By Becky Walz,
Representing the Decorah boys tennis team at the Class 1A team state tournament and bringing home fourth place were (l-r) Keaton Nalean-Carlson, Caden Branum, Aiden Nalean-Carlson, Daniel Skrade, Landon Baker, Liam Chamberlain, Seth Bolson and Gabe Hiner. (submitted photo)
Seeded third, Decorah boys tennis team traveled to Iowa City Wednesday and Thursday, May 31-June 1, to participate in the Class 1A state team tennis tournament finishing fourth at the event held at the University of Iowa Tennis and Rec Center.
Wednesday morning the Vikes took to the courts against sixth-seeded Boone, a team Decorah had beaten 6-3 in a tight match earlier in the season.
“We felt we matched up well but knew that we had to play our best in the tough hot conditions, temperatures on court were nearing 100. Typically, we put all six singles matches out at once, but we only had three courts available because a prior meet was running long. This format changed our energy a little but our top three guys came out fast and secured a quick 3-0 team lead. The second set of matches to go out got tighter but the boys withstood the pressure and won at position 4 and 5 to secure to the team win,” explained Coach Matt Anderson.
This victory set up a showdown in the semifinals later Wednesday afternoon against the No. 2 seed and eventual champion Cedar Rapids Xavier, who has now won four straight team titles. Against Xavier the Vikes started fast in the heat jumping out to first set victories and/or leads in five of the six matches, but slowly Xaviers’ experience started to show as they chipped away at the lead. Decorah did not wilt though the Vikes continued to fight before losing two third sets.
“This was the most intense, physically exhausting meet I’ve been involved in the last five years and Decorah rose to the occasion and gave everything they had while playing their best tennis of the year,” noted Coach Anderson.
Thursday Decorah was back to face Dubuque Walhert, a familiar foe the last three years, for third place.
“We knew it was going to be a grind in the heat after playing two tough matches the day before,” said Coach Anderson.
Unlike the Xavier match, it was Decorah who started slow and had to fight back, in singles it was a back and forth affair ultimately finishing 3-3 heading in doubles. In doubles the Vikes lost some momentum right away with a twisted ankle at No. 3, which what that team could do strategically. At No. 2 the Vikes played tough and got a much needed win. At No. 1 Decorah had a high quality back and forth match with neither team giving anything away, but in the end the Vikes lost bringing the season to a close.
“From day one this season we challenged this team at practice, in meets against top opponents and double dual days and often it was a grind, but they responded every time with quality and fun. It’s one of those season’s that you didn’t want to end. The fans were awesome all season, and especially showed up at state, it felt a bit like a family reunion the last two days, and was so much fun seeing everyone interact,” concluded Coach Anderson.
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