DUBUQUE— The Central College men's finished its conference slate with two matches Friday.
A late location change moved the first match against the University of Dubuque to Cedar Rapids, The Dutch defeated the Spartans (9-20, 2-6 American Rivers) 6-1. Later in the day the squad traveled back to Dubuque to take on Loras College and it won 5-2.
"It was a tough long day, but we came out with two wins," said coach
Ryun Ferrell. "The team looked good, including doubles despite the tough travel."
Against Dubuque the Dutch swept the doubles point with
AJ Wilkins (senior, Grinnell) and
Ayden Fletcher (senior, Waukee) won 7-5 at No. 1.
Alex Slaymaker (sophomore, Geneseo, Ill.) and
Travis Subbert (sophomore, McKinney, Texas, North HS) won 6-2 at No. 2 and
Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy (sophomore, Kerrville, Texas, Tivy HS) and
Benny Ramker (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) won by forfeit at No. 3
Central took care of business in the singles matches, winning five of the six. The lone loss came from Fletcher in which he battled to force a third set tiebreak after losing the first set. Wilkins won his match 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 and Ramker won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3. Slaymaker, Chedzoy, and Subbert only lost three combined games. Slaymaker won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4, Chedzoy won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 and Subbert won by forfeit at No. 6.
AgainstLoras (7-13, 2-5 American Rivers) the Dutch also swept the doubles matches. Fletcher and Wilkins won 6-4 at No. 1,
Jack Briggs (freshman, Pella) teamed up with Ramker to win 6-0 at No. 2 and Slaymaker and Subbert also won 6-0 at No. 3.
Central took four of the six singles matches with two coming in third sets. Briggs fought back after losing the first set 6-2 to win 7-6 (7-3) in the second set and 7-5 in the third set.
Wilkins also won in the third set after winning 6-1 in the opening set, before losing 6-4 and then he dominated 6-0 in the third set. Ramker remained undefeated on the day, winning 6-4, 7-5 at No. 4 and
Gavin Jablonski (sophomore, Marshalltown) won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 6.
These matches end the regular season for Central as it finishes with a 6-2 conference record to secure the No. 3 seed in the American Rivers Conference tournament which starts Tuesday. The Dutch will host the first-round rematch against Loras, the time is still to be determined.
