May 1. May 1 is our next target date to get the season underway. A lot can change in 3 weeks good or bad (hopefully good!) as we navigate these uncharted waters. While we keep practicing social distancing and hope for the best on this spring season, we have many seniors across the state who boast some great accomplishments and hoping to take the court with their teams one more time.
Jack Gruening - Marshalltown
What have you been doing during social distancing?
Keeping up with online school work, exercising, hitting tennis balls against the garage, and spending time with my family.
What were you looking forward to this season?
Being with my teammates and competing one final year.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Sophomore year districts, earning state singles alternate and advancing to sub-state as a team.
Post-graduation plans
I will be attending Drake University to study marketing and public relations.
Charlie Vandermillen - Dubuque Wahlert
What have you been doing during social distancing?
Playing tennis and reading.
What were you looking forward to this season?
The possibility of winning a team state championship.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Getting far into the state team tournament.
Post-graduation plans
I will be attending St. Norbert College to play tennis and study business.
Bailey Sinnwell - Columbus Catholic
What have you been doing during social distancing?
Working at Greenwood Pharmacy and playing tennis during my free time.What were you looking forward to this season?
Playing on last season next to my senior girls and seeing improvement from everyone.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Going to state for the first time.
Post-graduation plans
Play tennis at Wartburg College while majoring in graphic design and/or marketing.
Morgan Herrig - Dubuque Wahlert
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been watching a lot of Netflix, playing a lot of tennis, and having zoom meetings for school.
What were you looking forward to this season?
I was looking forward to having my final season as a Golden Eagle with my awesome teammates and coaches.
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite high school tennis memory was state my junior year. We had such an awesome group of girls that turned into family. We were all so close which made for a great season.
Post-graduation plans
I plan on studying business at the University of Northern Iowa.
Nile Petersen - Atlantic
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been doing a lot of running and working out and playing as much tennis as I can, while really hoping we can get this season in.
What were you looking forward to this season?
I have high hopes for what we can do as a team as we return everybody from last year.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Favorite high school tennis memory is making the team final four my sophomore year, and I think we have a good chance to do that again.
Post-graduation plans
I will be attending Wartburg College to play tennis.
Nate Withers - Ames
What have you been doing during social distancing?
Playing ping pong, frisbee golf and watching movies/new tv series with my family.What were you looking forward to this season?
Looking forward to being apart of a great team and all of the perks that come with it. Definitely looking forward to the state tournament as well as Co-Ed.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Getting 4th place at the state doubles tournament with partner Timmy Ellis.
Post-graduation plans
Continue my education and tennis career at Luther College.
Sid Kalala - Cedar Falls
What have you been doing during social distancing?
Catching up on sleep and playing a lot of video games.
What were you looking forward to this season?
Having a chance to compete at state tennis with my teammates.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Clinching meets 5-4 at 2 doubles with Ben Campbell freshman year.
Post-graduation plans
I'll likely be attending Washington University in St. Louis as I pursue my long term goal of becoming a doctor.
Zach Wallace - Southeast Polk
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been playing tennis and going on hikes with friends at local parks.
What were you looking forward to this season?
What I was most looking forward to this season was playing my senior year and being with all of my teammates before leaving for college in Illinois.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Playing in my first varsity meet or playing in the North Polk invite.
Post-graduation plans
I will be going to Sauk Valley Community College where I will be playing tennis and majoring in secondary education of social studies and also my school administration degree.
Logan Caudill - Chariton
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been spending time with my family and trying to make the best of these unprecedented times.
What were you looking forward to this season?
This year I was looking forward to having a great season with the same guys I have been playing with for the last 3 years. I especially was excited to try and make a run in doubles with one of my best friends, Ty Luedtke.
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite high school memory in tennis is a memory that is still on going, that is turning the culture around here in our tennis program. My freshman year, we went 0-9, and we have improved every year since and won our conference last year finishing the season 8-1.
Post-graduation plans
I plan on attending Bradley University in the fall and will major in sports communication with a minor in mathematics.
Luke VanDonslear - Linn-Mar
What have you been doing during social distancing?
A lot of working out to keep up my fitness.
What were you looking forward to this season?
Looking forward to competing for a state championship.
Favorite high school tennis memory
Winning team state my sophomore year.
Post-graduation plans
I will be attending the University of Northern Colorado to play tennis and major in exercise science.
Simon Sinclair - Ankeny Centennial
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been discovering new music, playing tennis and building skills in other hobbies.
What were you looking forward to this season?
I was looking forward to enhancing my tennis skills and working together as a team.
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite memory of high school tennis is the end of the season tournaments and pool parties our team puts on.
Post-graduation plans
I plan on going to Iowa State and majoring in marketing.
Kaylyn Chleborad - Dowling Catholic
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been practicing tennis a lot with my family and talking with friends online.
What were you looking forward to this season?
I was looking forward to hanging out with my teammates and hopefully doing well at state.
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite high school tennis memory was winning individual state with my doubles partner, Allison Szalay. Another favorite memory I have is getting second in team state my freshman year.
Post-graduation plans
I will be going to Northwest Missouri Sate to continue my tennis career.
Sofia Sackett - Dowling Catholic
What have you been doing during social distancing?
While I have been practicing social distancing from others, I have been playing tennis, running and going on walks with my family. I have also been staying in touch with my friends through social media and FaceTime.
What were you looking forward to this season?
I was looking forward to many more memories with my teammates and coaches who make me laugh and have pushed me to become the play I am
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite high school tennis memory was getting second in team state my freshman year. Another great memory was getting third at singles state my junior year.
Post-graduation plans
I will be attending Luther College where I will continue my tennis and academic careers.
Natalie Gilbert - Shenandoah
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been doing at home workouts, playing tennis, completing a college course, artwork, watching Tiger King and walking my dog during this social distancing time.
What were you looking forward to this season?
This season I was looking forward to warmer weather and being able to be outside. I was also looking forward to making memories with my teammates, coaches and playing with my sister again.
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite high school tennis memory is junior year in the semi-finals of the state tournament match because I spent it with my sister, and had a great group of supporters. Any time you make it to the state tournament you make a lot of great memories with your teammates.
Post-graduation plans
I will be attending Kansas State in the fall to major in interior design.
Nichole Gilbert - Shenandoah
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been running, cleaning, doing college classes and HS coursework, art, watching Netflix and playing tennis during this isolation time.
What were you looking forward to this season?
I was looking forward to finishing my high school tennis run with my sister and life long coaches in a very supportive community that acts like a second family to me.
Favorite high school tennis memory
I'm not sure there is on between making locker decorations, listening to Delanie Bopp debate with Coach Daoust, eating a lot of food, Coach Johnson always taking care of us, treat Tuesdays, getting stranded in the University of Iowa's locker room for hours our junior year at state because of a tornado, Marylin Cepeda and I playing for 3 hours my freshman year at state and frying our entire first layer of skin off, and of course all the real talks with my coaches.
Post-graduation plans
I will be attending Iowa State this fall majoring in architecture.
Krisha Keeran - Cedar Falls
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been learning how to do yoga! I also have been watching a lot of tv shows and movies.
What were you looking forward to this season?
I was looking forward to having the opportunity to play with my sister one last time before going to college.
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite high school tennis memory is when CF made it to state for the first time last year as a team. It was really neat to be able to make school history with my teammates!
Post-graduation plans
I will be going to Case Western Reserve University and will also be playing tennis. I plan on majoring in biology and going on the pre-med track.
Bailey Vifian - CR Jeff
What have you been doing during social distancing?
I have been working on my Concurrent Kirkwood courses, doing arts and crafts, and spending quality time with my family.
What were you looking forward to this season?
This season I was looking forward to improving as a player and enjoying one last season before I graduate. I was also looking forward to spending time with my teammates and coach.
Favorite high school tennis memory
My favorite high school tennis memory was during my freshman year when my doubles partner and I were in a varsity meet. The meet was tied 4-4 and we won our match to clinch the meet. We were so excited and felt so accomplished! I also loved getting to establish relationships with people that will last forever.
Post-graduation plans
I plan to attend the University of Northern Iowa to major in elementary education.
Ryan Lofgren - Ankeny Centennial
What have you been doing during social distancing?
Over these past few weeks, I have been playing a lot of Xbox (2k and Fortnite), but I'm still trying to get out and play tennis as much as I can. If tennis isn't available then my dad is always willing to play ping pong with me!
What were you looking forward to this season?
This season, I was looking forward to spending time with my teammates and getting the chance to compete for a state title.
Favorite high school tennis memory
While the memories over the past three seasons are countless, two stick out in my mind. First, in the 2018 individual state tournament, my partner Sam Marold and I had a comeback in our third match to secure a top-eight finish. Secondly, last year playing CR Washington at sub-state, my partner Samson Densmore had a crazy shot that saved our postseason chances!
Post-graduation plans
Next year I am planning to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia to major in civil engineering.
Samson Densmore - Ankeny Centennial
What have you been doing during social distancing?
Staying active, spending time with family, and growing my faith.
What were you looking forward to this season?
The experiences with a great group of guys. Always a joy on and off the court with the team.
Favorite high school tennis memory
State last year. Round of 16. The meet score was 4-4. Partner Ryan Lofgren and I were down 0-40 5-6 in the 3rd set of the last match. It was three match points in a row. We came back to win the game, and it pumped us up to win the set, and then the match. We ended up getting 4th at state and I couldn't have been more proud of what we had accomplished.
Post-graduation plans
The World Race. It is a nine month mission trip starting in September. I will be traveling to eSwatini, Ethiopia, and Cambodia.
Comments
Post a Comment