Newton boys tennis downs Pella Christian on Senior Night

Ethan Valtman dropped the very first game of his match at No. 1 singles on Tuesday. But the Cardinal senior had little trouble after that during his sweep against Pella Christian.

It was the beginning of a strong day for the Cardinals as the Newton boys tennis team downed the Eagles, 8-3, at Aurora Heights Park and then recognized nine seniors after the victory.

Newton needed just one win in doubles to earn the team win after starting 5-1 in singles during the Little Hawkeye Conference matchup.

Valtman, Damien Smith and Garett Crandall led the Cardinals with two wins. The rest of the group recognized for Senior Night included Evan Marshall, Ezra Bartell, Zane Munger, Gentry Swarts, Brady Swihart and Keary Sanger.

Bartell, who is the team’s No. 3 singles player, was not available due to an illness.

Valtman improved to 9-2 after a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles. He also teamed up with Ethan Freese to win 7-5, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Smith had no issues with his opponent at No. 5 singles as he won 6-0, 6-0 and is now 2-0 at that spot in the lineup.

Crandall got his first career varsity singles win. He moved into the lineup because Bartell was out with the illness and won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 6 singles.

Smith and Crandall later teamed up at No. 3 doubles and won 6-2, 6-1.

Kaden Marshall scored a narrow win at No. 3 singles and Freese was a three-set winner at No. 4 singles.

Kaden Marshall won 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 and Freese claimed a 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 win. Freese (5-3) improved to 4-1 at No. 4 singles.

The final victory came at No. 5 doubles as Munger and Noah Tremel edged their opponents 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

Newton (3-5, 2-3 in the conference) scored its second straight win over the Eagles, who fell to 2-4 and 0-4 in the LHC.

GIRLS

Pella Christian 11, Newton 0

PELLA — The Eagles stayed unbeaten on the season following an 11-0 win over the Newton girls tennis team on Tuesday.

Pella Christian posted straight-set wins in 10 of the 11 matches and swept the Cardinals for the first time since 2019.

Sloan Brodersen lost her match in three sets at No. 4 singles, falling 6-1, 4-6, 12-10.

Paige Benson lost 7-5 in her first set at No. 1 singles and Morgan Frehse dropped a pair of 6-3 sets at No. 3 singles. The duo combined to lose 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, too.

Kaetlin McPartlin lost her No. 6 singles match 6-3, 7-5. She moved into the varsity lineup to replace Alexis Dirksen, who is the team’s No. 2 singles player but was not available.