Ankeny Centennial’s Caleb Peterson is one win away from becoming the first state tennis champion in Ankeny’s history.
The top-seeded senior rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Anthony Schulte of Cedar Rapids Prairie in the semifinals of the boys’ Class 2A singles tournament on Wednesday morning at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Center in Iowa City. He raised his record to 20-0.
“I’m really excited,” said Peterson. “I’ve been looking forward to the finals. I’m just really happy with how the match went.”
Schulte, a sophomore, got off to a fast start. He broke Peterson’s serve at love to open the match while winning the first six points in the opening set.
“I needed to take my opportunities early because I knew he was going to come back quickly,” said Schulte. “He just started playing really well. I knew that was going to happen eventually.”
Peterson double faulted on the first point of the match. Schulte then followed with a couple of huge winners.
“I guess I was a little nervous,” Peterson said. “I could tell he was hitting some really, really good shots. He played a good first six points. I just settled in from there and started playing a lot better.”
Peterson won 10 of 11 points during one stretch while building a 4-1 lead. After Schulte held his serve to cut the gap to 4-2, Peterson then won the next eight games to close out the match.
“The key was to play aggressive,” Peterson said. “Serve well and return well. I was trying to dictate the play as much as I could.”
Schulte said there wasn’t much he could do once Peterson got on a roll.
“His forehand has so much topspin, and his serve is very hard to return,” Schulte said.
Peterson will play for the title later this afternoon. His opponent will be second-seeded Kaden Taylor of Waukee Northwest, who posted a 7-6, 6-3 win over No. 3 Quinn Monson of Waukee.
Peterson defeated Taylor in three sets earlier this month.
“I don’t really have a preference,” Peterson said. “Whoever I play I’m happy to be here. I’m just looking forward to it.”
Peterson will get a chance to avenge his loss to Taylor in last year’s state tournament. He hasn’t lost since that match.
