BOYS TENNIS: Van Diest secures spot in state tourney
Lynx senior finishes second in singles play, becomes first WC state qualifier in seven yearsBy Troy Banning, DFJ Sports Editor
POSTED: May 9, 2008
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Team Standings1. St. Edmond 21; 2. Aplington-Parkersburg 19; 3. South Hardin 15; 4. Webster City 13; 5. Clear Lake 7; 6. Dike-New Hartford and Gundy Center 0.
Webster City Results
Singles
Jake Van Diest
Def. John Hubbard (A-P) 6-3, 6-0.
Def. Michael Hancock (SE) 6-3, 6-1.
Lost to Lane Luhring (A-P) 6-2, 6-1.
Jesse Ahrens
Def. Spencer Nelson (SH) 6-4, 6-1.
Def. Chris Arians (CL) 6-1, 6-1.
Lost to Lane Luhring (A-P) 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles
Jacob Ahrens/Zach Perkovich
Def. Luke Humburg/Logan Williams (CL) 6-4, 6-4.
Lost to Bryan Huss/Jon Engler (SE) 6-2, 6-1.
Alex Davis/Nate Watne
Lost Andy Kockler/Walker Wilson (CL) 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4.
Webster City's No. 1 singles player finished second at a Class 1A district meet and advanced to the state meet in Waterloo on May 23 and 24. Van Diest — who has envisioned competing at the state meet ever since he first stepped foot on the high school courts three years ago — became the first Lynx player since Tim Vaske in 2001 to punch his ticket to state.
"Jake's been working for this for so long, so I could not be happier for him," Webster City head coach Bruce Johnston said. "I couldn't ask for a harder working, more coachable player."
Van Diest's efforts pushed Webster City into fourth-place with 13 points in the overall team standings. Fort Dodge St. Edmond claimed the district title with 21 points, followed by Aplington-Parkersburg (19) and South Hardin (15). The top three teams qualified for the substate round.
"We were hoping to sneak up to that third position and continue playing as a team, but I couldn't be happier with my overall team performance," Johnston said.
Van Diest, the No. 2 seed, picked up straight sets wins over John Hubbard of Aplington-Parkersburg (6-3, 6-0) and Michael Hancock of St. Edmond (6-3, 6-1) to reach the championship round. But a severe case of leg cramps during his finals match against top-seed Lane Luhring of A-P left him barely able to move and Luhring won easily (6-2, 6-1).
"Jake was a hurting unit," Johnston said. "To his credit, he did stay with it and he would not quit. I advised him to quit, but he wouldn't do it."
Van Diest is 9-2 in singles play this season. Both of his losses are to Luhring.
Jesse Ahrens, another Webster City senior and the No. 4 seed, reached the singles semifinal round before he fell to Luhring (6-2, 6-1). Earlier, Ahrens defeated Spencer Nelson of South Hardin (6-4, 6-1) and Chris Arians of Clear Lake (6-1, 6-1).
"It was a great day for Jesse," Johnston said. "He closed out his career in great fashion."
The Webster City doubles team of Jacob Ahrens and Zach Perkovich went 1-1 on the day. After dropping the first four games of the match, the Lynx tandem regrouped to knock off Clear Lake's Luke Humburg and Logan Williams (6-4, 6-4). They then fell to the No. 1-seeded and eventual champion St. Edmond team of Bryan Huss and John Engler (6-2, 6-1).
The other Lynx doubles unit — Alex Davis and Nate Watne — dropped a three-set marathon to Clear Lake's Walker Wilson and Andy Kockler (7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4).
