February 12, 2025

Newton boys tennis splits home triangular

Cardinals down Nevada, fall to Pella Christian at Aurora Heights Park

By Troy Hyde

Newton sophomore Ezra Bartell, right, competes against Nevada during the Cardinals' battle with the Cubs at Aurora Heights Park on Tuesday. Newton defeated the Cubs 9-2. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

A long day of tennis ended in a split for the Newton boys’ tennis team on Tuesday.

The Cardinals hosted Nevada and Pella Christian for a triangular, played until as late as 9:35 p.m. and ended the day with an easy win over the Cubs and a narrow loss to the Eagles at Aurora Heights Park.

“It was a long, warm day of tennis,” Newton head boys tennis coach Jared Gerber said. “Our first match started at 1:30 and we finished playing at 9:35. Overall, we played well. We showed lots of improvement.”

Evan Marshall and Andrew Wiles were unbeaten in singles action for the day as the Cardinals downed Nevada 9-2 and lost to Pella Christian 6-3.

Newton senior Collin Buchli won a pair of matches against Nevada during a home triangular at Aurora Heights Park on Tuesday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Newton’s day began with a relatively easy win over the Cubs. Newton and Pella Christian played Nevada in a first one to eight single-set format.

Marshall, Ethan Valtman, Seth Adams, Collin Buchli, Ezra Bartell and Wiles all won their singles matches and the doubles teams of Marshall and Adams, Valtman and Wiles and Buchli and Bartell also won their matches.

Pella Christian was 4-2 in singles matches against Newton. The wins came from Marshall and Wiles, who both won in three sets.

Marshall claimed a 6-0, 3-6, 10-4 win at No. 1 singles and Wiles registered a 6-4, 0-6, 16-14 victory at No. 6 singles.

Both of Marshall’s singles matches went the distance. His win over Nevada went into overtime.

“I was really proud of Evan,” Gerber said. “He played three tough tiebreaks and won them all, showing great mental toughness and the focus to win those matches.”

The other victory against the Eagles came at No. 4 doubles where Damien Smith and Stone Lillard claimed a 6-7, 6-4, 10-8 triumph.

“Damien and Stone at No. 4 doubles also had a huge comeback in their match that showed great teamwork and determination,” Gerber said.

Newton sophomore Evan Marshall serves against Nevada during his match at No. 1 singles on Tuesday. He needed overtime to win the match but secured a perfect singles record for his team against the Cubs following a 10-8 victory. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The Cardinals were 3-2 in three-set matches against Pella Christian. Buchli and Bartell won their first doubles set 8-3, but the Eagles wrapped up the team win before they could earn the two-set sweep.

“Our match against Pella Christian was about as even as it could be,” Gerber said. “Six of the 11 matches went to a third-set tiebreak.

“We let a few matches get away from us. We’ll need to learn how to keep pushing our opponents when we have the lead rather than allowing them to gain confidence and get back in the match.”

Notes: Buchli won two matches against Nevada before attending the Cardinals’ track and field photo day at H.A. Lynn Stadium. He then returned to Aurora Heights Park to compete against Pella Christian.