Damisch ready for state singles challenge

[caption id="attachment_17746" align="aligncenter" width="346" caption="Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Jeff Damisch will compete at the Class 2A state tennis tournament Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Tennis Courts in Cedar Rapids. (Julie Koehn/SourceMedia Group)"][/caption]

Close doesn't cut it for Jeff Damisch.

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy tennis standout has been a regular state meet participant, placing fifth and sixth the last two years. Those experiences have spurred him on as he vies for a state singles championship for the last time.

Damisch will compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 2A state tennis tournament Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Tennis Courts. Players from across the state will take the court for singles and doubles action, starting after a 9 a.m. seeding meeting.

"I'd like to win individual state," said Damisch, a senior. "I've been really close the last two years. I definitely use that as motivation, knowing how close I came and having to work that much harder to get all the way."

Improving on the previous state accomplishments Damisch will need to peak against the state's best players the next two days.

"I know it's going to be very tough though," Damisch said. "I have to probably play four of the best matches I've played all season. I know every round is going to be tough. There's no easy people at state."

Damisch belongs in the category of tough foes. Kennedy's first-year boys head tennis Craig Bova admitted he's seeing the finished product of four years of varsity experience. He has watched Damisch progress and evolve as a player this season, recording an overall singles record of 25-1-1 and 17-0 mark in full-set matches. 

Bova said Damisch has developed his serve into a strength and doesn't rely on just playing the baseline.

"His skills have gotten better," said Bova. "I've seen him become more of a complete player, being able to have more of an all-around game."

Bova called Damisch a "thinking player" during play. He has a knack to play to his strengths while exploiting the weaknesses of his opponent, taking advantage of the opportunities he's given.

"Coming into the matches against people I know, I usually know what their weaknesses are," Damisch said. "Also, while playing, they might change up some, so you have to adapt and become a better player."

Physical skills aren't the only thing propelling Damisch past his foes. He's formed more of a mental edge, showing more resilience and fight in his game.

"My mental toughness has improved," Damisch said. "Just my competitiveness."

Bova has been impressed with Damisch's perseverence in competition. He said he noticed Damisch doesn't get down during a match and that the other Cougars have learned from his example.

"It's not like he's blown through everybody (6-0, 6-0)," Bova said. "He's got the mental fortitude to do things and fight back rather than roll over and die as some players would."

Results mark the progress. Matches he struggled with earlier have become easier to manage. Damisch noted a postseason match where he faced a match point and battled back to win the match as a prime example of an improved mental approach.

Surviving tests on the court is the best way to hone that ability. 

"Just keep playing matches with competitiveness. Tough matches will always make you better," Damisch said. "My confidence has improved greatly. I feel very confident and I know if a match is close I feel like I have the edge over the other person." 

Damisch was forced into the Cougars No. 1 position this season due to Joey White's early graduation and enrollment at the University of Iowa, and another top returner being ineligible.

Instead of shying away from the duty, he embraced it. Bova has seen other players become overwhelmed by the jump.

"I don't think Jeff was shell-shocked," said Bova, who relied on Damisch's knowledge of opposing players and other teammates. "He bought into the fact he knew he was going to have to be the No. 1 player for us. He was ready to take on that responsibility."

Essentially, Damisch had no choice but accept being the Cougars' leader. His influence helped Kennedy win the regional meet and team substate tournament, avenging an earlier season loss to Linn-Mar to advance to a third straight team state tournament.

"Once I learned I was going to be the No. 1 for the year I felt I had to become the leader," Damisch said. "I fell like I took that role well, because our team has done better as the season has gone on."

Team competition is next week. For now, Damisch is playing for himself. How far he advances through the singles bracket rests solely in  his own hands, according to Bova.

"He's very focused right now. He's very determined," Bova said. "The only stumbling block he's going to come up against right now is going to be himself."

Other area competitors are Cedar Rapids Prairie's Parker Linn, who is making his first state meet appearance as a senior, and Iowa City West freshman Kyle Appel.

Almost half the doubles field consists of area tandems. Cedar Rapids Washington's Charlie Hammond and Mitch Blades, Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Joby Frey and Dayton Stevens, Tyler McCann and Mitch Anderson of Linn-Mar, Iowa City West's Marshal Moellers and Iggy Ampuero and Iowa City High's Nathaniel Gier and Philip Riley will contend for a state title in the 2A doubles tournament.