Linn-Mar puts an end to Kennedy’s 23-match MVC winning streak

There's a first time for everything and the Linn-Mar boys' tennis team proved it Saturday.

None of the current Lions, including fifth-year head coach Chris Wundram, had ever notched a team victory over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. That changed.

Linn-Mar punctuated a solid season with a 6-3 win over the host Cougars, snapping Kennedy's 23-match Mississippi Valley Conference win streak over the weekend.

“It was really great,” Lions senior T.J. McCann said. “We haven't beaten them in the four years I've been on varsity. It was finally nice to beat that team. I think we've beaten every team out here now.”

The Cougars have had one of the best area teams the past two seasons, capturing the Class 2A state team title in 2008 and placing third last year. The Lions, the defending MVC Valley Division champions, had their sites set on the challenge, including an afternoon match at Cedar Rapids Washington following the win over the Cougars.

“We circled four meets,” Wundram said about Saturday's meets and earlier wins over Iowa City West and Waterloo West. “We said if we could take care of business in those four meets we set our own path to winning a conference title this year.”

Linn-Mar improved to 9-1 overall, but rain delayed the conclusion of the Washington match with the Lions leading 4-2 after singles. Linn-Mar led in all three doubles matches, needing to win just one of three doubles.

Wundram said before the action the outcome could go in anyone's favor. He urged them to perform their best.

“Against Kennedy we actually played really strong and took it to them pretty good,” said Wundram, who had to rush the team from Kennedy to Washington when the first meet ran long. “Against Washington, we were actually down in most of our singles matches after the first set and then we kind of made a late run.”

Either the Cougars or Warriors have placed in the top three at state each of the last six seasons. A big goal is to beat both.

“We felt if we had any chance to repeat as conference champs then those were the teams we were going to have to beat,” McCann said. “It'd also be a really good gauge to see where we're at as a team.”

McCann, a four-year varsity starter, serves as the team's No. 4 single and teams with Gavin Young as the team's No. 2 doubles pair, which is undefeated. His brother, Tyler, a sophomore, is the Lions' top singles player and partners with No. 2 Mitch Anderson, forming an unblemished No. 1 doubles team.

Tyler McCann has been impressive, earning big wins and playing Kennedy's Jeff Damisch, a three-time state placewinner, to a super tiebreaker.

“He's really stepped up,” Wundram said. “He's got a couple big wins for us. He's been a real good leader for us.”

Young (No. 3) is unbeaten and Ryan Jennings has contributed as No. 5 singles for the Lions. The strength is in doubles.

“We're really relying a lot on doubles this year,” Wundram said. “We've lost one doubles match all season in conference, which is an amazing stat since we're half way through the conference schedule now."

The Lions are getting the job done, especially in doubles. Players are focused on their games and performing on the court.

“We just play our game,” T.J. McCann said. “It's worked out well for us so far.”

Sometimes it can take the majority of the season to figure out a puzzle of doubles players. The pieces fit right into place for the Lions.

“We found some good combinations and got some good chemistry,” Wundram said. “At the same time, I think it all comes down to all six of my varsity kids love to win and be competitive. You put that together on a court. Two of them feed off each other quite a bit.”

Camaraderie extends from years of playing sports with each other since they were youths.

“They've kind of grown up together in a way,” Wundram said. “We've done a lot of work this summer together. They spend a lot of time together.”

All the time and work has paid dividends, but the Lions won't overlook anyone in the MVC. They're determined to improve with hopes in qualifying as many to state - individually and as a team.

“We have to keep working hard every day and hopefully it will that will happen for us,” T.J. McCann said.