March 19, 2024

Big week for Clarke tennis teams

Clarke’s girls and boys tennis teams each enjoyed outstanding performances this past week.

Both teams have moved on in the team portion of postseason competition.

On the boys individual side, Reed Morris earned a spot at state during the boys individual districts last Thursday.

Last Tuesday, May 9, the Clarke girls won their seventh South Central Conference title in the past eight seasons.

Morris reaches

state in boys

singles

RED OAK — Clarke senior Reed Morris has been driven ever since his individual season ended last year.

Morris channeled his energy into making sure the disappointment he felt after last season’s individual district meet did not happen this year.

Morris fought through a tough semifinal match, but was able to reach his goal.

Morris took second and advanced to the Class 1A individual state tournament.

The meet will be held on May 26-27 at the Byrnes Park Tennis Center in Waterloo.

Morris was fourth at last season’s individual district meet.

“He was very disappointed last year,” said Clarke coach Jeff Ehrhardt. “He’s been working all year to make it to the state tournament. He’s put a lot of time in.”

Morris found himself in big trouble in the semifinal match against Shenandoah’s Dalton Stoaks.

Stoaks dominated the first set 6-1.

Morris buckled down and recovered nicely. He won the next two sets 6-2 and 6-2 to reach the final.

“He had a positive attitude, staying positive even when things went wrong,” Ehrhardt said. “He had a bad set in the semis. He regrouped.”

Morris’ mental approach helped him regroup.

“He knew he could do it,” Ehrhardt said. “He had to put his mind to it.”

Those moments spent on the court refining his game showed up in the next two sets.

“He stayed positive, knowing he put all that time and all that hard work in,” Ehrhardt said.

Morris, 22-1, fell to Glenwood’s Alex Chekal in two sets, 6-2, 6-1, in the final.

The doubles team of Billy Otto and John Echeveste just missed a spot at state placing third. Otto and Echeveste fell to the Creston/Orient-Macksburg pair of Jacob Cook and Jaden Driskell 0-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Clarke boys

advance as a team

CRESTON — Clarke’s boys tennis team wanted to avoid playing deep into doubles during Saturday’s Class 1A preliminary substate team tennis meet against Creston/Orient-Macksburg.

The Indians started slow in several matches, needed to go the distance, but they were able to earn victories.

Clarke’s wins in singles led to a 5-2 win over Creston/Orient-Macksburg on the courts at Southwestern Community College in Creston.

Reed Morris and Billy Otto both overcame first set losses, rallying to win sets two and three.

Both Morris and Otto started slow, but caught fire. Morris won the final two sets 6-0 and 6-2, while Otto won the second set 6-2 and third set 6-0.

“Reed, it takes him a little bit to warm up, but he started getting his strokes. He looked really good,” said Clarke assistant coach Aaron O’Tool. “Billy was the same concept. He got going after that.”

The Indians picked up big wins at number four and five singles from Nathan McCann and Sam Reynoldson for a 4-1 lead.

“Number four and five played really well,” O’Tool said. “They were excited for it.”

As Zach Smith’s match at number six singles was going on against Walker Patterson, Creston/Orient-Macksburg’s Jacob Cook and Jaden Driskell were picking up a straight set win over Otto and John Echeveste at number one doubles.

“We wanted to stay out of their doubles,” O’Tool said. “Their doubles are very strong.”

Smith dropped a tough first set, but came back to win two straight to give Clarke the team win.

“We need that,” O’Tool said. “For Zach, that was a big confidence booster.”

Clarke advanced to substate team semifinal Saturday. The Indians will take on Kuemper Catholic Saturday in Carroll. The winner will face either Glenwood or Atlantic later in the day.

“We feel we’re playing very good,” Ehrhardt said. “We feel we’ve got a pretty good shot.”

Lady Indians cruise in team regionals

NORWALK — Clarke’s girls tennis felt confident about its opportunity heading into Saturday’s first round of the Class 1A Region 2 matches.

The Lady Indians dominated the opening match against Norwalk, then handled business against Clarinda in the next round later in the day.

Clarke defeated Norwalk 5-0, then topped Clarinda 5-2.

“We felt we had a pretty good shot,” Ehrhardt said. “You never know. Norwalk plays 2A competition.”

Sydnee Redman had the toughest match, going three sets before pulling out a win.

The Lady Indians did not have to play doubles against the Warriors.

Megan Linskens won 6-2 and 6-4, Brittany Beckett earned a 6-0 and 6-1, Deseree Stubbe won 6-4 and 6-3, while Sydney Garrett won 6-3, 6-0.

Clarke dropped the first two singles matches against Clarinda, but rallied to win four straight. Linskens, Beckett and Stubbe picked up straight set wins, while Garrett won in three sets.

Beckett and Lexy Carson sealed the win with a straight sets win at number three doubles.

Garrett filled in admirably for Carson, who was slowed by a rolled ankle.

“Megan, Brittany, Des is what really helped us,” Ehrhardt said. “Sydney Garrett stepped up.”

Now the Lady Indians will take on Glenwood in the regional final Saturday in Atlantic. The winner advances to face either Decorah or Waverly-Shell Rock Monday in Boone.

“We’ve been talking about this all year,” Ehrhardt said. “We have huge opportunities, goals. One of our goals is to get both (girls and boys) teams to state. They’re right at the doorstep.”

GIrls SCC

champs once more

OTTUMWA — Last Tuesday at the South Central Conference meet, Clarke’s girls continued their recent run of dominance.

The Lady Indians won their seventh league tournament title in the past eight seasons with an impressive outing.

Clarke finished with 23 team points, eight ahead of runner-up Knoxville. Davis County 3as third with 13 points.

The doubles tandem of Sydnee Redman and Sydney Sickels defeated teammates Megan Linskens and Deseree Stubbe in three sets for the title, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7).

Both earned all conference honors.

Brittany Beckett took sixth in singles.

“The girls really played well considering they had some tough draws,” Ehrhardt said.

Serving powered the Lady Indians at the South Central Conference meet.

“All of the girls served well and returned serve at a high level,” Ehrhardt said.

Boys individual districts 

Singles

Reed Morris, Clarke, def. Alex Wingert, Red Oak, 6-0, 6-0; Reed Morris, Clarke, def. J.D. Hitt, Clarinda, 7-6 (5), 6-1; Reed Morris, Clarke, def. Dalton Stoaks, Shenandoah, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2; Alex Chekal, Glenwood, def. Reed Morris, Clarke, 6-0, 6-2.

Alex Chekal, Glenwood, def. Zach Smith, Clarke, 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles

Billy Otto/John Echeveste, Clarke, def. Austin Perrin/Christopher Hendon, Shenandoah, 6-2, 6-0; Billy Otto/John Echeveste, Clarke, def. Dalton Davis/Johnathon Kinser, SWV, 6-1, 6-2; Jacob Cook/Jaden Driskell, C/O-M, def. Billy Otto/John Echeveste, Clarke, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3; Billy Otto/John Echeveste, Clarke, def. Dustin Merritt/Triston Davidson, C/O-M, 7-5, 6-3.

Trevor Finnegan/Alex Goodell, Shenandoah, def. Nathan McCann/Sam Reynoldson, Clarke, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (5).

Girls regionals

First round 

Clarke 5, Norwalk 0

Singles

Sydnee Redman, Clarke, def. Nicole Alexander, Nor, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8); Megan Linskens, Clarke, def. Jordan Bandy, Nor, 6-2, 6-4; Brittany Beckett, Clarke, def. Rachel Lesley, Nor, def. 6-0, 6-1; Deseree Stubbe, Clarke, def. Madison Thilen, Nor, 6-4, 6-3; Sydney Garrett, Clarke, def. Kennedi Wright, Nor, 6-3, 6-0.

Second round

Clarke 5, Clarinda 2

Singles

Maddie Hartley, Clar, def. Sydnee Redman, Clarke, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6); Brooke Brown, Clar, def. Sydney Sickels, Clarke, 7-6 (3), 6-3; Megan Linskens, Clarke, def. Hannah Sunderman, Clar, 6-0, 6-1; Brittany Beckett, Clarke, def. Mikaela Fine, Clar, 6-4, 6-0; Deseree Stubbe, Clarke, def. Delayne Glassgow, Clar, 6-3, 6-3; Sydney Garrett, Clarke, def. Riley Holmstrom, 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6).

Doubles 

Brittany Beckett/Lexy Carson, Clarke, def. Hannah Sunderman/Riley Holmstrom, Clar, 6-4, 6-4.

Boys team substate preliminary round

Clarke 5, Creston/Orient-Macksburg 2

Singles 

Reed Morris, Clarke, def. Jacob Cook, Creston/Orient-Macksburg 2-6, 6-0, 6-2; Billy Otto, Clarke, def. Jaden Driskell, C/O-M, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0; Dustin Merritt, C/O-M, def. John Echeveste, Clarke, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0; Nathan McCann, Clarke, def. Triston Davidson, C/O-M, 7-5, 7-0; Sam Reynoldson, Clarke, def. Emilien Florentine, C/O-M, 6-1, 6-1; Zach Smith, Clarke, def. Walker Patterson, C/O-M, 6-7 (8-6), 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles 

Jacob Cook/Jaden Driskell, C/O-M, def. Billy Otto/John Echeveste, Clarke, 6-2, 6-3.

South Central Conference meet

Team results 

1. Clarke, 23; 2. Knoxville, 15; 3. Davis County, 13; 4. Albia, 10.5; 5. Chariton, 9; 6. Centerville, 6.

Championship singles 

Kali Rudd, DC, def. Lexy Carson, Clarke, 6-4, 7-6 (4); Brittany Beckett, Clarke, def. Savannah Adams, Albia, 6-0, 6-0; Avelina Pokov, Char, def. Brittany Beckett, Clarke, 6-2, 6-1.

Consolation singles

Brittany Beckett, Clarke, def. Skyler West, Albia, 10-6; Brittany Beckett, Clarke, def. Cassie Chambers, Knox, 10-4; Briana Ellis, Char, def. Brittany Beckett, Clarke, 10-3.

Cassie Chambers, Knox, def. Lexy Carson, Clarke, 10-7.

Championship doubles

Sydnee Redman/Sydney Sickels, Clarke, def. Sydney DeBruin/Lulu Morgan, Albia, 6-1, 6-2; Sydnee Redman/Sydney Sickels, Clarke, def. Hannah Short/Farah Lee, Knoxville, 6-1, 6-2; Sydnee Redman/Sydney Sickels, Clarke, def. Megan Linskens, Deseree Stubbe, Clarke, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7).

Megan Linskens/Deseree Stubbe, Clarke, def. Paige Farrell/Jordan Blubaugh, Chariton, 6-0, 6-1; Megan Linskens/Deseree Stubbe, Clarke, def. Molly Spurgin/Kenzie Curran, Albia, 6-4, 6-1; Sydnee Redman/Sydney Sickels, Clarke, def. Megan Linksens/Deseree Stubbe, Clarke, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7).