June 08, 2025

New coach Zehr leads Cards into 2011

By Mike Hockett

The Newton girls tennis team opens the season on the road at Marshalltown on Tuesday. Members of the team include (front row, from left): Lauren Henderson, Leanne Petersen, Erin Lewis, Kate Schumann, Caitlin Combs, Sara Luczyova, Regina Starkenburg, Sidney Griffith and Stephanie Griffith. Second row: Demi Osborn, Sam Cooling, Taylor Soule, Becky Collins, Kora Scotton, Katelin Klyn, Elexa Morrow, Morgan Daniels, Katie Henshaw, Monica Corso and Krystal Mapes. Back row: Coach Erick Zehr, Dani Peters, Sarah Rhoads, Cally Claussen, Erin Stonner, Caitlyn Hagarty, Katelyn Camp, Donna Crnkovic, Jennifer Ventling, Shayla Hawkins-Cones, Kari Amensen, Holly Vander Pol, Min-Hua Song, Coach Susan Hagarty and Coach Ina Heidemann. Not pictured: Isabelle Christopher, Hannah Marston, Felicia Fischer, Shayla Hawkins and Samantha Schwartz. (Mike Hockett)

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Twenty-five-year-old Erick Zehr takes over as the new Newton girls tennis coach this year, and he already has two things working in his favor: a large roster and strong senior leadership.

Thirty-six girls are on the team this year, a turnout Zehr is thrilled with.

“I’m ecstatic about that number,” he said. “Turnover has been down in girls sports across the state. To get that many girls out for non-major sport was a windfall.”

The roster includes a balanced amount of youth and experience, with 13 freshmen and nine seniors on the squad. Five of those seniors played varsity last season.

“Having some seniors on the varsity, I don’t have to worry as much about teaching them game situations and rules,” Zehr said. “They can pick up where they left off, so that will be nice.”

One of those seniors, Taylor Soule, returns as the Cardinals No. 1 singles player. Zehr said the No. 2 and 3 singles spots will likely be between seniors Isabelle Christopher and Caitlyn Hagarty as the team uses this week to further determine its varsity lineup.

Zehr said the fourth, fifth and sixth spots are largely up for grabs as of this past Sunday but that they will likely be comprised of senior Erin Lewis, junior Donna Crncovik and sophomore Katelyn Camp. Seniors Erin Stonner, Stephanie Griffith, Morgan Daniels and sophomore Kora Scotton also will compete at singles.

The doubles teams are also still working themselves out, with Zehr mentioning that Christopher and Hagarty may be the early favorite as No. 1. Sophomore Katelin Klyn, junior Shayla Hawkins, sophomore Krystal Mapes and Daniels all look to be in the mix for doubles teams as well as the week-to-week lineup looks to be temperamental.

“That’s the great thing about tennis,” Zehr said. “I can pretty much just let them play for their spot. Every week is probably going to be a different lineup. We have some pretty promising doubles players. They’ll earn their spots throughout the season.”

Despite the Cardinals having a rough season last year in terms of wins and losses, Zehr is optimistic about the outlook for 2011.

“I’ve got some great individual goals, especially for some of the seniors,” he said. “I’m expecting them to improve from last year. I’m expecting us to beat some people. I’ve seen our improvement in practice.”

Zehr, who has been an assistant coach for girls basketball the past two seasons, said he’s excited to get his first season as a head coach underway.

“I played tennis in high school and watched it for a long time and just decided to go for it,” he said about taking the opening. “I saw it as an opportunity to start a new direction in my life. I’m excited for the opportunity and looking forward to seeing what we can do.”

The Cardinals’ first meet is a dual at Marshalltown on Tuesday.