The Ankeny boys’ tennis team made some positive strides a year ago.
Coach Ron Miller is hoping that the Hawks can make even more this season.
“We don’t put a specific performance target on ourselves,” Miller said. “I just ask the boys to practice hard and give everything they can each time out, and we will be much better at the end of each season than the beginning.”
Ankeny posted a 4-8 record last year, including a 3-5 mark in the CIML Conference. It was the Hawks’ winningest season since 2018, when they finished 6-6.
Five of the top seven players are back from that squad. They are senior Dylan Victor and sophomores Michael Black, Treyton Riesberg, Grady Schlosser and Garrett Weichers.
“Practice just started on Monday, but because it’s spring break they are optional of course,” Miller said. “We have had five of our top six practice and 11 of 22 potential players.”
Victor placed second in last year’s Class 2A district meet to qualify for the state tournament in singles. He became Ankeny’s first state qualifier since Griffin Laib in 2017.
Victor punched his ticket to state with a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-1 victory over second-seeded Chris Wailes of Council Bluffs Lincoln in a three-hour semifinal match. He then lost in the district final before dropping a pair of matches at state.
“Dylan had an exceptional qualifying match last year, but his year in total was marred by an ongoing shoulder injury which plagued him at state,” Miller said. “We are hoping to repeat the state qualifying part and have a complete season injury-free. He comes into the season eager to play and always a good example of hard work for his teammates.”
Weichers posted a 5-2 record at the No. 2 singles position as a freshman. He placed fourth in singles at the district meet, then later provided his team’s lone victory in the Hawks’ 5-1 loss at Cedar Rapids Washington in a Class 2A substate semifinal.
Schlosser played primarily at the No. 5 spot, followed by Black at No. 6. Riesberg was a key contributor in doubles.
Riesberg helped the Hawks to their first win over crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial since 2017. Ankeny built a 5-1 lead in singles before the Jaguars won four of the doubles matches in straight sets to forge a 5-5 tie.
Centennnial also won the opening set at No. 3 doubles before Riesberg and Schlosser rallied for a 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (9) victory that sealed the Hawks’ 6-5 triumph. That duo also won the No. 2 doubles flight at the Johnston Invitational earlier in the year.
Ankeny will open the season on April 1 with a non-conference meet at Ballard (Huxley).