Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – In a career filled almost exclusively with wins a loss, any loss, tends to have a way or standing out.

When that loss comes in the state title match like it did for West High seniors Jack Wenzel, Sasha Chackalackal and Sam Shin it is extra hard to shake.

That group of current West High seniors have been a part of more state titles (two) than dual losses (one) during their four-year prep career.

The lone loss in 72 career duals for the Trojan’s senior class was a 5-4 setback to Linn-Mar in the Class 2A state title match last season.

A loss that still hasn’t totally been put out of mind.

“It definitely stuck with us for a long time, we were heartbroken,” Wenzel said. “That loss really just motived us especially over the summer. We played all summer with that in the back of our minds and we don’t want that to happen again.”

Wenzel and his senior teammates will finally get a chance to put that loss behind them and finish on a win on Tuesday when West High makes its Class 2A record ninth consecutive appearance at the state tennis meet.

Top-ranked West High (16-0) will be seeking its sixth state title in the past eight seasons when it opens play against Ankeny Centennial (13-1) on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at Prairie Ridge Sports Complex in Ankeny.

Second-ranked Pleasant valley (11-0) and Waukee (11-1) will meet in the other semifinal with the state title match schedule to start one hour after the end of the final semifinal.

“It’s hard to say that we have a monkey on our back because we have won so many and if our worst case scenario is getting second at state that’s a pretty good scenario,” West High coach Mitch Gross said. “I try to keep that in perspective but winning a state championship is hard to do so when they are at your fingertips and you let them slip through it eats at you.”

West High completed back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2016 and 2017 with state title wins over West Des Moines Valley and Linn-Mar.

Last season the Trojans defeated Linn-Mar 5-4 during the regular season and led the Lions 4-2 after singles play but lost all three doubles matches while failing to win a state title for the first time since falling to Linn-Mar in 2015.

“Even though we beat Linn-Mar 5-4 in the regular season I thought they were the better team top to bottom,” Gross said. “Having said that being up 4-2 you want to hope that you can get one of the doubles. I think it was a case of every team waiting for a team to win rather than just taking care of business themselves and I have to take some responsibility for us having that mindset on our team.”

That state title loss was the first for the West High seniors who enter Tuesday’s final four 71-1 in dual meets during their careers.

West High now returns to the state meet knowing how it feels to walk away runner-up.

“I think that just prepares us more,” Wenzel said. “We know what it’s like we understand the challenge and the pressure and we want to go out there and play our best. We want to show our perseverance coming off of last year getting second we just want to end our successful careers on top.”

Class 2A State Championship Matches

2018 – Linn-Mar def. West High       5-4

2017 – West High def. Linn-Mar       5-1

2016 – West High def. Valley            5-0

2015 – Linn-Mar def. West High       5-2

2014 – West High def. Linn-Mar       5-2

2013 – West High def. Cedar Falls     5-3

2012 – West High def. Ames             5-3

2011 – Ames def. West High             5-4

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.