The State Boys Tennis Tournament in Class 1A and 2A began yesterday (5/25) and will continue today Saturday, May 26th.  The Class 1A tournament is being played at Byrne’s Park Tennis Complex in Waterloo and Class 2A is playing at Veteran’s Memorial Tennis Center in Cedar Rapids.

In Class 1A Doubles play the Atlantic duo of Senior Mitch Leiferman and Junior Tyler Fischer won their first round match 7-6, 6-4 over a team from Columbus Catholic Waterloo but then fell in the quarterfinals 6-0, 6-2 to a duo from Boone. 

Also in 1A Doubles play the Red Oak team of Senior Craig White and Sophomore Jordan Nelson lost in the first round 6-3, 6-4 to a doubles team from Decorah.  They then won in the first round consolations 5-7, 6-3, 1(6) over a team from Bishop Heelan Catholic.  The Red Oak duo then beat Leiferman and Fischer of Atlantic in the second round of consolation play 6-3, 7-6(5).  The Tiger Tandem will face a team from Spirit Lake/Okoboji in the consolation semifinals Saturday.

In 1A Singles Senior Nate Ohms of Harlan lost his first round match 6-1, 6-0 to Alex Bernt of Columbus Catholic Waterloo.  Ohms went on to lose in the first round consolations to Michael Gabhart of Spencer  6-1, 7-6(3).

Junior Pete Walker of Red Oak won his first two matches to reach the Semifinals of the 1A championship bracket.  Walker first beat Erik Smith of Albia 6-0, 6-0.  He then beat Alexander Punj of Fairfield 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.  Walker will face John Ellis of Boone in the Semifinals today.

In Class 2A Alex Crowl of Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln lost in first round singles play to Will Hemminger of Des Moines Roosevelt 6-2, 7-5.  Crowl then lost to Andrew Ellis of Ames 6-4, 6-3 in first round consolation play.