May 24, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Panther tennis teams sweep Chariton

By LARRY PETERSON

Creston/O-M freshman Jaden Driskell hits a volley at the net against Andrew Vandentop of Chariton in Tuesday's dual meet at the Southwestern courts. Driskell won the No. 4 singles match, 8-2. (CNA photo)

Creston tennis teams had a perfect night Tuesday — matching the weather — in shutting out both the Chariton girls and boys teams by 9-0 scores.

The Panther boys improved to 3-4 in blanking the Chargers at the SWCC courts. (The official outcome of Monday’s dual against Red Oak has not been determined after the lineup was submitted incorrectly to Red Oak coaches. Creston won six of those nine matches.)

“Today was an absolutely perfect day to play tennis, and both teams really enjoyed getting to play,” Panther coach Kevin Cooper said. “Chariton had almost the exact same numbers as us, so it was great to get in some JV matches along with the varsity matches. We were able to secure the meet victory during singles. It will be nice to have a few days of practice before we get ready for the Hawkeye 10 tennis tournament next Monday in Council Bluffs.”

At Chariton, Creston girls (now 5-3) sailed 9-0, including four victories by 8-0 scores — two each in singles and doubles.

That was a nice turnaround from a 9-0 loss Monday to a powerful Red Oak team poised for another state run.

“Tonight was quite the turnaround after last night,” Creston assistant coach Amanda Plymale said. “I’m happy the team came out and played hard after a tough loss to a tough opponent last night. We have the rest of the week off to practice and start getting ready for conference. Our final home meet is Tuesday against Boone.”

BOYS

Creston 9, Chariton 0

Singles — Ryan Kucera (Cr) def. Ryan Jones (Ch), 8-2; Triston Davidson (Cr) def. Spencer Truman (CH), 8-2; Jacob Cook (Cr) def. Nathan Kalsen (Ch), 8-1; Jaden Driskell (Cr) def. Andrew Vadentop (Ch), 8-2; Seth Maitlen (Cr) def. Kaleb Schrodt (Ch), 8-0; Sam Eagan (Cr) def. Lucas Hoeger (Ch), 8-3.

Doubles — Kucera-Davidson (Cr) def. Jones-Truman (Ch), 8-5; Cook-Driskell (Cr) def. Kalsen-Vadentop (Ch), 8-0; Eagan-Maitlen (Cr) def. Schrodt-Hoeger (Ch), 8-5.

JV singles — Jacob Sommers (Ch) def. Tyler Waddingham (Cr), 6-0; Dylan Anson (Cr) def. Michael Lawrence (Ch), 6-5; Thor Sorensen (Ch) def. Ethan Anderson (Cr), 6-4; Clayton Davis (Cr) def. Kyle Dooley (Ch), 6-0; Jake Hitz (Cr) def. Mathew Keller (CH), 6-3; Matthew Keller (Ch) def. Josh Rafter (Cr), 4-0.

JV doubles — Sommers-Lawrence (Ch) def. Waddingham-Anderson (Cr), 6-3; Hitz-Anson (Cr) def. Sorensen-Dooley (Ch), 6-4; Sorensen-Keller (Ch) def. Davis-Rafter (Cr), 5-2.

Creston/O-M 6, Red Oak 3

(Score not official yet due to lineup error.)

Singles — Ryan Kucera (Cr) def. Keatis Kunze (RO), 6-2; Weston Rolenc (RO) def. Triston Davidson (Cr), 6-1; Dean Smith (RO) def. Jacob Cook (Cr), 7-6 (7-2); Jaden Driskell (Cr) def. Donnie Torbett (RO), 6-1; Seth Maitlen (Cr) def. Jesse Taylor (Cr), 7-6 (7-4); Sam Eagan (Cr) def. Sean Griffen (RO), 6-2.

Doubles — Kunze-Rolenc (RO) def. Kucera-Davidson (Cr), 6-4; Cook-Driskell (Cr) def. Smith-Torbett (RO), 6-2; Eagan-Maitlen (Cr) def. Taylor-Griffen (RO), 6-4.

GIRLS

Creston/O-M 9, Chariton 0

Singles — Jenna Taylor (Cr) def. Alexis Mullins (Ch), 8-0; Alli Thomsen (Cr) def. Anna Ilyenko (Ch), 8-2; Caitlin McIlravy (Cr) def. Sarah Fuhs (Ch), 8-2; Sydney Dunphy (Cr) def. Mackenzie Curran (Ch), 8-1; Gracie Russell (Cr) def. Kasey Lahart (Ch), 8-0; Ann Waigand (Cr) def. Jessica Wiederholt (Ch), 9-8 (5).

Doubles — Taylor-Thomsen (Cr) def. Ilyenko-Fuhs (Ch), 8-0; McIlravy-Dunphy (Cr) def. Mullins-Lahart (Ch), 8-0; Russell-Waigand (Cr) def. Curran-Siederholt (Ch), 9-8 (5).

JV doubles — Paige Donahue-Danielle Donahue (Ch) def. Sara Williamson-Leah Stow (Cr), 5-3; Mattie Wheeler-Madison Callahan (Cr) def. Ying Jiang-Kati Farrell (Ch), 5-2; Chloe Hagle-Cassandra Anderson (Cr) def. Jordan Blubaugh-Gizzy Keeler (Ch), 5-1; Donahue-Donahue (Ch) def. Alison Norton-Morgan Shawler (Cr), 5-2; Ashley Bargstadt-Macy Evans (Cr) def. Jiang-Farrell (Ch), 5-1; Blubaugh-Keeler (Ch) def. Livi Hartman-Cassandra Batten (Cr), 5-2.

Red Oak 9, Creston/O-M 0

Singles — Kate Walker (RO) def. Jenna Taylor (Cr), 6-0; Grace Blomstedt (RO) def. Alli Thomsen (Cr), 6-0; Micayla Taylor (RO) def. Caitlin McIlravy (Cr), 6-4; Sarah Behrens (RO) def. Sydney Dunphy (Cr), 6-2; Jordyn Cornelison (RO) def. Gracie Russell (Cr), 7-6 (3); Makayla Lerette (RO) def. Ann Waigand (Cr), 6-2.

Doubles — Blomstedt-Taylor (RO) def. Taylor-Thomsen (Cr), 6-1; Walker-Behrens (RO) def. McIlravy-Dunphy (Cr), 6-2; Madison Gilbert-Tannah Halvin (RO) def. Russell-Waigand (Cr), 6-2.