Newton boys struggle to recover from slow start in tennis defeat against Indianola – Newton Daily News

In a thrilling match at Aurora Heights Park, the Newton boys tennis team faced off against Indianola, with Ethan Valtman shining with his seventh win of the season. Despite the Cardinals having an advantage in doubles matches, they fell short in tiebreakers, ultimately losing 7-4 to Indianola.

The night started off with Newton going 1-5 in singles matches, with four of those losses coming down to tiebreakers that didn’t go their way. Head coach Jared Gerber expressed disappointment, saying, “We were hoping this could be a match we could win, but we went 0-5 in tiebreaks. A couple of points made the difference in the match.”

Valtman managed to secure the lone singles win for Newton, while Evan Marshall and Harrison Oswalt fought hard in their matches but ultimately came up short in tiebreakers. The team showed resilience in the doubles matches, with Valtman and Marshall winning at No. 1 doubles, and Oswalt and Andrew Wiles securing a victory at No. 2 doubles.

Despite the loss, Gerber praised the team’s effort, especially highlighting Valtman’s consistent performance and the improved doubles play. With this result, Newton’s record now stands at 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference, while Indianola improved to 6-5 and 3-2 in the Little Hawkeye Conference.

In another match against Class 1A No. 2 Pella, Newton faced a tough challenge but showed determination and skill on the court. Although Pella emerged victorious with an 11-0 win, Newton’s players, especially seniors like Seth Adams and Evan Marshall, put up a strong fight in both singles and doubles matches.

Despite the losses, Gerber commended the seniors for their efforts on Senior Night and acknowledged the team’s growth and improvement throughout the season. Pella remains undefeated at 6-0 and 4-0 in the conference, while Newton continues to show promise and resilience in the face of tough competition.