March 28, 2024

Newton boys’ tennis team competes

NEWTON — Newton’s boys head to Pella today for the Little Hawkeye Conference tennis tournament. The Cardinals have struggled to notch victories on the courts this season.

The conference tournament winds up the regular season for the Cardinals. Newton competes in the Iowa Class 4A district tennis tournament Thursday at West Des Moines Valley High School.

Last week, the Cardinal boys played at Saydel and Knoxville.

At Saydel last Monday, there were six singles and three doubles matches played. Newton was missing five varsity players because of a band concert.

“So, our entire lineup was shuffled around. Two players moved up a spot in their singles competition and three who do not play singles stepped up to fill the void,” said Nick Hoskins, Newton head coach. “One of those that stepped up was Zach Coy, pulling out the only win on the night. We had some close match ups at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles but couldn’t close them out for the victory.”

Coy defeated Saydel’s Evan Andrews, 11-9, in a 10-game pro-set format at No. 4 singles. Coy combined with Brian Jones to play No. 2 doubles, losing to Joe Smith and Andrew Smith, 10-4. Jones lost to Jacob Philipson, 10-4, in No. 2 singles.

Newton’s No. 1 singles player, Jon Vitek, dropped a tough 10-8 decision to Alex Gustafson. Alex Cron lost, 10-7, to Saydel’s Joe Smith at No. 3 singles. Saydel’s Andrew Smith beat Jarred Griffin, 10-4, at No. 4 singles, and Max Kayser defeated Newton’s Sean Richardson, 10-2, at No. 5 singles.

Vitek and Cron lost, 11-9, to Philipson and Hunter White at No. 1 doubles. Griffin and Richardson came up short at No. 3 doubles, losing in a tiebreaker, 11-10 (7-2), to Kayser and Issac Matheny.

On Tuesday, the Cardinals were at Knoxville, losing 11-0 in Little Hawkeye Conference dual action. Newton’s boys have come up short in close matches this season as it was against the Panthers.

Vitek combined with Ben Van Dalen in No. 1 doubles and lost in a third-set tiebreaker. Austin Van Brogen and Richardson had the same fate at No. 5 doubles.

“After winning the first set, Jon and Ben hit a speed bump in the second set of their doubles match. Something was just off the entire set,” Hoskins said. “It was exciting to watch them shake off the bad set and regain their composure for the third. Although they did not win the match, they showed that they can never be counted out of a match no matter what the score. Austin and Sean showed a lot of growth in their match as well, winning the second set and staying competitive in the third set.”

Newton at Knoxville

Singles

Jared McClung, K, def. Jon Vitek, N, 6-1, 6-2

Austin Little, K, def. Ben Van Dalen, N, 6-1, 6-2

A.J. Jackson, K, def. Brian Jones, N, 6-1, 6-1

Colby Jones, K, def. Alex Cron, N, 6-3, 6-1

Braden DeLong, K, def. Joe Stammeyer, 6-4, 6-4

Tony Salato, K, def. Chas Antle, 6-4, 2-6 (10-3)

Doubles

McClung/Jackson, K, def. Vitek/Van Dalen, N, 4-6, 6-2 (11-9)

Little/Salato, K, def. Jarred Griffin/Cron, N, 6-1, 6-1

Jones/Delong, K, def. Stammeyer, Antle, N, 6-1, 6-1

Blake McClung/Justin Little, K, def. Zach Coy/Liam Briggs, N, 6-4, 6-1

Evan Higginbotham/Cam Liston, K, def. Austin Van Brogen/Sean Richardson, 6-1, 3-6 (11-9)