May 20, 2024

Cardinal doubles teams face each other for third at individual regionals

Swarts, Hotchkin lead Newton girls tennis at Saydel

By Troy Hyde
Olivia Hotchkin

Newton senior Olivia Hotchkin sends the ball back to her opponent during a doubles match at the Class 1A individual regional tournament at Saydel High School on Monday. Hotchkin and teammate Ella Swarts finished third in doubles, but the top two finishers in both singles and doubles advanced to state. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

DES MOINES — Ella Swarts and Olivia Hotchkin dropped their first set of the day on Monday during the Class 1A individual regional tournament at Saydel High School.

The Cardinal seniors rallied to take the next two sets though, and eventually had to face off against a familiar pair in their final match of the day.

Lauryn Garrett and Izzy Wilson entered the regional tournament as the No. 4 seeded doubles team. That Cardinal duo opened with a pair of straight-set wins to get to the semifinals but fell short of a state berth after losing their final two matches of the day.

Olivia Hotchkin

Newton senior Ella Swarts teamed up with senior Olivia Hotchkin and the Cardinal duo placed third in doubles at the individual regional tournament on Monday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Both Newton doubles teams advanced to the semifinals, but they faced off against each other in the third-place match.

In the end, it was the unseeded Swarts and Hotchkin that came out victorious as they downed their teammates 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to earn an alternate status for the state tournament.

Swarts and Hotchkin began their day with a 5-7, 6-4, 10-6 win over a doubles team from 1A No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier.

They advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over the No. 3 seed from Oskaloosa. With a state berth on the line, Swarts and Hotchkin fell short 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 to the No. 2 seed from North Polk.

Garrett and Wilson finished fourth in doubles after defeating a team from North Polk 6-2, 6-3 in their opener and then downing Oskaloosa’s second team 6-4, 6-3.

Izzy Wilson

Newton senior Izzy Wilson sends a return over the net during one of her doubles matches at the individual regional tournament at Saydel High School on Monday. Wilson and senior teammate Lauryn Garrett finished fourth in doubles. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Before losing to Swarts and Hotchkin in the third-place match, Garrett and Wilson fell to top-seeded Cedar Rapids Xavier 6-1, 6-1. Xavier would go on to win the doubles championship.

The top two finishers in singles and doubles clinch a berth into the state tournament. The third-place finishers can participate in the state tournament if one of the top finishers is unable to attend.

Paige Benson and Madison Rinehart played singles for the Cardinals.

Benson opened the singles tournament with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Nevada freshman Grace Hensley. Benson was eliminated following a 6-1, 6-1 loss to top-seeded and eventual champion Gabi Fleming of Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Rinehart faced No. 3 seed Sophie Laib of North Polk in her first match and was knocked out following a 6-1, 6-3 loss. Laib went on to finish third.

Lauryn Garrett

Newton senior Lauryn Garrett's backhand return was sent over the net during one of her doubles matches at the individual regional tournament at Saydel High School on Monday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Notes: Both Rinehart and Benson were unseeded in singles and Swarts and Hotchkin placed third in doubles despite being unseeded. … Garrett played through an injury she’s been dealing with for the past few seasons. And Wilson suffered an ankle injury during the team’s first match of the day, too. … While the individual portion of the season is likely over for the Cardinals, Newton’s full varsity squad will take part in the team regional tournament at 9 a.m. on Friday in Pella. The Cardinals open with conference rival Pella Christian and the winner advances to the semifinals to face either 1A No. 2 Pella or Centerville at 1 p.m. on Friday. Newton defeated Pella Christian 7-4 at home earlier this season.