DES MOINES — The Marshalltown boys’ tennis team remained unbeaten, yet the Bobcats still found things to work on in a win.
Class 2A No. 9 Marshalltown improved to 9-0 with Tuesday’s 9-2 victory over Des Moines Roosevelt, advancing to 7-0 in Iowa Alliance Conference play while still embracing its quest for perfection.
The Bobcats won the first nine contests before the host Roughriders (5-2) claimed the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles bouts to close the dual.
“Tough way to end the meet, losing at 1 and 2 doubles, but I think they were good experiences for our kids,” said MHS head coach James Christensen. “We need to really work on breaking ourselves out of bad streaks of tennis. Every player and squad had a few games in a row that they just couldn’t find it.
“I’ve got to do a better job coaching them to minimize the impact of those bad runs of play.”
Despite the slightly cloudy part of the sunny day of tennis, the Bobcats still handled an opponent they lost to 6-5 a year earlier in Marshalltown.
“Overall a positive night,” Christensen added.
MHS swept all 12 sets of singles tennis, getting straight-set victories up and down the lineup from Isaac Benscoter, Adam Boone, Caleb Rasmussen, Jacob Christen, Elliot Kodis and Kyle Smith.
Kodis and Evan Roush teamed up for a 6-3, 6-1 win over Danny Doan and Ben Wiederaenders at No. 3 doubles; Smith and Will Swartz scored a 6-0, 6-4 triumph at No. 4 over Elliot Eckoff and Max Ulrickson; and Tayven Dutton and Isaac Seberger secured a 6-1, 6-3 triumph at No. 5 over Finn Stagner and Alexander Zeff.
Benscoter and Christen suffered a 6-1, 7-5 loss at No. 1 doubles to Jack Kehoe and Brooks Arnold, while Boone and Rasmussen fell to Henry Godar and Malcolm Draper in a three-set showdown at No. 2, 6-7 (7-2), 6-2, (10-6).
The Bobcats have a day off before hosting Alliance rival Ames at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Marshalltown Court Complex. The Little Cyclones (7-2) ended Marshalltown’s four-match win streak against them last season with an 8-3 victory.
“Wednesday is all about getting ready for Ames,” Christensen said. “We will need to play our best to win.”
Marshalltown 9, Des Moines Roosevelt 2
SINGLES
Isaac Benscoter (MHS) def. Jack Kehoe, 6-1, 6-3
Adam Boone (MHS) def. Henry Godar, 6-3, 6-4
Caleb Rasmussen (MHS) def. Brooks Arnold, 6-3, 6-0
Jacob Christen (MHS) def. Malcolm Draper, 6-3, 6-3
Elliot Kodis (MHS) def. Danny Doan, 6-3, 6-0
Kyle Smith (MHS) def. Benjamin Wiederaenders, 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
Keloe and Arnold (DMR) def. Benscoter and Christen, 6-1, 7-5
Godar and Draper (DMR) def. Boone and Rasmussen, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, (10-6)
Kodis and Evan Roush (MHS) def. Doan and Wiederaenders, 6-3, 6-1
Smith and Will Swartz (MHS) def. Elliot Eckhoff and Max Ulrickson, 6-0, 6-4
Tayven Dutton and Isaac Seberger (MHS) def. Finn Stagner and Alexander Zeff, 6-1, 6-3