Newton boys end tennis season after substate loss to Boone

BOONE — The Newton boys’ tennis team opened its 2023 season with a home dual against Boone back on April 3.

The Cardinals traveled to Boone on May 12 and ended their season following a 5-0 loss to the Class 1A No. 5 Toreadors at McHose Park.

Newton advanced to face Boone following a 5-2 win over Chariton.

“We played a great match against a solid Chariton team,” Newton head boys tennis coach Jared Gerber said. “They were 12-2 entering our match. We let our guard down a few times but were able to battle back for the win.

“Boone is just a good team. There’s a reason they’re No. 5. It was cool to see how much better we had gotten throughout the season.”

The substate team tournament’s format is five singles matches and three doubles matches and the first team to five wins takes the match.

The Cardinals needed just one doubles win to advance against the Chargers. Evan Marshall and Ethan Valtman closed out the team victory with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) win at No. 1 doubles.

Valtman won his No. 2 singles match 6-1, 6-1, Harry Oswalt picked up a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles and Collin Buchli was a 6-3, 6-3 winner at No. 5 singles.

Ezra Bartell needed three sets to win but he grabbed a 6-7 (10-8), 6-4, 6-4 victory. Seth Adams lost his No. 3 singles match in three sets.

Boone registered five straight-set wins in its victory over Newton. The dual did not get to doubles.

Marshall had the best singles match of the contest. He lost 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.

“We played them in the first match of the year and only won two games in all six singles matches,” Gerber said. “This time, we won 13 and Ethan would have won several more games. His match was called off because Boone had won five matches and won the overall dual at that point.”

Buchli is the lone senior on this year’s varsity squad.

“We will miss Collin and the leadership he gave us these last two years,” Gerber said. “We are also very excited for the future with this young team. They’re excited to work in the offseason and get better to be the best we can be next year.”