Newton boys down Oskaloosa in LHC tennis action

The Newton boys’ tennis team didn’t need its No. 4 and No. 5 doubles wins to defeat rival Oskaloosa on Thursday.

But the three-set victories pushed the Cardinals even more in front of the Indians and the wins gave Newton an 8-3 triumph during Little Hawkeye Conference tennis action on Senior Night at Aurora Heights Park.

“We played several close matches and won three of the four third-set tiebreakers,” Newton boys head tennis coach Jared Gerber said. “Overall, it was a good way to end the conference portion of our schedule as we push to the postseason.”

Evan Marshall, Ethan Valtman, Seth Adams and Ezra Bartell all won their singles matches in straight sets to give Newton an early advantage in the matchup.

The Cardinals wrapped up the team win after Marshall and Valtman and Adams and Harry Oswalt claimed a pair of straight-set wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.

Bartell and Stone Lillard rallied to win 2-6, 7-6 (11-9), 10-4 at No. 4 doubles and Keary Sanger and River Meyer came from behind to win 6-7 (7-4), 6-1, 10-7 at No. 5 doubles.

Adams also rallied to win his No. 3 singles match. He dropped the first set 6-4 but flipped the script with 6-4 and 10-2 wins in the final two sets.

“Seth showed great determination to turn his matches around in singles and doubles after slow starts,” Gerber said. “And the No. 4 and 5 doubles teams also came back to win.”

Marshall claimed a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles, Valtman scored a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles and Bartell was a 6-4, 6-2 winner at No. 5 singles.

Marshall and Valtman won their match 7-5, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles and Adams and Oswalt scored a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles.

Collin Buchli is Newton’s lone senior and the program celebrated him for Senior Night after the match.

“Collin’s leadership on our team and the way he treats each of his teammates with respect sets him apart,” Gerber said. “He has been an awesome addition to the team the last two years, and we will miss him next year.”

Cardinals split home non-conference triangular

Buchli was part of three victories during a home triangular on Friday, but the Cardinals split a pair of matchups at Aurora Heights Park.

Newton edged South Tama County 5-4 and was defeated 8-1 by Class 1A No. 10 Waverly-Shell Rock.

Each matchup was decided by nine eight-game pro sets. The teams played five singles matches and three doubles matches.

“We came out a little slow against South Tama, which is tough when you’re playing eight-game pro sets because there isn’t a reset with the start of a second set,” Gerber said.

The Cardinals split the singles matches against South Tama County, but defeated the Trojans after a 2-1 result in doubles.

Buchli had the lone win against the Go-Hawks. He scored an 8-6 win at No. 5 singles.

The closest loss for Newton was an 8-4 defeat suffered by Adams.

Buchli registered an 8-0 shutout win in his No. 5 singles match against South Tama. The other singles wins came from Adams and Bartell, who both won 8-2 at No. 3 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

Buchli won another match by 8-0 shutout. This time, he teamed up with Andrew Wiles to win at No. 3 doubles.

Adams and Oswalt finished off the Trojans with an 8-6 triumph.

“Seth and Harry clinched the match for us with their win at No. 2 doubles,” Gerber said. “It was an exciting way to end the first match.”