No. 9 Marshalltown boys tennis ready for showdown with Ames
The Senior Night celebration started with a dominant showing in all six singles spots and continued all through the lineup.
The Marshalltown boys’ tennis team took pride in its new-look lineup for Tuesday’s home dual against Des Moines North, and the Bobcats didn’t drop a set in their 11-0 triumph over the Polar Bears at the Marshalltown Court Complex.
The Bobcats, ranked ninth in Class 2A by the Iowa High School Tennis Coaches, posted just their second 11-0 shutout of the season with Tuesday’s victory, setting the stage for Thursday’s showdown against Ames for the Iowa Alliance Conference North Division title. The Little Cyclones (9-2) took last year’s meeting, but MHS (13-0) has its eyes on revenge.
“Our 13-0 record is nice, but we took a look at the conference trophy at practice and it didn’t have our name on it yet,” said MHS head coach James Christensen. “Ames is a very good team and likely the favorite on paper. We will have to play our best tennis of the year to win.
“We have to bury our egos, bury our frustration — anything getting in the way of performing our best.”
Tuesday’s lopsided win over Des Moines North (2-8) was a stress-relieving step in the right direction. The Bobcats surrendered no more than five games in a set in any match while also chalking up three 6-0, 6-0 shutouts.
Isaac Benscoter, Isaac Seberger, Tayven Dutton, Will Swartz, Lucas Bantz and Collin Jablonski all scored straight-set victories in singles play, including a 6-0, 6-0 win for Swartz at No. 4.
“It was really fun to go up 6-0 in singles with an all-senior lineup,” said Christensen. “All six showed that they are varsity-caliber singles players at this level.
“Our focus tonight was on celebrating this awesome group of seniors and staying mentally sharp for Ames this Thursday.”
Benscoter and Adam Boone battled past a fast start for North’s No. 1 doubles pair of Scott Nguyen and David Christensen, winning 6-3, 6-1 to set the tone from the top down.
Caleb Rasmussen and Elliot Kodis captured a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2; Jacob Christen and Kyle Smith scored a 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 3; Evan Roush and Hayden Daters earned a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 4; and Izaiah Wilder and Miles Griego got a 6-0, 6-0 decision at No. 5.
“Boone and Benscoter ran into a hot streak from North to start, but settled things down to lead doubles to a dominant win,” coach Christensen said. “Three seniors in Wilder, Daters and Griego stepped up and won 0-and-0. (Seniors) Isaac Young and Lincoln Williams won 8-2 at No. 1 JV as well.”
Marshalltown’s regular-season finale against Ames is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start on Thursday at the Marshalltown Court Complex.
Marshalltown 11, Des Moines North 0
SINGLES
Isaac Benscoter (MHS) def. Scott Nguyen, 6-0, 6-1
Isaac Seberger (MHS) def. David Christensen, 6-2, 6-2
Tayven Dutton (MHS) def. Tha Hser, 6-1, 6-0
Will Swartz (MHS) def. James Colbert, 6-0, 6-0
Lucas Bantz (MHS) def. Eh Ler Tha Thay, 6-1, 6-2
Collin Jablonski (MHS) def. Grady Garcia, 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
Benscoter and Adam Boone (MHS) def. Nguyen and Christensen, 6-3, 6-1
Caleb Rasmussen and Elliot Kodis (MHS) def. Hser and Colbert, 6-0, 6-1
Jacob Christen and Kyle Smith (MHS) def. Thay and Garcia, 6-0, 6-1
Evan Roush and Hayden Daters (MHS) def. Job Mu and William Nguyen, 6-0, 6-0
Izaiah Wilder and Miles Griego (MHS) def. Evaristo Saucedo-Escoto and Aiden Khounchanh, 6-0, 6-0