March 19, 2024

Double the fun: Clarke qualifies two girls tennis teams for state

Girls boys teams fall short a match from state

NORWALK — Twice Thursday, a Clarke girls tennis doubles team walked off the courts at Norwalk High School.

Twice, they ran into the arms of coaches Jeff Ehrhardt and Aaron O’Tool, along with their family members and other backers.

The smiles were a mile wide, the hugs long, deep and joyous.

They were moments the young ladies, family members and the program will long remember.

Clarke qualified a pair of doubles teams to next week’s state tournament after the Class 1A individual regionals.

The tandems of Sydnee Redman and Sydney Sickels, along with Megan Linskens and Deseree Stubbe all advanced to the Class 1A state tournament.

This year’s Class 1A state meet will be held on June 1 and 2 at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

“It means a lot,” said sophomore Megan Linskens. “All of us have worked really hard in the offseason and practices. It’s just a great experience and feeling.”

The four will be able to share the courts the University of Iowa teams use.

“It’s pretty great for just one of the doubles to go, but for both to go is amazing,” Linskens said.

Redman and Sickels, Linskens and Stubbe became the first Lady Indians to reach the state tournament since the doubles team of Kyler McCann and Libby Beemis reached state in 2013.

The day was monumental for the program. It was the first time in coach Jeff Ehrhardt’s 24 years that he’s had four girls make it to state individually in the same season.

“It’s quite an accomplishment,” Ehrhardt said.

Having both doubles teams reach the state meet was an example of the talent they have.

“I’m really proud of both Sidney and I and Megan and Des,” Redman said. “We’ve worked really hard through practice.”

The teams reached their dreams set well before the season began.

“That’s been our goal all season,” Linskens said. “We’ve worked toward this day to be the best we can and get to state.”

Their stamina has improved considerably this season thanks to the efforts of assistant coach Aaron O’Tool.

“Running springs has been a difference,” Ehrhardt said. “Coach O’Tool has a little more emphasis on conditioning. That’s really helped us this year.”

Sickels and Redman breezed their way to the final, winning 6-0, 6-0 over Chariton’s Macy Johnston and Gizzy Keeler, cruising past Kuemper Catholic’s Samantha Schwarte and Isabel Schwabe 6-2, 6-2 in the quarters and overwhelming Ballard’s squad 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals to lock up the spot for state.

“It was good,” Redman said. “It was exciting, quick and fast so we weren’t as tired.”

Linskens and Stubbe rolled past Ballard’s Anna Zielke and Kari Holmes 6-2, 6-0 in the first round and 6-2, 6-4 over North Polk’s Bryanna Mason and Caitlin Jesperson in the quarters.

Linskens and Stubbe battled with Kuemper Catholic’s Jadie Knobbe and Madeleine Schwarte in the first set, with Linskens and Stubbe winning the tiebreaker 7-5 to take the set 7-6.

“We won the first set and we were feeling pretty good,” Linskens said.

Knobbe and Schwarte dominated the second set 6-2, forcing a winner-take-all third set.

Linskens and Stubbe handily controlled the third set, taking the lead early and cruising to a 6-1 win.

“We kept our heads up and we just really calmed down and realized it was just like any other match,” Linskens said. “We took our time and focused on the next shot.”

With each shot, each break of Knobbe’s and Schwarte’s serve, Linskens and Stubbe became more confident.

“We realized we had to just play our game,” Stubbe said. “That was really big.”

Linskens and Stubbe did not let up in the third set.

“They’re usually pretty successful when they’re front runners,” Ehrhardt said. “That third set, we didn’t know how it was going to come out. They usually are pretty successful when they get out on top.”

The win assured both teams would be at state.

It was also the second time in two weeks Clarke’s top doubles teams met up in the final of a tournament. They both reached the final of the South Central Conference Tournament.

“I told them at conference, I said, ‘I think in about a week and a half, we’ll see each other in the finals.’”

Thursday, Redman and Stubbe had the upper hand, winning 6-4 and 7-5.

The match was not the most comfortable for either side.

“It kind of sucks, but it rocks knowing we both get to go on to state,” Redman said. “But, one has to lose.”

It was like a normal workout in Osceola, except this time they were playing in Norwalk.

“It’s pretty fun. We’re used to playing them in practice,” Stubbe said. “They’re always pushing us in practice. They want us to be our best.”

Ehrhardt kept close tabs on the match.

“The main thing is I’m looking for them to get better, looking for the little things,” Ehrhardt said.

Playing in a competitive situation also allowed both squads to experiment in a situation outside of practice.

“They were doing some little things maybe we wouldn’t work on against somebody else,” Ehrhardt said.

Clarke’s girls, and boys, tennis teams approached Ehrhardt about working out in the dead of winter inside.

An unseasonably mild and warm February gave the teams an opportunity to play on the courts outside much earlier than normal.

Those training sessions, workouts paid big dividends with a trip to state on the line.

“It just proves when you put in the time and effort, there’s things at the end,” Ehrhardt said. “We started with open gyms in January. They said, ‘hey, can we have open gyms?’ February was great. They were outside every night hitting. It pays

In singles play, Brittany Beckett defeated Saydel’s Casey Campbell 6-1, 6-0, but fell to Ballard’s Kate Rietz 6-0, 6-1. Lexy Carson fell in the first round to Norwalk’s Emma Tollefson 6-1, 6-2.

Girls team falls short of state

ATLANTIC — Clarke’s girls tennis team hoped it could do enough in singles to push Saturday’s Class 1A regional team final into the doubles competition.

Once there, the Lady Indians knew they had a decided advantage against the Rams. Clarke had just qualified its doubles teams of Sydnee Redman and Sydney Sickels, along with Megan Linskens and Deseree Stubbe for individual state two days before.

The breaks did not quite go Clarke’s way.

Glenwood advanced to the first round of state with a 5-1 win Saturday in Atlantic.

The Lady Indians picked up a three-set win from Brittany Beckett at number four singles. However, Sydnee Redman lost a three-set match at number one singles.

The Rams picked up straight set wins in the other four singles matches, ending the meet before doubles could be completed, as the first team to reach five wins in a team tournament match wins the meet and other matches are stopped regardless of where they are at.

Breaks that went Clarke’s way Thursday in the individual regional competition did not go their way Saturday.

“The ball just dropped on their side,” said Clarke coach Jeff Ehrhardt. “There were a lot of close matches, opportunities. The ball went on their side.”

Redman’s loss was especially tough.

“If we win a point there, we win the match 10-8 and instead we lose 10-8 and we’re playing doubles.”

One more win in singles would’ve meant an opportunity for the state doubles teams of Redman and Sydney Sickels, along with Deseree Stubbe and Megan Linskens, along with number three pairing of Beckett and Lexy Carson an opportunity to play.

Glenwood took care of business, however,

“That’s our strength is to play doubles, but we didn’t get there,” Ehrhardt said. “We knew if we could get there, that was something we could look forward too. They just happened to get us in singles.”

Still, the experience of playing in the regional final will be beneficial for much of the team. Five of the top seven are back next season.

“Playing to go to state will help us in future years,” Ehrhardt said. “I’m proud of the way the girls played.”

Clarke finishes its team season 10-2 overall and won the South Central Conference title once more.

The Lady Indians also have four playing at the state tournament.

“If you would’ve said that, I would take it in a heartbeat,” Ehrhardt said. “They’re a little down right now and that’s understandable, but they’ll bounce back.”

“It’s been a tremendous year.”

Glenwood 5, Clarke 0

Singles

Ellie Osterloh, G, def. Sydnee Redman, Clarke, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8); Brooklyn Taylor, G, def. Sydney Sickels, Clarke, 6-1, 6-0; Ruby Crow, G, def. Megan Linskens, Clarke, 6-2, 6-3; Brittany Beckett, Clarke, def. Erin Stanley, G, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6); Brielle Smith, G, def. Deseree Stubbe, Clarke, 6-2, 6-2; Seirra Stouder, G, def. Sydney Garrett, Clarke, 6-3, 6-4.

Boys tennis falls in substate final

CARROLL — Kuemper Catholic’s boys tennis team entered Monday’s rain delayed Class 1A boys tennis substate match against Clarke playing in front of the home faithful.

The Knights took full advantage of playing in front of their fans, and on their home courts.

Clarke never could find a way to find its footing.

Kuemper Catholic took advantage of all of that in leading to a 5-0 win Monday.

The Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead in singles. Kuemper Catholic’s Tanner Finken won a tough match against Reed Morris at number one singles, while Cam Pille and Justin Schroeder easily won at number two and three singles.

“We started out slow,” said Clarke coach Jeff Ehrhardt. “They took advantage of their home court.”

Morris played at less than 100 percent with an illness, but still battled.

“Reed wasn’t feeling very good, but played good,” Ehrhardt said.

Reed Rawlings picked up a key three-set win over the Knights over Nathan McCann at number four singles.

The home court served Rawlings well.

“Their crowd helped in some of the later matches to rally their kids, especially Nathan McCann’s match,” Ehrhardt said.

Matt Dentlinger, a South Dakota State basketball recruit, ended the match with a straight set win over Sam Reynoldson.

Dentlinger’s size, at 6-7, made for a difficult matchup for the much shorter Reynoldson.

“Sam Reynoldson played well, but had a very tough 6-7 opponent,” Ehrhardt said.

Zach Smith was up a set and tied at 6-6 in the second when the match ended. At the same time, Billy Otto and John Echeveste were leading in their doubles match.

Doubles did not come into play, which hurt the Indians.

“I know if we could have gotten to all the doubles, we would’ve had a shot,” Ehrhardt said.

Still, it was quite a successful season for the team. The Indians went 9-2 and won the South Central Conference tournament. Morris will play at the individual state tournament this Friday in Waterloo.

“I’m proud of all the things this team accomplished,” Ehrhardt said.

Monday was the final team match for Morris, Otto, Echeveste and McCann.

The foundation of what to do laid by Morris, Otto, Echeveste and McCann is set for the younger players.

“Our younger guys can see that putting in hard work does pay off,” Ehrhardt said.

Kuemper Catholic 5, Clarke 0

Singles

Tanner Finken, KC, def. Reed Morris 6-4, 6-2; Cam Pille, KC, def. Billy Otto, Clarke, 6-0, 6-0; Justin Schroeder, KC, def. John Echeveste, Clarke, 6-1, 6-1; Reed Rawlings, KC, def. Nathan McCann, Clarke, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; Matt Dentlinger, KC, def. Sam Reynoldson, Clarke, 6-2, 6-2.