Central men's tennis team picks up conference win

The Dutch move to 3-1 in the conference

by Peter Leithauser

Pella, IA (04/14/2025) — The Dutch rebounded from Friday's loss with a 5-2 win against Wartburg College.

The Dutch (8-12, 3-1 American Rivers) earned the doubles point with a sweep of the three matches. AJ Wilkins (senior, Grinnell) and Ayden Fletcher (senior, Waukee) won in a tiebreak 7-4. The freshmen duo of Jack Briggs (Pella) and Benny Ramker (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) won 6-3 at No. 2 while Travis Subbert (sophomore, McKinney Texas, North HS) teamed up with Alex Slaymaker (sophomore, Geneseo) to win 6-4 at No. 3.

"We played solid, and making them play and it worked," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "Sweeping the matches is always good."

In the singles matches only Briggs and Ramker didn't go into three sets. Briggs won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 and Ramker won 6-4, 5-7 at No. 4. Wilkins lost his first set 7-5 in a tiebreak before winning the next two sets 6-2. Slaymaker won his first set 6-4 before losing 6-3 in the second. He would pull out a win in a tiebreak 7-5 to win his match.

"We won the first set in a lot of matches and that puts pressure on the opponent," said Ferrell. "Our freshmen were the ones who were able to win their matches in straight sets, which is cool, but that put even more pressure on Wartburg. Wilkins was able to settle down and win his final two sets. Slaymaker was able to win his match despite not playing his best tennis, which speaks volumes about who he is a player."

Subbert and Fletcher both won a set in their matches but would lose in third sets. Subbert lost his match in a tiebreak.

A second squad faced Morningside University, ranked No. 18 in NAIA, and lost 7-0.

The Dutch will continue American Rivers Conference play when they host Coe College Friday at 3 p.m. on the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex tennis courts.

Ayden

Fletcher