May 09, 2024

Newton boys tennis downs DCG for first win

Cardinals cruise past Mustangs in first-ever meeting

By Troy Hyde

Newton sophomore Evan Marshall won his first singles match of the season on Tuesday during the Cardinals' conference road matchup with Dallas Center-Grimes. Marshall won 6-0, 6-0 in singles and then had a straight-set win in doubles as Newton defeated the Mustangs 8-3 for its first win of the spring. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

GRIMES — Evan Marshall, Ethan Valtman, Seth Adams and Collin Buchli all were part of two wins for the Newton boys’ tennis team during its Little Hawkeye Conference opener on Tuesday.

The Cardinals finished 4-2 in singles competition and then went 4-1 in doubles to down Dallas Center-Grimes, 8-3, on the road.

Seven of the eight wins were in straight sets, and Buchli rallied from a 1-0 set hole to win his singles match.

“We played some tough matches in the windy conditions,” Newton head boys tennis coach Jared Gerber said. “The guys were mentally strong and came back in sets and matches. It was good to get the first win under the belt, and we’re excited to continue getting better.”

Newton sophomore Ethan Valtman won twice against Dallas Center-Grimes on Tuesday during the team's conference road matchup. The Cardinals won 8-3 for their first win of the season. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The event’s start time was moved up more than an hour with hopes to beat the severe weather in the forecast.

Gerber said it started to rain as the team was leaving to come home, but it was dry during the matches.

Marshall had a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles and then teamed up with Ezra Bartell at No. 2 doubles to win 7-5, 6-3.

Valtman claimed a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles and then joined forces with Adams at No. 1 doubles and that team won 6-4, 6-3. Adams won his match at No. 3 singles 6-2, 6-1.

Buchli lost the first set 6-1 during his No. 4 singles match but rallied to win in three sets following victories of 6-4 and 10-6.

Buchli and Andrew Wiles played together at No. 3 doubles and that duo scored a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Newton junior Andrew Wiles was part of a doubles victory against Dallas Center-Grimes on Tuesday. The Cardinals won the conference matchup 8-3. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The other victory came at No. 5 doubles and the team of Keary Sanger and Stone Lillard won 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

The Mustangs (0-1, 0-1) are in their first season as a program and Tuesday was their first-ever competition. That made things challenging for Gerber and the Cardinals, who improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

“We had never played tennis against DCG so we didn’t know what to expect in terms of skill or strategy,” Gerber said.