West’s Jung wins historic state singles matchup

CEDAR RAPIDS – Before the start of the boys' tennis season, Iowa City West teammates Jiung Jung and David DiLeo engaged in competitive challenge matches in order to determine who would stand atop the team lineup.

Neither could have possibly known they were providing a state championship preview.

Jung capped off an undefeated 24-0 season with a 6-3, 6-4 ouster of DiLeo – his teammate and doubles partner – to capture the Class 2A singles state championship Saturday at Coe's Clark Racquet Center.

'It feels great knowing that all my work has paid off,' Jung said. 'And I can really just show it here in this tournament, which is a good place to show it. It feels better winning against a teammate since emotionally there's more pressure. We know each other pretty well, so it's more fun and more competitive that way.'

The sophomore is the first Trojan to claim a singles state championship since Patrick Callaghan in 2006, and Jung and DiLeo are the first teammates to reach the 2A singles championship together since Des Moines Roosevelt in 1941.

'In my four years, our goal every year has been to make some sort of history,' DiLeo said. 'It's always good to go in the history books.'

Jung and DiLeo both won morning semifinals at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center before wet conditions forced the championship matches indoors at Coe. Jung began the day with a 6-0, 6-1 defeat of Cedar Falls' Andy Mong, while DiLeo overwhelmed 2013 runner-up and last year's third-place finisher Charlie Humes of Pleasant Valley, 6-4, 6-4.

'I'm glad that David made it here and I wouldn't have wanted to play anyone else,' Jung said.

The historic matchup provided a unique predicament for West Coach Mitch Gross. Rather than assign assistant Joey Lankema to one player and he another, Gross has a policy that when two of his players meet in a tournament final, he does not coach.

'I sat back and told them at the beginning for each one of them to play their best and I thought they did,' Gross said. 'I thought it was a very well-played match.'

Jung finished fourth at state as a freshman last season. This year, his noticeable physical maturity combined with exceptional footwork and an uncanny ability to anticipate his opponent's next move proved to be the championship formula.

'If you look at Jiung's game, there really is no blatant weakness,' Gross said. 'He doesn't do everything amazing, but he doesn't do anything poorly. So from an opposing coaching standpoint, he's a hard nut to crack.'

In the doubles state championship match, top-seed Jon Bowser and Brian Murman of Fort Dodge outlasted Tim Paulson and Trevor McCann of Linn-Mar, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

CLASS 2A STATE TOURNAMENT

At Cedar Rapids

(Veteran's Memorial Tennis Center)

SINGLES

Championship bracket

Semifinals —

Jiung Jung (Iowa City West) def. Andy Mong (Cedar Falls), 6-0, 6-1; David DiLeo (Iowa City West) def. Charlie Humes (Pleasant Valley), 6-4, 6-4.

Championship —

Jung (ICW) def. DiLeo (ICW), 6-3, 6-4.

Consolation bracket

(Area only)

Semifinals —

Rami Hemaidan (CRK) def. Jarrett Benson (WDMD), 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8).

Fifth place —

Yasha Litvak (WDMV) def. Hemaidan (CRK), 6-2, 6-2.

DOUBLES

Championship bracket

Semifinals —

Bowser/Murman (Fort Dodge) def. Zuccaro/Mozena (Dubuque Senior), 6-1, 6-3; Paulson/McCann (Linn-Mar) def. Hoyt/Hammond (C.R. Washington), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.

Third place —

Zuccaro/Mozena (DS) def. Hoyt/Hammond (CRW), 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Championship —

Bowser/Murman (FD) def. Paulson/McCann (LM), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Consolation bracket

Semifinals —

Kardell/Sugumaran (Pleasant Valley) def. Schneider/Smith (Iowa City West), 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-4).

Seventh place —

Ellis/Nettleton (AMES) def. Schneider/Smith (ICW), 6-3, 6-2.

CLASS 1A STATE TOURNAMENT

At Waterloo

(Byrne's Park Tennis Center)

SINGLES

Championship bracket

Semifinals —

Sam Stickels (Fairfield Maharishi) def. Nathan Grenier (North Polk), 6-4, 6-4; Sam Jones (Clear Lake) def. Cam Long (Dubuque Wahlert), 6-3, 6-4

Championship —

Jones (CL) def. Stickels (FM), 6-3, 6-4

Consolation bracket

Semifinals —

Brady Plueger (Spencer) def. Ryan Hageman (Decorah), 3-6, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (4)

Seventh place —

Hageman (DEC) def. Alex Kaldahl (Spencer), 6-3, 6-0

DOUBLES

Championship bracket

Semifinals —

Gailey/Eide (Fort Dodge St. Edmond) def. LaRue/Lonning (Decorah), 2-6, 6-0, 6-4; Baldwin/Resnick (Davenport Assumption) def. Roozeboom/Pettit (Pella), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Third place —

Roozeboom/Pettit (PELLA) def. LaRue/Lonning (DEC), 6-1, 6-3.

Championship —

Gailey/Eide (FDSE) def. Baldwin/Resnick (DA), 6-3, 6-3.

Consolation bracket

Semifinals —

Morales/Vessey (Fairfield Maharishi) def. Sand/Ulring (Decorah), 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (9); Ellefson/Harms (LeMars) def. Curley/Lansing (C.R. Xavier), 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (6).

Seventh place —

Sand/Ulring (DEC) def. Curley/Lansing (CRX), 6-0, 6-4.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com