Garrett leads Newton girls at individual regionals

GRINNELL — Lauryn Garrett won a pair of singles matches and Ella Swarts and Olivia Hotchkin teamed up to win a doubles match during the individual portion of the regional tournament on Wednesday.

Garrett cruised to the semifinals before retiring early against the top seed and the Newton girls’ tennis team fell short of advancing to state at Grinnell High School. The top two finishers in the singles and doubles brackets advance to the state tournament.

Garrett began the tournament as the No. 4 seed and opened play with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Grinnell’s Ali Wood at Grinnell College.

Back at the high school, Garrett dominated North Polk’s Teagan Wiseman 6-1, 6-1 to reach the semifinals.

Top-seeded Avery Link of Cedar Rapids Xavier led Garrett 6-1, 4-1 when the Cardinal junior retired early. Garrett battled through an injury all season. Link went on to win the singles championship.

Madison Rinehart was the other Newton singles player and she lost her opening match 6-1, 6-0 to Knoxville’s Janie Maasdam at Grinnell College. Maasdam finished third overall.

Swarts and Hotchkin defeated Knoxville’s Kate Schneider and Mackenzie Karr 6-4, 6-3 to open their bracket. The Cardinal duo fell 6-3, 6-0 to top-seeded Isabel Tobin and Ruby Smith of Xavier in their second match.

Tobin and Smith won the doubles championship.

Roxanna Almazan and Izzy Wilson lost their opening-round match 6-0, 6-0 to Grinnell’s Leah Harris and Mary Jacobson.

Newton’s girls play in the team portion of the regional tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday in Cedar Rapids. The Cardinals open tournament play against Grinnell at Cedar Rapids Xavier.