By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Boys’ Tennis: Nguyen Takes Third at Districts:
Mount Pleasant senior David Nguyen earned wins in the first and second round before falling to eventual champion Abbot Haner of Keokuk on his way to a third place finish at the 2021 District Tennis Meet at Fairfield High School yesterday.
Nguyen opened his tournament with a win over Centerville’s Owen Williams 6-1, 6-1.
In the semifinals Nguyen took down familiar foe Levi Sissel of Fort Madison 6-3, 6-4.
That set Nguyen up with the top-seeded Haner who bested Nguyen 6-1, 6-2.
Haner went on to defeat Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Trenton Link 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the 2021 State Tennis Meet.
Nguyen, who then went to the consolation championship, took down Maharishi’s Romil Patel 3-6, 7-5, 10-7.
In doubles competition, Lincoln Henriksen and Jake Ensminger were defeated in the first round, losing to the team of Nguyen and Ross from Maharishi.
In the team race, Xavier — who finished with 29 points — auto qualified for the substate match.
They’ll play the winner of the Keokuk-Centerville who will meet this Saturday in a substate prelim match.
Prep Track: State Qualifying Track Today:
Area athletes will look to punch their tickets to next week’s 2021 State Track and Field Championships, which will begin Thursday in Des Moines.
In Class 3A, area athletes will compete in a loaded field today at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex in Mount Pleasant.
The Panthers, who have the luxury of racing on their home turf, will welcome in Davenport Assumption, Clear Creek-Amana, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Washington and West Burlington-Notre Dame in what should be one of the most competitive 3A qualifiers today.
In Class 2A, Mediapolis will compete at Tipton High School today. They’ll be joined by Louisa-Muscatine amongst others.
And, in Class 1A, area clubs will race at WACO High School.
Of course host WACO will be there alongside Columbus Junction, Danville, New London, Wapello and Winfield-Mount Union.
Racing around the state tonight will begin at 4:00 p.m.
Girls’ Golf: Panthers at Washington:
The Mount Pleasant girls’ golf team will travel to Washington Golf and Country Club today for a quintet today.
Joining the Panthers will be Burlington, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk and of course, host Washington.
The Demons are second only to West Des Moines Valley for the lowest nine-hole score and nine-hole average and are the proverbial frontrunners to hoist the state championship.
Golfing today will get underway at 3:00 p.m.
College Wrestling: UNI Inks Schwab to Extension:
(via Radio Iowa)
UNI Director of Athletics David Harris has announced the signing of a contract extension for head wrestling coach Doug Schwab through the 2027-28 season.
Schwab, the 2020 Big 12 Coach of the Year, has had 60 NCAA qualifiers and 17 All-Americans during his tenure. He has a dual record of 90-58.
The Panthers have finished in the top three at the Big-12 championship and have had two champions in three of the last four seasons and have had at least one All-American for each of the last eight seasons.
Schwab helped guide former Mediapolis’ standout Drew Foster to Big 12 titles in 2018 and 2019 on his way to the 2019 NCAA National Championship at the 184 weight class.