May 09, 2025

Indianola tennis takes down Cardinals

Top three singles players win for Newton boys

By Troy Hyde

Newton junior Blake Baumgartner won a tough three-set match at No. 1 singles against Indianola on Tuesday at Aurora Heights Park. The Cardinals lost to the Indians 8-3. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The top three singles players for Newton’s boys tennis team gutted out wins during the Cardinals’ Little Hawkeye Conference battle with Indianola on Tuesday.

But the Indians went 5-0 in doubles and defeated Newton 8-3 at Aurora Heights Park.

Thomas Hodnett and Trent Hamand both won in straight sets at No. 3 and No. 2 singles, respectively, while Blake Baumgartner won a tight three-set match at No. 1 singles.

“We had a lot of close matches tonight,” Newton boys tennis coach Jared Gerber said. “A lot of what we have practiced showed up today, which was great to see.

“We’re at the busy part of our season, so it’s a lot of matches with very few practices. We’ll just keep working while we can.”

Newton senior Thomas Hodnett swept his opponent at No. 3 singles on Tuesday during the Cardinals' matchup with Indianola at Aurora Heights Park. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The Cardinals couldn’t keep up their momentum with the rest of the singles’ lineup and won just one set in doubles action.

Hodnett had the easiest time for Newton in singles. He won 6-2, 7-5 over Logan Hageman. Hamand won a pair of tiebreakers 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) over Jackson Becker. Baumgartner fell behind 2-1 in the first set but rallied to win 6-3. He lost set two 6-4 but won the final set 10-8 to clinch the win over Lane McGraw.

“The three top singles guys showed a lot of determination to finish out their matches with wins,” Gerber said.

John Valtman, William Muckler and Landon Heisdorffer all lost their singles matches in straight sets.

Four of the five doubles matches were straight-set victories for Indianola. Baumgartner and Hamand lost in three sets to Hageman and Drake Downard 6-1, 4-6, 10-6.

“We’ll have to take a look at some doubles things over the next few practices to try and improve in those matches,” Gerber said. “Going 0-5 there was a disappointment.”

Newton senior Trent Hamand won a pair of tiebreakers to win his match in straight sets against Indianola on Tuesday. Newton lost to the Indians 8-3 in the team race. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

GIRLS

Indianola 11, Newton 0

INDIANOLA — Indianola’s girls tennis team swept Newton and 10 of the 11 wins came in straight sets as the Indians won 11-0 at home.

Chassidy Henwood lost her No. 2 singles match to Molinn Darrah 6-3, 3-6, 10-5. Every other match went the two-set minimum.

Katie McConnell lost her first set 7-5 at No. 4 singles. And Mae Van Dam and Olivia Hotchkin lost 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 doubles. The Cardinals didn’t reach four game wins in any other set.