By Becky Walz,
Setting up for a forehand return on a volley is Decorah’s Nalean-Carlson in a recent home Viking match. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)
The second-ranked Decorah boys tennis team (8-2) finished a tough two-week stretch where the Vikes played eight duals in 13 days by competing against No. 10 Waverly-Shell Rock (5-3) immediately followed by No. 5 Boone (12-2) Friday.
It was another cold and windy day, with an early morning to travel to Waverly for a 9 a.m. start, where things started slowly but the team quickly warmed up and came away with a 7-2 team victory over the Go-Hawks, led by the trio of experienced Vikings at the top of the order in Caden Branum, Daniel Skrade and Landon Baker as well as a late addition to the singles lineup at No. 6 in Gabe Hiner due to an injury. In doubles play the Vikings came out fast and aggressive.
“The team worked very hard on doubles in practice this week and it showed against a tough opponent,” said Coach Matt Anderson.
Following a five-minute break, Decorah immediately took to the courts again against No. 5 Boone, a team the Vikes normally don’t play and know little about except knowing it was going to be a tough match. Again, Decorah’s top three came out fast and aggressive against a team that is very consistent and forces you to work every point. In addition, No. 4 Liam Chamberlain found his form and with aggressive forehands and net play secured a fourth singles win. As singles wound down fans could see the long day starting to affect the players legs and the mental challenge of the wind was tough against a fresher opponent.
“The team gathered before doubles and talked about finishing the day with everything they had left to give and it showed with wins at No. 2 and No. 3, which required a furious rally to win the final seven games in a row to win the 10 game superset 11-9. That was one of the most amazing comebacks I have ever seen at 4-9 down, I simply challenged the boys to win one point at a time and I didn’t talk to them again, I just watched them fight and claw their way back….so proud of that response,” said Coach Anderson. “The No. 1 team of Daniel Skrade and Landon Baker lost a very tough match as some cramping came into play. I was also very pleased with Aidan Nalean-Carlson, who had two tough singles matches against players he didn’t match up well against, but never hung his head and brought his best to help secure important doubles victories.”
At the end of the meet Decorah had secured a 6-3 team victory and a well-deserved weekend off.
Decorah is at Oelwein Tuesday, April 25, at 4 p.m., and will host Onalaska Friday, April 28, at 4 p.m.
Decorah 7, Waverly-Shell Rock 2
Singles: No. 1 Caden Branum (Dec) defeated Benny Ramker (W-SR) 10-3; No. 2 Daniel Skrade (Dec) defeated Luca Myers (W-SR) 10-0; No. 3 Landon Baker (Dec) defeated Seth Orta (W-SR) 10-5; No. 4 Liam Chamberlain (Dec) was defeated by Aidan Kelley (W-SR) 10-7; No. 5 Aidan Nalean-Carlson (Dec) was defeated by Brady Willis (W-SR) 10-7; No. 6 Gabriel Hiner (Dec) defeated Luis Portillo (W-SR) 10-7
Doubles: No. 1 Baker/Skrade (Dec) defeated Ramker/Myers (W-SR) 10-7; No. 2 Branum/Nalean-Carlson (Dec) defeated Orta/Willis (W-SR) 10-2; No. 3 Chamberlain/Hiner (Dec) defeated Kelley/Portillo (W-SR) 10-5
Decorah 6, Boone 3
Singles: No. 1 Caden Branum (Dec) defeated Cody Overland (Boone) 10-3; No. 2 Daniel Skrade (Dec) defeated Jake Judge (Boone) 10-5; No. 3 Landon Baker (Dec) defeated Joe Jordan (Boone) 10-7; No. 4 Liam Chamberlain (Dec) defeated Wesley Baber (Boone) 10-5; No. 5 Aidan Nalean-Carlson (Dec) was defeated by Ashton Thilges (Boone) 10-2; No. 6 Gabriel Hiner (Dec) was defeated by Lucas Thompson (Boone) 10-6
Doubles: No. 1 Baker/Skrade (Dec) was defeated by Jordan/Judge (Boone) 10-7; No. 2 Branum/Nalean-Carlson (Dec) defeated Overland/Baber (Boone) 10-8; No. 3 Chamberlain/Hiner (Dec) defeated Thilges/Thompson (Boone) 11-9
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