Your Prep Sports

CEDAR RAPIDS – The bar when it comes to boys tennis at West High is high.

From top to bottom, every Trojan player takes the court with the expectation of winning, no matter the opposition.

The unseeded West High duo of Sasha Chackalackal and Eli Young worked their way to the Class 2A state doubles final on Saturday against top-seeded and unbeaten Noah Burmeister and Eric Wetzel of Waukee. Try as they might, the West High duo couldn't pull off one more upset, falling 6-3, 6-2 at the Veterans Memorial Tennis Center.

The tears in the eyes of both players showed that making the final wasn't just enough.

“I mean, it hurts to lose no question,” said Chackalackal. “Obviously, our opponents really played fantastic today. I'm really happy with how we did overall.”

Added Young, “We might feel better about it later, but right now it's not a great feeling. We have been working real hard the past couple of weeks and to put it together at the state tournament was really great.”

Young and Chackalackal advanced to the final with a 6-4, 7-5 semifinal win over Jake Dolphin and Nathan Wong of Pleasant Valley and were confident heading into the final. They also brought an undefeated record into the final as West's No. 2 team during the regular season.

“There aren't many No. 2 doubles teams who could come to the state tournament and work their way into the finals,” West High coach Mitch Gross. “They did so in compelling fashion against some really good teams. I'm just extremely proud of my guys.

“Obviously, we're disappointed, but we lost to the No. 1 team,” continued Gross. “In my experience, usually the best team wins and I think the better team won today. Congrats to Waukee, the earned it.”

All of West High's top six players placed on Saturday. The No. 3 doubles team of Luca Chackalackal and Mukundan Kasturirangen ended up sixth.

They defeated Linn-Mar's Jackson Eells and Kartik Tharwani, 6-3, 6-0, in the consolation semifinals before dropping the fifth-place match to No. 2 seed Jozef Porubcin and Yash Singh of Bettendorf, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

In singles, West High seniors (and doubles partners) Sam Shin and Jack Wenzel were paired up in the consolation semifinals with Shin posting a 7-5, 6-3 victory in a match Gross said was difficult for both players.

“It was a bummer they had to play each other in the first round today but it had to happen,” Gross said. “I think it takes a lot out of them because it is very emotional. They are close friends and doubles partners and to have to play at this level is pretty draining.

“It is a credit to them that they got back and placed,” he added. “Neither one of them wanted to be in consolations, but they responded well in a real challenging spot.”

Shin ended up finishing sixth, losing to West Des Moines Dowling's Daniel Lu, 6-1, 6-4 in his final match. Wentzel rebounded to take seventh, downing Mason City's Brian VandenBerg, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)

Top seed Rami Scheetz of Cedar Rapids Washington won the singles title with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Pleasant Valley's Justin Sehlin in the final.

Having all six players place at state wasn't lost on Gross.

“I think only one other team has done that and it was us,” Gross said. “To have six place finishers is a true testament to our program. I'm really, really proud of the effort or players put forth.”

The team state championship is up for grabs next Tuesday in Ankeny. West is the top seed and big favorite to win the title.

The Trojans open with No. 4 Ankeny Centennial. Waukee and Pleasant Valley meet in the other semifinal. Play begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex.

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