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Bowser begins trek for state title

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Jonny Bowser of Fort Dodge compete during district on Thursday

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jonny Bowser can join a short list of tennis players to win state singles and doubles titles, as he begins his march here Friday.

The Class 2A singles and doubles tournaments will take place from Veterans Memorial Tennis Center. First round action begins following a seeding meeting.

Bowser claimed another district title recently and is likely to secure one of the four seeds handed out to district champions.

“Jonny is coming into the tournament this year with a wealth of experience and that has really helped him prepare for the talent that he expects to face,” FDSH head coach Jared Feddersen said.

Iowa City West senior Jiung Jung returns seeking a three-peat, along with defending runner-up Joe Hoff of Iowa City High and Bowser, who was fourth. Ames’ Timothy Ellis is the only other returning player back from last year in the singles draw and enters as a district champion.

Jung will be looking to make history as the fourth player to ever win three singles titles. The other three are Art Andrews, Tyler Cleveland and Charlie Caris.

“The draw will most likely look similar to last year,” Feddersen said. “Jonny is eager to get back into action and beat whoever ends up across the net from him.”

Jung has been the No. 1 seed each of the past two seasons after placing fourth as a freshman.

Bowser, meanwhile, is a four-time state placewinner, having won doubles gold as a sophomore with Brian Murman. He also won the consolation doubles bracket his freshman season with Andrew Stover.

“As with last year, Jonny’s goal coming in is to play his best tennis at the right time,” Feddersen said, “and give himself the best chance to possible win it.”

Hoff ousted Bowser in the semifinals last year, claiming a three-set win (6-2, 2-6, 7-5). Hoff went on to fall to Jung in the finals, 6-4, 6-0, and also lost in a district final to his Iowa City rival.

West Des Moines Valley’s Moise Habineza competed in the 2015 singles draw as a freshman. He won a district title, along with West Des Moines Dowling’s David Lu, Noah Burmeister of Waukee, Bettendorf’s Jacob Panjwani and Pleasant Valley’s Sriram Sugumaran.

CLASS 2A STATE TENNIS

Singles qualifiers

District champions

Jonny Bowser, Fort Dodge; Moise Habineza, West Des Moines Valley; David Lu, West Des Moines Dowling; Noah Burmeister, Waukee; Jacob Panjwani, Bettendorf; Jiung Jung, Iowa City West; Sriram Sugumaran, Pleasant Valley; Timothy Ellis, Ames.

District runners-up

James Susman, Des Moines Roosevelt; Donovan Chleborad, West Des Moines Dowling; Griffin Laib, Ankeny; Austin Grossmann, Waukee; Teddy Weaver, North Scott; Joe Hoff, Iowa City High; Aditya Subramaniam, Pleasant Valley; Luke Van Donslear, Linn-Mar.

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