Cougars finish fourth at state team tennis

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys tennis team finished its season, placing fourth at the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 2A state team tennis tournament today at Waveland Tennis Courts in Des Moines.

The Cougars entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed and drew top-seeded West Des Moines Valley. Kennedy battled Valley to the end, losing a close semifinal match, 5-4. The teams split the singles macthes, 3-3, receiving wins from Jeff Damisch, Riley Galbraith and B.J. Cunningham. Damisch and Galbraith claimed the Cougars' win in doubles.

"We played probably as good as we could have played against Valley," first-year Cougars head coach Craig Bova said. "A couple breaks here or there and the result could have gone a different way."

Kennedy bounced back to force Bettendorf into doubles competition, but coming up short, 5-2, in the consolation final. Galbraith and Cunningham each won against the second-seeded Bulldogs.

"I was pleased with the way the kids rebounded and came back and gave Bettendorf a good match," Bova said. "We didn't roll over and die."

Bova said the team showed toughness and fought hard in both matches. Despite the two losses, he said the team represnted itself well and the day was good overall.

"The kids battled the whole day," Bova said. "I couldn't have asked for more from there."

Kennedy ended the season 12-5.

 No. 3 Ames dropped Bettendorf, 5-2, but lost to Valley, 5-1, iin the championship match.