April 20, 2024

Cardinals claim third at district, advance to team tennis substate

Hamand finishes 3rd in singles, Hemann and Eberline place 4th in doubles

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton High senior Grant Hamand playing in a home match earlier this season returns a shot. On Wednesday, Hamand claimed third in the Class 2A district tournament at Iowa City West, leading the Cardinals to third as a team and a berth in 2A team substate action on Saturday at Ottumwa. (Jocelyn Sheets)

IOWA CITY — Newton High’s Cardinal boys advance to the Class 2A team substate tournament. They did so because of the play of senior Grant Hamand and juniors Brady Eberline and Collin Hemann.

Hamand wasn’t one of the top four seeds in Wednesday’s 2A district tennis meet hosted by top-ranked Iowa City West. He finished third in the singles division, going 2-1.

Eberline and Hemann were seeded No. 3 in the doubles competition and finished fourth, losing in the third-place match.

Iowa City West dominated the district meet playing all ICW finals in singles and doubles. Ottumwa was second and Newton third. The top team in each district automatically qualifies for 2A substate team tennis tournament play.

The Cardinals travel to Ottumwa for a 10 a.m. preliminary substate team dual on Saturday. The teams will play six singles matches and three doubles matches and the winner advances to a 2A team substate on May 19.

Hamand opened the district tournament with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Iowa City High’s Jack Motto then got past Davenport Central’s Mason Gersdorf, 6-4, 7-5. In the singles’ semifinal, Hamand faced top-seeds Sam Shinn of ICW, losing 6-0, 6-0.

Hamand dropped into the third-place match, taking on Ottumwa’s Nick McElroy. Hamand pulled out a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Senior Rhandyn Oldfield also played in the district singles competition for Newton. He lost 7-6 (10), 6-3 to Iowa City High’s Ethan Snee in the opening round.

Hemann and Eberline had a first-round bye. Newton’s other doubles team of seniors Chad Nolin and Devon Van Brogen dropped a 6-1, 7-5 first-round decision to Ottumwa’s Bron Bjerke and Caleb Vasconez.

In the second round, Eberline and Hemann got past Iowa City High’s Victor Kalil and Miles Pei, 6-3, 6-0, to reach the semifinals. They lost 6-1, 6-0 to second-seeded Brad DiLeo and Eli Young of Iowa City West.

Eberline and Hemann fell 6-1, 6-3 in the third-place match to Davenport Central’s Eddie Van Camp and Mike Miniter.

Newton finishes its regular season at 4:15 p.m. Thursday at Oskaloosa. The Little Hawkeye Conference dual was rescheduled from May 3.

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