March 28, 2024

Newton’s Vitek wins in super tiebreaker

MARSHALLTOWN — Newton’s Jon Vitek and Marshalltown’s Cade Vapara each had a set victory. They found themselves tied at 6-6 in the deciding third set, so the two high school tennis players played a super tiebreaker.

Vitek pulled out a 12-10 win in the tiebreaker to post the Cardinals’ only win of the boys’ season opener Tuesday. Vitek won the No. 2 singles match 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (12-10). Newton lost to host Marshalltown, 10-1, in the meet.

“Overall, I was happy with the effort that I saw from the boys. The weather has really impacted our practice time and I could see clearly the areas we need to improve on,” Cardinal head coach Nick Hoskins said. “I am looking forward to seeing great progress from this group in the near future.”

Newton’s Ben Van Dalen dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision to Clay Platt in the No. 1 singles match. Van Dalen and Vitek combined as the Cards’ No. 1 doubles team. They lost 6-4, 6-4 to Platt and Vapara.

Hoskins said Van Dalen and Vitek showed they can really work together well as a pair and he anticipates great improvements from the pair as the season continues. Hoskins also pointed to the play of freshman Joe Stammeyer, who lost to Riley Faircloth, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 5 singles.

“Joe showed promise in his first varsity meet,” Hoskins said. “He looked good in his first competition in the sport of tennis. He shows indications of being able to hold his own amongst the upperclassmen that he may face in the future.”

In the No. 3 singles match, Marshalltown’s Austin Sowers beat Alex Cron, 6-0, 6-3. Newton’s Brain Jones lost 6-2, 6-3 to Andrew Walker at No. 4 singles and Chas Antle lost the No. 6 singles match, 6-1, 6-1, to the Bobcats’ Eric Weinberg.

Cron and Jones played the No. 2 doubles match for the Cardinals, losing 6-2, 6-2 to Sowers and Weinberg. Stammeyer and Liam Briggs lost, 6-0, 6-0, to Walker and Faircloth at No. 3 doubles.

Newton’s Antle and Jarred Griffin dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision to Tony Smith and Joey Smith at No. 4 doubles. In the No. 5 doubles match, Newton’s Austin Van Brogen and Sean Richardson lost, 6-0, 6-1, to Vincent Zarala-Livengood and Beau Ralgland.