DOWN TO THE WIRE: Ankeny boys drop 5-4 decision to Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Ankeny’s Garrett Weichers prepares to hit a forehand return during his No. 1 doubles match against visiting Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Friday. Weichers teamed up with Dylan Victor for a 6-3, 6-3 win, but the J-Hawks won the other two doubles matches to post a 5-4 victory in the non-conference meet. (Photo by Dan Holm)

For the second time in four days, the doubles matches proved to be the difference in a narrow loss for the Ankeny boys’ tennis team.

The Hawks dropped to 0-2 on the season with a 5-4 loss to visiting Cedar Rapids Jefferson in a non-conference meet on Friday. The J-Hawks won two of the three doubles matches after the two teams split the six singles matches.

Ankeny was coming off a 7-4 loss to visiting Valley on Tuesday. In that CIML Conference matchup, the Hawks were swept in the doubles after taking a 4-2 lead in singles.

On Friday, Ankeny got victories in singles from Garrett Weichers at the No. 2 position, Grady Schlosser at No. 3 and Trent James at No. 6.

**Ankeny’s Grady Schlosser hits a backhand return during his No. 2 doubles match against Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Friday. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Weichers then teamed up with Dylan Victor for a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles, but it wasn’t enough as Jefferson (2-1) won the other two matches.

The Hawks will compete in the Johnston Invitational on Saturday.

Here are the match-by-match results from Friday’s meet:

C.R. Jefferson 5, Ankeny 4

Singles: Holland (J) beat Victor, 6-2, 6-2; Weichers (A) beat Lewis, 6-0, 6-0; Schlosser (A) beat Preston, 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (10-2); Armstrong (J) beat Black, 6-3, 6-3; Booth (J) beat Riesberg, 6-3, 6-3; James (A) beat Panoch, 7-5, 6-2.

Doubles: Victor-Weichers (A) beat Holland-Lewis, 6-3, 6-3; Preston-Armstrong (J) beat Schlosser-Black, 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5); Booth-Panoch (J) beat Riesberg-James, 7-5, 6-2.