‘We had chances against Waukee’: Jags drop 8-3 decision on their Senior Night

The Ankeny Centennial coaches and players cheer for one of the Jaguars during Thursday’s meet against visiting Waukee. The Warriors posted an 8-3 victory on Centennial’s Senior Night. (Photo by Scott Byers)

The Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis team was hoping to celebrate its Senior Night with a victory, but visiting Waukee had other ideas.

The Warriors won four of the five doubles matches to defeat Centennial, 8-3, in a CIML Conference meet on Thursday. They improved to 4-2 in the league and 4-3 overall, while the Jaguars’ records dropped to 1-5 and 3-6.

“We had chances against Waukee, but just weren’t able to capitalize when it mattered most,” said Centennial coach Grant Menadue.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Aaron Braun hits a forehand return during his No. 1 singles match against Waukee’s Arjun Bajwa. Braun posted a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (5) victory for the Jaguars. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Centennial earned a pair of victories in singles to keep its hopes for a win alive. Aaron Braun won a third-set tiebreaker against Arjun Bajwa at the No. 1 spot, while Nathan Goff won at the No. 4 position after building a 5-3 lead when Preston Chua withdrew from the match.

However, the Jaguars were only able to manage one win in doubles. It came from the No. 5 duo of Michael May and Greyson Sytsma, who posted a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Yash Shinde and Beckham Willis.

“Despite the outcome, it was a really special night celebrating our seniors and their accomplishments,” Menadue said. “They are a great group of guys and will contribute a lot to wherever life takes them after this season. I am excited to see all that they conquer and consider myself very lucky to have gotten the chance to work with them during their time in our program.”

Centennial will travel to Johnston on Tuesday for another conference meet. The Dragons are 6-1 in the league and 7-1 overall.

Ankeny Centennial’s Nathan Goff hits a backhand return during his No. 4 singles match against Waukee’s Preston Chua. Goff had one of the Jaguars’ three victories on the day. (Photo by Scott Byers)

The Jaguars will then close out the regular season on Thursday with another CIML meet at winless Southeast Polk.

“We need another win to secure a spot in postseason play so we really need to dial it in and make a strong push with this last week of the regular season,” Menadue said.

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

**Ankeny Centennial’s Caden Kolars reaches to return a shot during his No. 6 singles match against Waukee’s Jaren Jernberg. Kolars dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Waukee 8, Ankeny Centennial 3

Singles: Braun (AC) beat Bajwa, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (5); Nguyen beat George, 6-3, 6-1; Abbott beat Dickinson, 6-2, 7-6 (3); Goff (AC) beat Chua, 5-3 (WD); Thole beat Brooks, 6-0, 6-0; Jernberg beat Kolars, 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles: Nguyen-Thole beat Braun-George, 6-1, 0-6, 1-0 (5); Abbott-Krehbiel beat Dickinson-Goff, 6-4, 6-4; Jernberg-Peterson beat Kolars-Brazeau, 6-0, 6-4; Schmidt-Tiernan beat Brooks-Law, 6-1, 6-3; May-Sytsma (AC) beat Shinde-Willis, 6-4, 6-2.