District tennis: Grundy Center's Laube is state alternate

Published by editor on Wed, 05/11/2022 - 12:00am

Grundy Center’s Tanner Laube, pictured here in a match with South Hardin earlier this year, is the state alternate from the Waterloo district after the May 9 tournament at Byrnes Park. (Marissa VanWingen-Ites/Times-Citizen Communications photo)

By:

Jake Ryder

The Grundy Register

Grundy Center sophomore Tanner Laube is designated as a state singles alternate after a third-place finish at a Class 1A district tournament at Byrnes Park Tennis Center in Waterloo on Monday, May 9.

Laube won his first-round match in straight sets against Camanche’s Kaiden Jenkins, 6-0, 6-0.

In the quarterfinals, he faced second-seeded Marion’s Seth Blackford in a match Spartan coach Jess Larison described as “an uber-competitive and gritty” showdown. Laube fought off Blackford’s attempt at a comeback for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 upset win.

Third-seeded Roan Martineau of Dubuque Wahlert defeated Laube in the semifinals, 6-1, 6-1, but Laube completed his day in the third-place match with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Marion’s Ethan Hangartner.

Elsewhere in the bracket, Columbus’ Patrick Underwood defeated Trent Greiner 6-0, 6-1 in an opening-round singles match.

Both of the Spartans doubles teams came up short in the first round. Fourth-seeded Sloan Klar and Trent Greiner were upended by Marion, 7-5, 6-4; Elias Cakerice and Julian Lamp fell to a Wahlert team in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.