Freshman powers West over Linn-Mar

MARION — When you're a senior-laden team coming off a couple of boys' tennis state championships, it takes some guts to plug a freshman into the No. 2 singles spot.   Iowa City West Coach Mitch Gross did exactly that — and the results have been impressive.   West freshman Jiung Jung clinched a dual win for the Trojans by ousting Linn-Mar junior Tim Paulson 6-1, 6-4 in singles play as West overpowered Linn-Mar, 7-2, in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys' dual Saturday afternoon at Linn-Mar.   It was the 43rd win a row for West (6-0, 4-0 MVC).   'I was playing really well the first set, but the second set was really tough and he was playing pretty well,' Jung said. 'I just pulled through.'   Although some coaches adopt a philosophy of not playing freshmen or choosing to ease them into competition, Gross said the choice of Jung at No. 2 was clear cut.   'I go based on what I see from a talent standpoint, and from a matchup standpoint,' Gross said. 'The way Jung plays, the way he conducts himself and the way he has performed.'   Jung clearly has responded with dominant performances over accomplished upperclassmen such as Paulson and Cedar Rapids Washington's Ian Schweigert.   'There is pressure with the No. 2 spot,' Jung said. 'I've kind of gotten over it by just playing in general and having success.'   A veteran squad full of returning state qualifiers, his West teammates have fully embraced the selection of Jung at No. 2, which was announced a day before the start of the season.   'They've been nothing but gracious,' Gross said. 'You can tell by how they reacted when he won his match.'   Gross credits Jung with having qualities that are really hard to teach, such as great hands, instincts and poise.   'He's got a fearless streak about him,' Gross said. 'It's very rare for any high school athlete, let alone a freshman.'   Jung displayed that fearless streak in what was likely the first environment in which he heard voices actively rooting against him. Against a returning state singles qualifier in Paulson, Jung surprised his coach with vocal bursts of emotional roars following tense points.   'We didn't know he had that in him,' Gross said. 'That's probably the most he's said all year.'   Linn-Mar senior Brady Anderson, the defending Class 2A state singles champion, garnered the lone singles win at No. 1 for the Lions with a 7-6, 6-1 victory over Blake Oetting. Oetting rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the first set to force a tiebreaker, which Anderson won, 7-3. The two have competed against each other since they first started playing tennis and Anderson was thankful to get the upper hand Saturday.   'I know him well, he knows me well,' Anderson said. 'We go back and forth so I was glad to get the win. I played pretty well. He's kind of the opposite player I am. I'm more of a grinder, a solid player and he's more the big hitter with some huge shots.'I guess we counteract each other with those styles so it's an interesting dynamic, I'd say.'   After the spirited singles' battles at Nos. 1 and 2, West flexed its muscle throughout the remaining four spots. No. 4 David DiLeo and No. 5 Karl Wenzel each won 6-0, 6-0, while No. 3 Trent Schneider and No. 6 Adam Dellos posted 6-2, 6-0 wins.Anderson and McCann also teamed up for a 6-4, 2-6 (10-6) doubles win for Linn-Mar (6-1, 4-1 MVC) over Schneider and Dellos.   

AT LINN-MAR

Iowa City West 7, Linn-Mar 2

Singles – Brady Anderson (LM) def. Blake Oetting 7-6 (7-3), 6-1; Jiung Jung (ICW) def. Tim Paulson 6-1, 6-4; Trent Schneider (ICW) def. Trevor McCann 6-2, 6-0; David DiLeo (ICW) def. Ben Meyers 6-0, 6-0; Karl Wenzel (ICW) def. Kyle Brendes 6-0, 6-0; Adam Dellos (W) def. Kathir Pandian 6-2, 6-0

Doubles – Anderson/McCann def. Trent Schneider/Adam Dellos 6-4, 2-6 (10-6); DiLeo/Wenzel def. Paulson/Meyers 6-1, 6-2; Cole Schneider/Ben Dellos def. Brendes/Pandian 6-2, 6-0.