May 11, 2026
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Clarke wins tennis dual

By LARRY PETERSON
Creston's Tim Bartlett reaches to volley at the net while teammate Carson Beer covers the baseline during doubles action Thursday at Osceola. Bartlett and Beer fell to Clarke's Easton Brokaw and Jonathan Galvez, 8-3. Beer was one of two Creston singles winners.

Creston's Tim Bartlett reaches to volley at the net while teammate Carson Beer covers the baseline during doubles action Thursday at Osceola. Bartlett and Beer fell to Clarke's Easton Brokaw and Jonathan Galvez, 8-3. Beer was one of two Creston singles winners. (Larry Peterson)

OSCEOLA — Clarke tennis players were the comeback kids in a 7-2 victory over the Creston boys Thursday afternoon.

Doubles play opened the meet, and in the early going Creston had the lead in two of the three varsity matches before the Indians swept all three. Malachi Webber and Wyatt Hitz of Creston were in the closest battle, leading 6-5 before falling 8-6.

Clarke won four of the six singles matches, coming back from 5-1 deficits in two of the victories. Creston’s Carson Beer at No. 3 singles and C.T. Stalker at No. 5 singles were winners for the Panthers.

C.T. Stalker of Creston hits a backhand return during No. 1 doubles action Friday at Clarke. Stalker was one of two singles winners for the Panthers, prevailing 8-3 at No. 5 singles.

C.T. Stalker of Creston hits a backhand return during No. 1 doubles action Friday at Clarke. Stalker was one of two singles winners for the Panthers, prevailing 8-3 at No. 5 singles. (Larry Peterson)

“Obviously today was not the way we wanted to end our dual season,” Creston coach Kevin Cooper said. “But, the reality is that we just weren’t consistent enough down the stretch of our season. We had our chances to get other wins, but just weren’t able to get it done. We still have two tournaments to play in.”

Clarke improved to 5-3 in dual meets. Creston (2-6) plays in the Hawkeye Ten tournament Tuesday at Denison before district singles and doubles competition Saturday at Knoxville.

Wesley Wires of Creston returns a shot at the net against Clarke Friday. Clarke's Luke Wade edged Wires in No. 2 singles, 8-6.

Wesley Wires of Creston returns a shot at the net against Clarke Friday. Clarke's Luke Wade edged Wires in No. 2 singles, 8-6. (Larry Peterson)

Clarke 7, Creston 2

Singles — Casey Wade (Clarke) def. Tim Bartlett (Creston), 8-0; Luke Wade (Clarke) def. Wesley Wires (Creston), 8-6; Carson Beer (Creston) def. Easton Brokaw (Clarke), 8-4; Jonathan Galvez (Clarke) def. Malachi Webber (Creston), 8-2; C.T. Stalker (Creston) def. Blaze Schiltz (Clarke), 8-3; Carson Jones (Clarke) def. Wyatt Hitz (Creston), 8-2.

Doubles — C. Wade-L. Wade (Clarke) def. Wires-Stalker (Creston), 8-0; Brokaw-Galvez (Clarke) def. Bartlett-Beer (Creston), 8-3; Schiltz-Jones (Clarke) def. Webber-Hitz (Creston), 8-6.

Larry Peterson

LARRY PETERSON

Former senior feature writer at Creston News Advertiser and columnist. Previous positions include sports editor for many years and assistant editor. Also a middle school basketball coach in Creston.