Panthers drop both sides against Clarinda

CLARINDA – Creston/O-M’s top tandem of Jacob Cook and Jaden Driskell took care of business on both the singles and doubles end of things in a 6-3 loss to Clarinda Monday.

Cook moved past JD Hitt 8-4 at the top singles slot, while Driskell dispatched Brady Williams 8-2 at No. 2.

Last year’s state qualifiers in doubles had an even easier time when paired together, defeating Willams and Alex Best 8-1.

The rest of the Panthers lineup couldn’t pull out a win, despite some contested matches.

“We played well at the top of the lineup but the difference was how we played after Cook and Driskell,” said Creston/O-M head coach Kevin Cooper. “I feel like we can play better than what we did today (Monday), but will have to keep working in practice to improve.”

Walker Patterson and Eli Hartman both fell 8-4 at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

Creston/O-M’s No. 2 and No. 3 doubles only managed to win three games in their two matches.

“Obviously tonight did not go the way we wanted it to go. We were just way too inconsistent,” said Cooper. “We gave away way too many points to win a meet.”

Girls battle but fall to Clarinda

A 9-0 team score doesn’t necessarily show the competitive sides of the Creston/O-M girls matchup against Clarinda Monday.

Playing 8-game pro sets doesn’t leave much room for error as the Panthers learned, dropping four matches by two games or less, including two tiebreakers.

“Tonight’s final team score really doesn’t reflect the competition that we displayed,” said assistant coach Amanda Plymale. “We had many close matches with two tiebreakers at No. 4 singles and No. 3 doubles.”

Sara Williamson was the first victim of a tiebreak loss at No. 4 singles losing 7-2 in the race to seven. Maddie Frey and Karly Calvin dropped their No. 3 doubles match by the same tiebreak score.

Heylee Shields (No. 3 singles) and Frey (No. 6 singles) both lost their singles matches by a socre of 8-6.

Shields and Williamson also dropped their No. 2 doubles match by an 8-6 score.

Like a lot of teams, Creston/O-M’s results have to be taken with a grain of salt, considering weather has hampered the Panthers ability to practice and compete.

“We did have some matches we should have closed early on and we need to work on finishing when we are leading,” Plymale said. “This only being our second meet of the season, we definitely have some room to improve and some strategies I know we need to work on in practice.”

Boys results

Clarinda 6, Creston/O-M 3

Jacob Cook, C/O-M, def. JD Hitt, Clar, 8-4; Jaden Driskell, C/O-M, def. Brady Williams, Clar, 8-2; Alex Best, Clar, def. Dustin Merritt, Clar, 8-2; Kory Rogers, Clar, def. Walker Patterson, C/O-M, 8-4; Owen Smith, Clar, def. Carson Thompson, C/O-M, 8-1; Connor Brown, Clar, def. Eli Hartman, C/O-M, 8-4.

Cook/Driskell, C/O-M, def. Williams/Best, Clar, 8-1; Hitt/Smith, Clar, def. Merritt/Patterson, C/O-M, 8-2; Rogers/Brown, Clar, def. Thompson/Hartman, Clar, 8-1.

JV

Connor Pullen, Clar, def. Brenton Barber, C/O-M, 6-2; Andy Weis, C/O-M, def. Cyrus Lawrence, Clar, 6-0; Alex Baker/Storm Howard, Clar, def. Mark Waigand/Dylan Anson, C/O-M, 7-6 (3); Baker/Howard, Clar, def. James Kunz/Daniel Merritt, C/O-M, 6-1; Tegan Matheny/Chase McAndrews, Clar, def. Kendall Crawford/James McDonald, C/O-M, 6-1; Nate Wells/Jeremy Rutz, C/O-M, def. Pullen/Lawrence, Clar, 6-4.

Girls results

Clarinda 9, Creston/O-M 0

Maddie Hartley, Clar, def. Megan Haley, C/O-M, 8-0; Riley Holmstrom, Clar, def. Chloe Hagle, C/O-M 8-5; Jayden Eickemeyer, Clar, def. Heylee Shields, C/O-M, 8-6; Kennedy Reed, Clar, def. Sara Williamson, C/O-M, 9-8 (2); Bryn Morgenstern, Clar, def. Maddie Frey, C/O-M, 8-6; Kylie Shackelford, Clar, def. Karly Calvin, C/O-M, 8-4.

Harley/Reed, Clar, def. Haley/Hagle, C/O-M, 8-2; Holmstrom/Eickemeyer, Clar, def. Shields/Williamson, C/O-M, 8-6; Morgenstern/Shackelford, Clar, def. Frey/Calvin, C/O-M, 9-8 (2).

JV results

Jennifer Sics, Clar, def. Hannah Walsh, C/O-M, 6-0; Unity Anderson, C/O-M, def. Riley Hunziker, Clar, 6-4; Sics/Hunziker, Clar, def. Walsh/Anderson, 6-2.