2024 All-GPC boys tennis team

Graphic Printing Company Player of the Year:

Kody Vest - Delta High School senior

Kody Vest was selected as the inaugural Graphic Printing Company Player of the Year for boys tennis.

“It’s pretty cool because I wasn’t going to expect anything like this ,” he said. “This year has definitely been better than I thought it was going to be. Last year, Simon Marlow was at No. 1 singles and he had a record of 5-20. I just had a bad mindset going into this season, thinking I was going to have a record like that.

“Now that I’ve gone through most of the season, it just feels a lot better and I’ve been able to have a more positive mindset throughout these last few weeks.”

Vest stumbled out of the gate in his senior season, only winning one of the first six matches at the No. 1 singles position. After grabbing a second win and taking two more losses, he caught fire, claiming 13 of his final 15 matches en route to a 15-9 record.

The DHS senior who became the 39th Eagle to win 50 varsity matches, triumphed in all four sectional and regional contests, including the regional semifinal against Jay County’s Eli Dirksen, who beat all of the other No.1 singles players within the GPC’s coverage area.

“He’s phenomenal,” coach Tim Cleland said. “He’s just a tough kid and has no ego. He just plays hard. He’s a good athlete. He’s got length and is relentless. He doesn’t try to do things he’s not good at. So there’s no big secret to his game really, it’s just hard work.”

All-Graphic Printing Company first team:

Owen Cupp - Delta senior:

Cupp overcame a slow start to roll to a 14-12 record, 14-10 at the No. 2 singles position. Cupp dominated in the postseason, winning all four sectional and regional matches.

Eli Dirksen - Jay County senior:

After dropping the first four matches of the season, Dirksen rattled off 15 consecutive victories to lead the Patriots to a sectional title. His streak only ended with a loss to Vest.

Tyce Dishman & Aaron Elliot - Delta sophomore and junior:

The Delta duo dominated the No. 2 doubles position, only dropping three of 16 matches. Dishman missed the first eight matches with an injury before joining Elliot for the run.

Ben Miller & Brady Williams - Delta juniors:

Miller and Williams put together a 15-6 record, the best of any doubles team within the Graphic Printing Company’s coverage area

Honorable mention

Noah Allen (junior), Randolph Southern — No. 1 singles

Luke Atkinson (freshman), Delta — No. 3 singles

Brennan Hoggatt (senior), Union City — No. 1 singles

Foster Kratoska & Aiden Mendenhall (juniors), Winchester — No. 1 doubles

Jake Diller & Mason McFeeley (juniors), Blackford — No. 1 doubles