By Becky Walz,
The Decorah boys’ tennis team took its second road trip of the season to Waverly to play the Waverly-Shell Rock Go-Hawks and secured a 9-0 varsity win.
“It was advertised to be a cold, windy day and it lived up to its billing with one caveat, it was mostly sunny. W-SR is an inexperienced team and to their chagrin, and ours, their No. 2 player got sick and could not play,” said Coach Reg Laursen.
The squads began the night with doubles play to allow for early JV play. The No. 1 duo of Gabe Anderson and Caden Branum defeated Brady Ramker and Kellen Pugh in easy 6-1 and 6-0 sets. Teaming up at No. 2 doubles were Daniel Skrade and Brendan Hunter to best Isaac Becker and Mason Ellerbrock, 6-4 and 6-1. Edwin Holyoake and Noah Tapscott stepped onto the court as the Vikings’ No. 3 doubles team to best Aidan Kelley and Isaac Britt, 6-1 and 6-4.
Decorah swept the singles matches as well with Anderson defeating Ramker (6-0, 6-0) at the No. 1 slot. Skrade took on Becker at the No. 2 spot to win 6-1 and 6-0 sets, while Branum swept Ellerbrock in a pair of 6-0 sets at the No. 3 spot. Hunter added to the Vikings’ success with two 6-0 sets over Kelley at No. 4. Facing Kelley of W-SR, Holyoake defeated Britt, 6-1 and 6-2 in the No. 5 spot. Rounding out the singles action was No. 6 Luke Walter over Pugh, 6-3 and 6-0.
“The entire team embraced the windy tough conditions and executed their game plans well,” said Coach Anderson. “Sometimes when the score looks nice early it is hard to stay focused on footwork which is an especially valuable commodity when playing in the wind. The guys recognized that fact and generally did a good job. Also, windy conditions call for larger margins for error on one’s shots, especially on second serves.”
In junior varsity action, Landon Baker, Michael Njus, Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Noah Spilde-Maki, Grady Brauer, Nolan Jacobsen, Noah Lovelace, Wyatt Hackman, Carter Kowitz, Grant Timm, Benton Sparrow, Seth Thompson, Adam Walter, James Alberts, Thomas Foster, Gabriel Hiner, Simon Mumford and Lucas Arendt produced four wins, four losses and two ties.
“Even though it was only our third match of the season, we have already seen our players make great improvements in their skills and they were able to show it on the courts,” said Coach Wilker.
The Vikings next competition will be as hosts Clear Lake Friday, April 16, at 4:30 p.m.
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