March 28, 2024

Newton doubles team qualifies for 1A state

PELLA — On to state for Newton High senior Megan Pressgrove and junior Bethany Baumgartner. The Cardinals’ top two singles players combined to claim second place in the Class 1A Region 8 tennis tournament Thursday.

The Cardinal duo clinched a 1A state tournament berth with a 6-2, 6-0 semifinal win over Oskaloosa’s Macy Scharff and Josie Bunnell. In the regional championship match, Pressgrove and Baumgartner lost 6-3, 6-2 to Pella’s Bronwyn Metcalf and Cecily Johnson.

They opened the day’s action by netting a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Albia’s Molly Spurgin and Kenzie Curran. Pressgrove and Baumgartner battled against Knoxville’s Alex Griggs and Hannah Short for a 7-5, 6-1 win in the second round.

It will be the second straight trip to the 1A state tournament for Pressgrove. She qualified in doubles a year ago.

Newton’s girls chalked up opening-round match wins by both doubles teams and both singles players during the regional tournament hosted by Pella Christian in Pella.

Juniors Natalie Camp and Harlie Durr began with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) win over Pella Christian’s Jaden Joy Morgan and Eric Van Soelen. They lost 6-0, 6-0 to Pella’s Metcalf and Johnson.

In the singles division, sophomore Emily Valtman notched a 6-4, 6-4 win over Lorin Miller of Knoxville. She dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision to eventual singles regional champion, Brooke Jorgensen of Pella.

Senior Katherine Thorpe beat Oskaloosa’s Audrey Chambers, 6-0, 6-1. She lost 6-0, 6-0 to Pella Christian’s Andrea Carballo.

The 2017 Class 1A state tennis tournament is June 1-2 in Iowa City.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com