Updated: Anderson captures two junior titles at Baird Iowa Open

CEDAR RAPIDS - Brady Anderson aspires to play college tennis at the highest level.He knows recruiters place more emphasis on performances in United States Tennis Association events than prep varsity results. Anderson helped himself Friday.Anderson captured junior singles and doubles titles in the Baird Iowa Open at Veterans Memorial Tennis Courts. He defended his top seed in boys' 18-and-under singles and teamed with Jackson Hoyt to win boys' 18-and-under doubles.Anderson will begin his junior year at Linn-Mar next month, but where he attends college may depend how he competes in similar tournaments."In terms of getting a scholarship, it's more important to do well in the USTA tournaments," Anderson said. "I look forward to high school. It's more fun with the team. Colleges look more at how you do in USTA tournaments."Tennis is Anderson's primary athletic activity, although he will play golf again for the Lions this fall. He usually plays five or six USTA events a year, including a couple winter events. The Iowa Open was just his third this summer.He has travelled as far as Florida for higher-caliber events, and played tournaments in Oklahoma and Kansas. Anderson said the norm is competing in neighboring states like Illinois, Nebraska and Missouri. The love of the game sprouted when he and his older brother, Mitch, joined friends for tennis clinics at Cedar Rapids Country Club when they were young."I have a passion for it," said Anderson, who was a part of the top-seeded Class 2A doubles team that placed fifth at state for the Lions. "I want to play everyday, if I can."Anderson, uncertain of how many Iowa Open titles he won since participating in the 12-and-under division, was a part of two come-from-behind victories. He beat Aaron Chalstrom, a three-time Class 1A singles runner-up for Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 1-6, 6-1, 1-0, winning the third-set super tiebreaker, 10-6. Anderson and Hoyt topped Chalstrom and Iowa City west's Adam Dellos, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), claiming the decisive super tiebreaker, 10-7."It feels good to win your hometown tournament," Anderson said. "It's not really too big of a factor. I want to play well in all these tournaments."Anderson prefers doubles play. He said it is more enjoyable with less pressure. The key to his success is constant in both."I'm really consistent," Anderson said. "I try not to make too many errors. That helps me out a lot."The finals of the 16-and-under doubles proved to be the most competitive juniors' championship match. The teams traded winning shots and extended points before Jacob Donald and Grant Hunt, both of Cedar Rapids, defeated Rami Hemaidan, of Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City's Jiung Jung, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (12-10).Hemaidan was unseeded in 14-and-under singles, but won that title with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, over Iowa city's Sriram Sugumaran. Jung claimed the 16-and-under singles crown, dropping Justin Rumley, of Moline, Ill., 6-4, 6-4, in the finals.

BAIRD IOWA OPEN

At Cedar Rapids

(Veterans Memorial Tennis Courts)

FRIDAY'S JUNIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Girls singles

10-and-under: Emma Smigel (North Liberty) def. Kailey Johnson (Bettendorf), 4-1

12-and-under: Taylor Hogan (Waterloo) def. Bailey Nock (Iowa City), 6-2, 6-1

14-and-under: Kelly King (Cedar Rapids) def. Anna Corell (Clive), 6-2, 6-2

16-and-under: Jessica Pedersen (Cedar Rapids) def. Olivia Ray (Moline, Ill.), 6-3, 6-3

18-and-under: Chloe Jefferies (Clive) def. Alexandra Kerr (Moline, Ill.), 6-2, 6-3

Girls doubles

12-and-under: Taylor Hogan (Waterloo)/Bailey Nock (Iowa City) def. Grace O'Donnell/Veena Venlatesh (Cedar Rapids), 6-4, 7-5

14-and-under: Madison Renner (Fairfax)/Karleigh Schilling (Swisher) def. Beckett Finley (Iowa City)/Hannah Smigel (North Liberty), 6-3, 6-1

16-and-under: Anna Corell/Chloe Jefferies (Clive) def. Kelly King/Lilly Hartman (Cedar Rapids), 6-2, 6-2

18-and-under: Katie Hammond/Laura Birky (Cedar Rapids) def. Joiah Bandfield (Cedar Rapids)/Nicki Neal (Epworth), 6-0, 6-1

Boys singles

10-and-under: Parker Sprague (Cedar Rapids) def. Josh Husemann (Dubuque), 4-1

12-and-under: Ryan Ortega (Winona, Minn.) def. Jack Wenzel (Iowa City), 6-0, 6-4

14-and-under: Rami Hemaidan (Cedar Rapids) def. Sriram Sugumaran (Iowa City), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2

16-and-under: Jiung Jung (Iowa City) def. Justin Rumley (Moline, Ill.), 6-4, 6-4

18-and-under: Brady Anderson (Cedar Rapids) def. Aaron Chalstrom (Fort Dodge), 1-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6)

Boys doubles

12-and-under: Rami Scheetz (Cedar Rapids)/Jack Wenzel (Iowa City) def. Sam Mead/Matt Ramundo (Cedar Rapids), 6-0, 6-0

14-and-under: Joseph Hoff/Sriram Sugumaran (Iowa City) def. Joseph Brennan (West Des Moines)/Joe Drey (Clive), 6-0, 6-1

16-and-under: Jacob Donald/Grant Hunt (Cedar Rapids) def. Rami Hemaidan (Cedar Rapids)/Jiung Jung (Iowa City), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (12-10)

18-and-under: Brady Anderson/Jackson Hoyt (Cedar Rapids) def. Aaron Chalstrom (Fort Dodge)/Adam Dellos (Iowa City), 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (10-7)

Mixed doubles

14-and-under: Austin Grossman (Waukee)/Anna Corell (Clive) def. Blake Magill/Abigail Van Metre (Cedar Rapids), 8-218-and-under: Karl Wenzel/Lilly Hartman (Cedar Rapids) def. Justin Rumley/Alexandra Kerr (Moline, Ill.), 8-2