Comet netters win ‘Senior Night’ regular-season finale against Spartans

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The last time the Charles City girls tennis team held a “Senior Night”, it was an extravaganza.

Back then, 12 would-be graduates were feted with farewells.

This year’s event was scaled down, considerably. Only one senior was honored — Stephanie Field.

Going into this season with almost a completely new team as only junior Katie Prichard returned with significant varsity experience, Comet coach Brian Parrott was more concerned about administering fundamental instruction than posting a winning record and a state-qualifier like the Comets did in 2021.

Nonetheless, with a 6-3 match victory over Grundy Center on Monday at Sportsmen’s Park which served not only as “Senior Night” but as the team’s regular-season finale, the Comets finished the dual-meet season with a .500 record (5-5).

“I thought they did very well this season,” Parrott said.

Despite illness forcing the Comets to scratch one of their top players (Sophia Jensen) from the varsity lineup, Charles City was able to seize four out the six singles matches with Maggie Boss defeating Alli Beenken 8-1 at No. 3; Rylee DeBoest defeating Jenna Oltmann 8-5 at No. 4; Hannah Hoffman defeating Julianna Corbett 8-1 at No. 5; and Alexix Ver Meer concluding varsity play with a No. 6 singles 8-5 match victory over Lydia Stuber.

Katie Prichard and Hannah DeVore defeated Oltman and Corbett 8-0 at No. 2 doubles; and Liz Oleson and Boss defeated Beenken and Stuber 8-3 at No. 3 doubles for the Comets’ other match victories.

Sarah Schildroth defeated Prichard 8-3 at No. 1 singles; Autumn Clark defeated Oleson 8-4 at No. 2 singles; and Schildroth and Clark defeated DeBoest and Hoffman at No. 1 doubles for the three Spartan varsity match victories.

Several Comets will try to extend their seasons on Wednesday in the Class 1A Singles and Doubles Regionals hosted by Waverly-Shell Rock at the high school and at Wartburg College.

Singles players representing Charles City will be Prichard and Jensen; the representing doubles teams will be DeBoest and Hoffman, and Boss and Oleson.