Konfrst, Lauritsen third at state tennis

Glenwood’s Adam Konfrst and Sam Lauritsen wrapped up a historic season with a third place finish in doubles and Alex Chekal became the first Ram to win a singles match at the Class 1A Iowa State Doubles and Singles Tennis Tournament at Byrnes Park in Waterloo last weekend.

“This weekend was one I’ll never forget,” said Glenwood coach Kevin Tucker. “The three guys played their best tennis and it paid off.”

The No. 4 seeded duo of Konfrst and Lauritsen opened state with a first round win over Clear Lake’s Jacob Peterson and Mac Adams, 7-5, 6-4 and then a quarterfinal win over Daniel Zhu and Devan Burke of Maharshi-Fairfield.

Glenwood coach Kevin Tucker said Lauritsen and Konfrst played “lights out” in the semifinals, downing the Maharshi duo in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The win put Lauritsen and Konfrst into the state semifinals against Jon Lansing and Charlie Esker of Cedar Rapids Xavier. Lansing and Esker, who would go on to win the state doubles championship, downed the Ram tandem 6-2, 6-0.

Konfrst and Lauritsen bounced back to win its third place match over LeMars’ Kyle Marek and Jake Thompson, 6-3, 6-7, 1-0. “To get third place when no one from Glenwood ever placed at the individual state tournament is beyond amazing,” Tucker said.

Chekal became the first Ram tennis player to win a single match at state with a first round win over Ballard’s Caleb Hamerlinck 6-1, 6-1. In the quarterfinals Chekal lost a hard fought battle to Davenport Assumption’s Jack Thomas 7-6, 6-3.

Chekal would then drop his opening round consolation bracket to Reed Morris of Clarke, 7-5, 6-4. He finishes his senior season with a singles record of 17-3.

LeMars’ Jake Malik won the singles state championship over Kai Vessey of Maharishi-Fairfield, 6-2, 7-5.

The Rams lose seniors Chekal and Lauritsen from this year’s team but return a strong core of leadership led by Konfrst, a two time Hawkeye 10 Conference Champion, a two-time district doubles Champion and a two time state qualifier.

What these boys did this weekend not only surprised me but also far exceeded my expectations,” Tucker said. “These boys helped lay a foundation over the last four years and their legacy will continue to live on well beyond their time.”