Despite returning many of its varsity players, the Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis team will have to fill a gaping hole at the top of the Jaguars’ lineup.
Caleb Peterson graduated after posting a 20-1 record and placing second in the Class 2A state singles tournament a year ago. He took fifth as a junior and finished sixth in doubles while playing with Nic Mackaman in 2021.
Peterson, who is now competing for Iowa Central Community College, led Centennial to a 4-8 record last season. The Jaguars finished 2-6 in the CIML Conference.
Most of the varsity regulars are back from a squad that posted a 5-0 win over Dallas Center-Grimes in a Class 2A substate team tournament before ending the season with a 5-4 loss at Johnston in the semifinal round. That was one of the Jaguars’ four defeats that were decided by a single match.
“The practices are going well,” said Centennial coach Tami Lewton. “The weather is not cooperating, but the guys are fired up and excited to play.”
Seniors Jack Halverson, Nick Hiney, Andrew Law, Holden Smith, Luke Valerio-Garsow and Ty Walker are among the team’s returnees. Juniors Riley Earp and Brayden Wellendorf are also back.
Hiney posted a 4-6 record at the No. 2 singles position, while Wellendorf went 9-3 at the No. 3 spot. Those two also teamed up for a fourth-place finish in doubles at the district tournament.
Wellendorf will be seeking his second trip to the state tournament. He was a doubles qualifier as a freshman in 2022.
Smith went 4-6 at the No. 4 position last year. Law and Halverson both saw some action at the Nos. 5 and 6 spots.
Earp, Valerio-Garsow and Walker primarily played doubles last season. They are again contending for some varsity positions along with a few newcomers.
“I have three freshmen who could make it into our varsity lineup,” Lewton said.
The Jaguars will open their season on Tuesday with a non-conference meet at Norwalk. They will host Des Moines Roosevelt in another non-conference meet on Thursday.
“We want to be a united team in support of one another from No. 1 to No. 10 on the courts,” Lewton said. “We would like to finish in the top eight at state. We want to take advantage of our depth where as last year we relied on our top players.”