• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • About
    • Support Us
  • News
    • Podcast
  • Forums
  • Hawks
    • Boys’ Basketball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Basketball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Wrestling
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Swimming
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Bowling
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Bowling
      • Roster
      • Schedule
  • Jaguars
    • Boys’ Basketball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Basketball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Wrestling
      • Schedule

Jaguars look to bounce back from their first losing season

March 25, 2018 by Dan Holm

Sophomore Samson Densmore is one of seven returning varsity regulars for the Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis team. The Jaguars will host Urbandale in their season opener on April 3.

A run of three consecutive winning seasons came to an end last year for the Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis team, which struggled to a 4-7 record during a rebuilding campaign.

Now, Centennial coach Tami Lewton is hoping for a bounce-back year in 2018.

“We are really hoping to improve on our record from last season,” Lewton said. “We graduated a ton of players in 2016 so last year was a building year. We are hoping with all of the freshmen and sophomores we have that we can look to the future with strength. I think our season will depend on whether our younger kids can be mentally tough and achieve what they are definitely capable of.”

There are 45 players on the roster, 11 more than a year ago. The larger squad is a double-edged sword for the Jaguars.

“Our team keeps growing,” Lewton said. “But with only four courts, it becomes a challenge to make sure that everyone is practicing every day and getting better.”

Centennial returns seven varsity regulars from last year’s squad, including seniors Sam Marold and Matt Tressel. Juniors James Cole, Zach Petersen and Joel Unick are also back along with sophomores Samson Densmore and Ryan Lofgren.

Marold shared time at the No. 1 singles position last year with Jonny McGill, who has graduated. He posted a 6-5 record.

Marold also teamed up with McGill for a third-place finish in doubles at a Class 2A district tournament.

Lofgren spent most of his freshman season at the No. 5 singles spot. He compiled a 4-6 mark.

Lofgren also saw a lot of action in doubles. He was part of the winning No. 2 doubles team at the Johnston Invitational.

Densmore moved into the No. 6 spot midway through the season. He finished with a 5-6 record.

Cole and Unick played a lot of doubles together last year, going 6-7 as a tandem. Petersen and Tressel also went 6-7 as a doubles duo.

“Our team is looking good, but we’re very young this year,” Lewton said. “We will have some freshmen and sophomores playing some leadership roles. That is both exciting and scary. I’ve learned that they are a smart, hard-working group.”

Freshman Will Blevins is expected to make an immediate impact for the Jaguars, who will host Urbandale in their season opener on April 3.

“Will will definitely be a factor on our team and play in one of the top spots,” Lewton said. “We are excited to see what he can accomplish.”

Some other newcomers could also crack the varsity lineup.

“Nic Mackaman is a contender for varsity as well,” Lewton said. “We are hoping he will help out this season, too.”

Filed Under: Boys' Tennis, Jaguars Tagged With: James Cole, Joel Unick, Matt Tressel, Ryan Lofgren, Sam Marold, Samson Densmore, Tami Lewton, Zach Petersen

Primary Sidebar

Support Ankeny Fanatic

Recent Posts

  • MARCH MADNESS BEGINS: Jaguars erase 14-point deficit, top Rams at buzzer
  • Pippett’s buzzer-beater caps Jaguars’ amazing rally to beat S.E. Polk
  • Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryan Crandall, Ankeny boys’ basketball
  • State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
  • Ankeny boys hold off Norwalk, earn another shot against No. 2 Waukee

Find Us on Facebook

Ankeny Fanatic

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017

Categories

  • Hawks
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
        • Roster
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Boys’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Swimming
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Bowling
      • Wrestling
  • Jaguars
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Wrestling
  • Top Sports Stories
    • Football
    • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Softball

© 2021 Ankeny Fanatic. All rights reserved.