Cougars 2nd at Dave Meyer Invitational
One week to the day after the passing of Washington boys tennis coach Dave Meyer, the Warriors hosted the newly named Dave Meyer Warrior Invitational in his honor.
“The first half of the week was especially tough,” Charlie Hammond said. “But getting back to practice I think really helped us. We are closer as a team, just trying to push each other through all of this.”
Despite playing undermanned and with heavy hearts, Washington was able to finish in fourth place and crown one champion when Hammond and Ian Fischer swept their way through the seeded double group.
“It was a ‘Do it for Dave,’ mentality.” Fischer said. “It’s an honor coming here and winning for him. I feel like we kind of did him justice.”
“I think we did well for him today, I think he would be proud of all of our playing,” Hammond added.
The Warriors were missing four varsity players because of ACT testing, so they were pleased with how they finished.
“I think we did pretty well considering we are missing two-thirds of our starting varsity tennis team,” Fischer said. “We had a pretty good showcase of our team depth.”
To commemorate Meyer, the Warriors had “DM” embroidered on their jerseys.
The Kennedy boys tennis team also helped Washington honor their late coach, giving the Warriors black wristbands with a blue and red “DM” on it.
“A lot of our parents know the Wash kids just through the years,” Kennedy Coach Craig Bova said. “We just thought it was fitting, especially for today, with this tournament being renamed for Dave. We want to commemorate him because he is here in spirit with us.”
The Cougars had a successful day, finishing second with 182 points, 44 behind champion Iowa City West.
“Better than expected,” Bova said. “I knew Wash was going to be tough, I knew Fairfield was going to be tough, I knew Iowa City West was going to be tough. After last year’s fifth place as a team, I was just hoping to be in the top three.”
DAVE MEYER INVITATIONAL
At Vets Tennis Center
Teams -- 1. Iowa City West 226, 2. Kennedy 182, 3. Fairfield Maharishi 143, 4. Washington 139, 5. Decorah 78, 6. Davenport Central 26.
No. 1 Singles
Winner -- Kyle Appel (ICW)
Riley Galbraith (CRK) def. Sam Arsanjani (FM), 10-3
Galbraith (CRK) def. Patrick Larson (Dec), 11-2
Galbraith (CRK) def. Neal Crooks (DC), 13-0
Galbraith (CRK) def. Mitch Blades (CRW), 11-2
Appel (ICW) def. Galbraith (CRK), 8-5
Appel (ICW) def. Blades (CRW), 10-3
Blades (CRW) def. Crooks (DC), 11-2
Blades (CRW) def. Arsanjani (FM), 9-4
Blades (CRW) def. Larson (Dec), 9-4
No. 2 Singles
Winner -- Blake Oetting (ICW)
Dan Wasta (CRK) def. Chance Beard (Dec), 12-1
Wasta (CRK) def. Lucas Wiseman (DC), 13-0
Wasta (CRK) def. Zach Detweiler (CRW), 13-0
Oetting (ICW) def. Wasta (CRK), 10-3
Wasta (CRK) def. Raphael Gelfand (FM), 9-4
Detweiler (CRW) def. Wiseman (DC), 7-6
Gelfand (FM) def. Detweiler (CRW), 9-4
Detweiler (CRW) def. Beard (Dec), 10-3
Oetting (ICW) def. Detweiler (CRW), 13-0
No. 1 Doubles
Winner -- Charlie Hammond/Ian Fischer (CRW)
Hammond/Fischer (CRW) def. Thomas Weiss/Derek Thatcher (FM), 7-6
Hammond/Fischer (CRW) def. Ethan Gascho/Nolan Nietert (CRK), 10-3
Hammond/Fischer (CRW) def. Owen Neubauer/Lucas Hunter (Dec), 10-3
Hammond/Fischer (CRW) def. A.Dellos/B.Dellos (ICW), 7-6
Hammond/Fischer (CRW) def. Tommy Corbin/Will Trasowech (DC), 13-0
Gascho/Nietert (CRK) def. Adam Boldt (ICW)/Peter Elkin (DC), 13-0
A.Dellos/B.Dellos (ICW) def. Gascho/Nietert (CRK), 8-5
Weiss/Thatcher (FM) def. Gascho/Nietert (CRK), 8-5
Gascho/Nietert (CRK) def. Neubauer/Hunter (Dec), 8-5
No. 2 Doubles
Winner -- Yoonso Kim/Karl Wenzel (ICW)
Robert Sweet/Bryce Blomberg (CRK) def. Reid Rosberger/Grant Kamin (CRW), 7-6
Kim/Wenzel (ICW) def. Sweet/Blomberg (CRK), 7-6
Sweet/Blomberg (CRK) def. Brandon Schwartz/Solaris Nite (FM), 11-2
Sweet/Blomberg (CRK) def. John Werner/TJ Misseldine (Dec), 11-2
Sweet/Blomberg (CRK) def. Corbin/Trasowech (DC), 13-0
Rossberger/Kamin (CRW) def. Werner/Misseldine (Dec), 11-2
Kim/Wenzel (ICW) def. Rossberger/Kamin (CRW), 11-2
Rossberger/Kamin (CRW) def. Corbin/Trasowech (DC), 13-0
Schwartz/Nite (FM) def. Rossberger/Kamin, 8-5
