NHS boys come up short on tennis courts

Newton High’s boys are young and inexperienced on the tennis court. Cardinal head coach Nick Hoskins knew that fact heading into the 2015 season.

“With only one returning singles player, I was not sure what to expect going into our meet tonight,” Hoskins said of Newton’s season-opener at home Monday against Marshalltown. “Our doubles teams are not settled yet, and the weather has not helped us the past week in practicing outside to have opportunities to work on our doubles games.”

With that said, the Cardinal boys met Marshalltown’s Bobcats on the Aurora Heights Park tennis courts Monday and came out with an 11-0 varsity dual loss.

Sophomore Joe Stammeyer is the lone returning singles player for the Cardinals. He played No. 6 singles a year ago, but has moved up to the No. 2 slot this season.

Stammeyer dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Marshalltown’s Brandon Chuloupek in the No. 2 singles match. Playing No. 1 singles for Newton was John Trettin, a sophomore from Lynnville-Sully. John Trettin lost 6-0, 6-1 to Vincent Zarola-Livengood.

Sophomore James Trettin, also from Lynnville-Sully, was Newton’s No. 3 singles player. He lost 7-5, 6-1 to Eric Wemberg. Jared Griffin, a senior, played at No. 4 singles for the Cardinals, losing 6-1, 6-0 to Kade Vapara.

“Joe showed he is able to hold his own against more challenging competition. We have a few things to hone in on, but I feel confident he will improve greatly as the season goes on,” Hoskins said.

“James showcased a little of his talent as well tonight. After a back-and-forth first set which could easily have gone into a tiebreaker, a muscle cramp slowed him down in the second set. We have a few things to tighten up with his game also.”

Newton’s Reid Miller lost 6-2, 6-0 to Tony Smith in the No. 5 singles match. Sophomore Seamus Vandemore dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Marshalltown’s Beau Ragland at No. 6 singles.

Marshalltown’s Zarola-Livengood and Chulopek defeated Newton’s Trettin and Trettin, 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 1 doubles match. Newton’s Stammeyer and Griffin lost 6-3, 6-4 to Wemberg and Andrew Walker at No. 2 doubles.

Dropping a 6-1, 6-1 decision at No. 3 doubles were Newton’s Miller and Vandemore against Vapara and Hunter Riedl. At No. 4 doubles, Newton’s Jonah Keeton and Michael McKinney lost 6-1, 6-0 to Smith and Faircloth. Marshalltown’s Ragland and Nate Harris beat Newton’s Parker Schuster and Nick Geerlings, 6-0, 6-1, in No. 5 doubles.

“I’ve been toying with the lineup for doubles pretty much since we started practice,” Hoskins said. “Consistency is the key as far as doubles play goes, and I have to figure that out fast.”

Newton travels to Grinnell Tuesday in Little Hawkeye Conference play. Matches begin at 4:15 p.m.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com