The Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis team is still searching for its first victory of the season.
The Jaguars suffered an 11-0 loss to visiting Waukee Northwest in a CIML Conference meet on Tuesday. They dropped to 0-2 in the league and 0-4 overall under first-year coach Grant Menadue.
“I’m proud of the way the guys fought against a really strong team,” said Menadue. “Northwest puts in the extra work in the offseason, and it shows from the coaches down to the JV guys. I hope our guys use that experience as a learning opportunity, and it inspires them to work on their game outside of the spring season.”
It was the season opener for the Wolves, who won all 11 matches in straight sets. They lost only five games altogether.
The Jaguars also dropped a 6-5 decision at Des Moines Roosevelt in a non-conference meet on Monday. The Roughriders won three of the five doubles matches to break a 3-3 tie, allowing them to remain unbeaten at 3-0.
“We had an opportunity to win on the road against a good Roosevelt team, but we were simply outhustled when it mattered,” Menadue said. “They found ways to win the important points when the pressure was on and the meet was on the line. We need to do a better job at capitalizing on the opportunities we are given.”
Menadue said he still believes that his team has a lot of potential.
“We are only a few points away from being 2-2 instead of 0-4,” he said. “The pieces are there for success, but we have to take advantage of our opportunities and put in the extra effort to make it happen. I’m proud of the way these guys support each other and battle. They have all progressed immensely since the start of the season, and I think the sky is the limit for this team if they are willing to put in the work.”
Here are the match-by-match results from both meets:
Waukee Northwest 11, Ankeny Centennial 0
Singles: Nelson beat Malone, 6-0, 6-0; Kothari beat Earp, 6-0, 6-0; Croatt beat Braun, 6-1, 6-0; Flynn beat Sinclair, 6-0, 6-0; Steffensmeier beat Dickinson, 6-0, 6-0; Fenton beat George, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Kothari-Beekhuis beat Malone-Sinclair, 6-0, 6-0; Flynn-Fenton beat Braun-Dickinson, 6-0, 6-0; Wang-Tingley beat Kolars-Hurd, 6-0, 6-1; Leuck-Elfers beat Earp-George, 6-2, 6-0; Latta-Wetzel beat Goff-Brooks, 6-1, 6-0.
D.M. Roosevelt 6, Ankeny Centennial 5
Singles: Kehoe (R) beat Malone, 6-3, 6-1; Godor (R) beat Earp, 6-1, 6-1; Braun (AC) beat Draper, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6); Wiederaenders (R) beat Sinclair, 6-1, 6-2; Dickinson (AC) beat Arnold, 6-3, 6-2; George (AC) beat Ulrickson, 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-2).
Doubles: Kehoe-Arnold (R) beat Malone-Sinclair, 6-2, 6-2; Godar-Draper (R) beat Earp-George, 6-4, 6-1; Braun-Dickinson (AC) beat Wiederaenders-Ulrickson, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1; Kolars-Hurd (AC) beat Doan-Kruse, 6-2, 6-2; Stagner-Zeff (R) beat Zhang-Brazeau, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-4).