WAVERLY — Starting the final weekend of the American Rivers Conference regular season, the Central College men’s tennis team lost 6-3 at Wartburg College Friday night.
In a match where the winner was virtually assured a top-three finish in the American Rivers Conference, the Dutch (8-11, 5-2 American Rivers Conference) were defeated by the Knights (10-16, 5-2 conference).
“Sometimes when you really want to win, you forget to focus on the little things,” coach Ryun Ferrell he said. “And that’s what happened in the beginning, we tried to be a little too fancy.”
Central fell behind after losing two of three doubles matches, meaning they needed four singles victories to win the match. The only doubles win for the Dutch came at No. 3 ace Alejo Marcon (sophomore, Resistencia, Argentina, Pella Christian HS) and Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy (freshman, Kerrville, Texas, Tivy HS) won 8-2.
“Those two looked amazing in doubles,” Ferrell said.
Ayden Fletcher (junior, Waukee) controlled the No. 1 singles match, taking a 6-4, 6-3 win.
“He played one of the smartest matches I’ve ever seen him play,” Ferrell said. “He used his mind and not his power to carve up his oppoenent.”
Marcon also earned a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win in his No. 3 singles match.
“Alejo had a great day,” Ferrell said. “He fought through some cramps and still won.”
The Dutch have their final American Rivers Conference regular season match Saturday morning at 10 am in Cedar Rapids at Coe College
“Hopefully we can remember for tomorrow,” Ferrell said. “This one stings but we’re going to go after Coe as hard as we can.”
