity last year and was 22-2 on the year. "She had never played before. She is just naturally gifted. She has played a lot over the summer, so I have to feel she got better," said Grabbe. The others who may be in the mix include Maura Kleus- We want to wish all the winter sports athletes great success on their season! 408 E. State Road 68, Haubstadt 812-768-6229 NOW INSTALLING Bryant Evolution Systems for Htg/AC - Hague Water Softeners - - Mark Meny – Randy Meny License # CP30300017 License # 20643 For all Your Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Needs. The Gibson Southern 2022 girls tennis team members are front row (l to r): Jayden Sorgius, Rebecca Smith, Lily Hirsch, Jalissa Byrns, Jacie Bedwell, Charity Bay- lor, Tricia Long and Presley Dunkel. Middle row: Gabby Smitha, Emilee Bullock, Lilly Schmitt, Ella Helfert, Lillie Booth, Maddie Boes, Vanessa Foster, Hannah Robling and Alyssa Welte. Back row: Kelsey Spindler, Emily Holzmeyer, Maura Kluesner, Mallory Maurer, Gracia Jones, Lindsey Garbers, Sydney Purcell, Helen Kiesel and Molly Foster. Coaches on left side: Manager Carson Brindle, Assistant Coach Kyle DeBord and Assistant Coach Josh Nurrenbern. On the right: Assistant Coach Jade Dewig, Head Coach Matt Grabbe and Assistant Coach Andy Hollis. Jayden Sorgius Helen Kiesel Maura Kluesner VARSITY GIRLS' TENNIS SCHEDULE Date Time Event Location H/A Thu 3/31 4:00 PM Jasper (Scrimmage) Gibson Southern Home Mon 4/4 4:45 PM Mt. Vernon Mt. Vernon Away Thu 4/7 4:30 PM Heritage Hills Gibson Southern Home Fri 4/8 4:30 PM Washington Gibson Southern Home Mon 4/11 4:30 PM Boonville Boonville Away Thu 4/14 4:30 PM Princeton Princeton Away Sat 4/16 8:30 AM Loogootee Gibson Southern Home Sat 4/16 10 :30 AM Evansville Christian School Gibson Southern Home Thu 4/21 5:00 PM Tell City Tell City Away Sat 4/23 9:00 AM JV Invite Gibson Southern Home Mon 4/25 4:30 PM Tecumseh Gibson Southern Home Tue 4/26 5:00 PM South Spencer Gibson Southern Home Thu 4/28 4:30 PM Pike Central Pike Central Away Fri 4/29 4:30 PM Castle Castle Away Sat 4/30 10 :00 AM Terre Haute North Evansville North Away Tue 5/3 4:30 PM Wood Memorial Gibson Southern Home Thu 5/5 4:30 PM North Posey Gibson Southern Home Fri 5/6 TBD Jasper Invite Jasper Away Sat 5/7 TBD Jasper Invite Jasper Away Mon 5/9 5:00 PM Forest Park Forest Park Away Tue 5/10 4:30 PM Evansville Mater Dei High Evansville Mater Dei Away Thu 5/12 4:30 PM Southridge Southridge Away ner and fellow senior Jayden Sorgius; junior Kelsey Spin- dler; sophomores Mallory Maurer, Emilee Bullock and Gabby Smitha and freshman Maddie Boes. The Lady Titans started official practice on Monday, March 14, with many of the same goals they have each year. "As always our first goal is win the PAC," said Grab- be. He said this year it looks that is going to come down to beating Washington. They will play the Hatchets in their third match of the season. "We both know we have to come out firing early this sea- son," said Grabbe. A fter the PAC, the Lady TI- tans want to win their 12th consecutive sectional. "We have a really good shot at sec- tional." Grabbe and his team have their sights set getting beyond the sectional. "Every year we tell the girls we have a chance in the regional to beat Evans- ville Memorial, but in reali- ty most years we realize that probably is going to be a loss, but this year we have a real chance." Grabbe became the head coach last season, as long- time head coach Kyle Debord stepped down and took the middle school program. But this season Debord is rejoin- ing the varsity level as assis- tant coach, only in reverse roles they held for more than a decade. Lady Titans ready to continue winning momentum Every year we tell the girls we have a chance in the regional to beat Evansville Memorial, but in reali- ty most years we realize that probably is going to be a loss, but this year we have a real chance." –Head Coach Matt Grabbe 7994 Professional Drive, Fort Branch, Indiana 47648 T 812.615.5178 | F 812.615.0133 | grabbewealthandretirement.com 2022 Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Grabbe Wealth and Retirement Group is not a registered broker/dealer, and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Investment Advisory Services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Good Luck Good Luck Titans! Titans! Matt Grabbe, AAMS ® Financial Advisor & Branch Manager matt.grabbe@raymondjames.com Shaun Grabbe Client Services Manager Alyssa "Peanut" Heldt Client Services Associate Trusted Trusted Chiropractic Care 902 E. Vine St., Fort Branch | 812-753-3346 | www.murphychiropractic.org Wide Variety of Therapies ultrasound and electric stimulation Full Fitness Center Strength-training machines, bikes, elliptical and stair-stepper units Supplements A full line of nutritional supplements with counseling Orthotics & Accessories Spenco Medical orthotics, shoes, pillows and other supports