Newton boys down Grinnell in tennis opener

Four Cardinals finished 2-0 for the night and five boys from the Newton tennis team won their first-ever varsity matches during the squad’s 9-2 victory over Grinnell at Aurora Heights Park.

The Cardinals were 5-0 in doubles action during the non-conference matchup.

“We played really well for the first match of the year,” Newton head boys tennis coach Jared Gerber said. “There were some early nerves, but the guys settled in and beat a good Grinnell team.”

The dual started with doubles as a few Cardinals had other obligations to get to later in the evening.

Ethan Valtman and Ethan Freese teamed up at No. 1 doubles and Ethan squared rallied to win 3-6, 6-4, 10-5. Valtman and Freese downed the Tigers’ top two singles players in the match.

The first win of the night for Newton came from Zane Munger and Noah Tremel at No. 5 doubles. The Cardinal duo won 6-2, 6-3 for their first varsity victories.

Garett Crandall and Gentry Swarts also claimed their first-ever varsity tennis win. The duo teamed up to win 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), 10-7 at No. 4 doubles.

“Some of the guys stepped up in big ways in their first varsity matches,” Gerber said. “We’re excited to build on this season and see how far this team can go as we continue to get better.”

Kaden Marshall was 2-0 in his debut. His first varsity win came at No. 2 doubles where he teamed up with Ezra Bartell to win 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Damien Smith and Brady Swihart also scored a sweep at No. 3 doubles. They defeated Grinnell’s No. 4 and No. 6 singles players 6-2, 6-2.

All four of Newton’s singles victories came in straight sets. Valtman defeated Zander Freeman 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, Marshall downed Aden Wolfe 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and Smith scored a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Wyatt Sumner at No. 6 singles.

Freese produced his first varsity singles win in the No. 4 spot. He swept Luke Ohlsen 6-1, 6-0.

Valtman, Freese and Smith all joined Marshall with a 2-0 night.

Bartell’s singles loss came in three sets. Chase Randall defeated Bartell 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 at No. 2 singles.