Anderson wants team title to match solo success

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn-Mar senior Brady Anderson already has a Class 2A boys' tennis state singles championship trophy on his mantel.The capper to his high school career, however, would be the first team state championship for the Lions since 1988.“That's more of a priority this year than last year because this is my last year,” Anderson said. “And going out, I'd like to do it for them more.”The state's second-ranked player, according to the United States Tennis Association, Anderson spent the offseason competing in various USTA tournaments against many of the top players from the Missouri Valley. He focused on improving his serves and overall offensive shots, as well as enhanced weight training to strengthen his 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame and improve his court movement.“Definitely the main goal in the offseason is to improve as a player,” Anderson said. “Get stronger, get better with my shots and overall come back stronger for the next year.”Anderson visited Creighton on Feb. 22 but remains undecided on his college plans.“I just want to play tennis at the highest level possible,” Anderson said. “Wherever I feel I can play right away and improve.”In addition to the state singles champion, Linn-Mar returns a pair of state qualifiers in juniors Tim Paulson and Trevor McCann for what Coach Chris Wundram calls the strongest team in his eight years at Linn-Mar.“We feel we're one of the strongest teams in the state,” Wundram said. “I think we've definitely got the guys to prove it, too.”Linn-Mar's quest for a team state championship will be a significant challenge, however, given the returning firepower from the two-time defending state champions from Iowa City West.“Our depth is definitely our strength this year,” West Coach Mitch Gross said. “Our theme for the year is ‘making history' because we want to be the first 2A team to win three championships in a row.”West returns five players with state tournament experience and adds a promising freshman in Jiung Jung. Junior David DiLeo, fresh off a breakout season on the hardwood for West's state basketball champions, replaces the round ball with a racket and attempts to improve on last year's state singles semifinal loss to Anderson. He views the transition from basketball to tennis as fairly seamless.“From a conditioning standpoint, I feel I'm pretty up there,” DiLeo said. “There's a lot of parallels. You need to be in shape for both sports and then just footwork - basketball and tennis - they help each other. I think they help each other very well.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Brady Anderson, sr., Linn-Mar - Class 2A singles state champion, a first for the Metro since 2008. MVC Valley Athlete of the Year. Second-ranked Iowa player by USTA.

• David DiLeo, jr., Iowa City West - Class 2A singles state semifinalist. First-team all-MVC Mississippi Division.

• Adam Dellos, sr., Iowa City West - Class 2A doubles state quarterfinalist with Trent Schneider. Ranked in Iowa's top 10 by USTA. Also a doubles state semifinalist in 2012.

• Jacob Donald, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson - First-team all-MVC Mississippi Division.

• Ryan Hageman, jr., Decorah - Class 1A singles state qualifier

• Jackson Hoyt, so., Cedar Rapids Washington - Class 2A doubles state semifinalist.

• Trevor McCann, jr., Linn-Mar - Class 2A doubles state qualifier in 2012 and 2013.

• Blake Oetting, sr., Iowa City West - Class 2A doubles state champion and first-team all-MVC Mississippi Division. Fifth-ranked Iowa player by USTA. Singles state quarterfinalist and MVC Valley Athlete of the Year in 2012.

• Tim Paulson, jr., Linn-Mar - Class 2A singles state qualifier. First-team all-MVC Valley Division.

• Trent Schneider, sr., Iowa City West - Class 2A doubles state quarterfinalist with Dellos.

TEAMS TO WATCH

• Cedar Rapids Washington - The Warriors have been eliminated during substate play by either Iowa City West or Linn-Mar in each of the past three seasons. After a pair of 10-3 seasons in the MVC, Washington is led by sophomore Jackson Hoyt, a 2A state doubles semifinalist last season.

• Linn-Mar - Reigning 2A state singles champion and MVC Valley Athlete of the Year Brady Anderson headlines a talented group of Lions who hope to return to state after falling to MVC Valley champ Cedar Falls in last year's substate final. Juniors Tim Paulson (singles) and Trevor McCann (doubles) both qualified for state last season.

• Iowa City West - The two-time defending state champions return a ton of experience. Veterans Blake Oetting, Adam Dellos, Trent Schneider and Karl Wenzel make up a senior class with just one loss in three years (the 2011 state final to Ames). Throw in junior David DiLeo and freshman Jiung Jung, and the Trojans are fully capable of becoming the first team to win three straight 2A titles.