Marion tennis team looking for long tournament run

Marion boys' tennis coach James Foth is looking forward to the tournament season, which begins Thursday with a Class 1A district meet at Camanche.

The Indians concluded their regular season with a 7-1 record.

“This is the third straight year we have tied for the second most wins in school history (7-2 in 2010 and 2011),” Forth said. “Our record the past three years is 21-5.”

The tennis future appears very bright at Marion. The team is led by juniors Brandon Hornbeck and Michael Anderson, both of whom have played on the varsity team since they were freshmen.

“They are two of the best players in the Metro,” Foth said. “They are the difference-makers for our team and have been responsible for much of our success the past three seasons.

“Not only are they very good tennis players, but outstanding young men as well.”

Hornbeck was a first-team all-Metro pick last spring and is 16-2 record this season. Anderson was second-team all-Metro and now is 19-4.

Juniors Tristan Beghtol (19-4) and Kyle Kennedy (14-6) also have had outstanding seasons.

At the Wamac meet held last week in Waterloo, Anderson, Beghtol and Kennedy captured individual titles. Hornbeck finished second at No. 1 singles and Marion finished second to Waterloo Columbus in the team standings.

Foth, head coach for 13 seasons and the all-time winningest boy's tennis coach in Marion history, expects the district tournament to be tough.

“We've got some outstanding kids and if everyone does as well as we would like, we could have a great tournament,” he said. “Thing is, with these things, you never know.”

Xavier also is at Camanche Thursday.

In Class 2A, Cedar Rapids Washington and Prairie will be at Washington, Linn-Mar will host Jefferson and Kennedy and I.C. West plays at City High.

Girls' regional team tennis is Saturday. Xavier is at Jefferson, Prairie hosts City High and Kennedy entertains Cedar Falls. I.C. West is at Muscatine.

Thursday's districts

(Action begins after 8:30 a.m. coaches and seeding meetings)

CLASS 2A

At C.R. Washington - Cedar Falls, C.R. Washington, Newton, C.R. Prairie, Waterloo East, Waterloo West

At Iowa City High - Burlington, Davenport West, City High, I.C. West, Muscatine, Ottumwa

At Linn-Mar - C.R. Jefferson, C.R. Kennedy, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior, Linn-Mar, Marshalltown

CLASS 1A

At Camanche - Davenport Assumption, Camanche, Western Dubuque, Maquoketa, Marion, Dubuque Wahlert, C.R. Xavier

At Decorah - Waterloo Columbus, Decorah, Independence, Cedar Falls NU High, Oelwein, Union, Waverly-Shell Rock