Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge boys tennis returning letterwinners are )left to right): Michael Miller, Alexander Hansen, Nathan Beekman, Peyton Hays and Luke Vaughan.

Scott Messerly has spent some time on the tennis court in his career, and for the first season, he will be Fort Dodge’s head boys coach.

Messerly, who served as the assistant coach for Martha Mericle and the girls program, played tennis when he was in school at St. Edmond.

Messerly’s daughter Sidney played tennis at St. Edmond and went on to play for Iowa Central.

“I played when I was in school,” said Messerly, who graduated from St. Edmond in 1986. “I played with Mike Huss, Steve Huss, Joe McGough and Joe Huss.”

This is Meserly’s first stint as a head coach outside of basketball. He coached 12 seasons of girls basketball at St. Edmond and just completed his fourth season at Fort Dodge.

“I was an assistant girls coach for Martha last year,” Messerly said. “I picked up a lot on the sidelines and saw some good players.

“I’ll have a lot of help behind me with some of the dads and a lot of these kids play at the indoor courts.”

Messerly will have the luxury of six seniors to lean on. Senior Luke Vaughan will vie for one of the top two spots with freshman Micah Flaherty.

“I’m learning on the run and picking up things as I go,” Messerly said. “Luke and Micah will be our legitimate No. 1 or No. 2.

“It’s just like basketball and you take a little bit of something from everyone.”

Also competing in their final season for the Dodgers will be Peyton Hays, Aidan Porter, Kord Utley, Denis Morgan and Michael Miller.

“Watching this team and seeing them play last year, I really think we can win a lot of meets,” Messerly said. “We have a lot of good players, not just a couple.

“I think we are going to see kids get better as the season goes on.”

2022 FORT DODGE BOYS TENNIS

ROSTER

Seniors — Peyton Hays, Aidan Porter, Kord Utley, Luke Vaughan, Denis Morgan, Michael Miller.

Junior — Nathan Beekman, Alexander Hanson.

Sophomores — Grant Riley.

Freshmen — Micah Flaherty, Tate Balenendke, Drake Wertz.

SCHEDULE

March 31 — Ankeny.

April 4 — at Spencer; 7 — Ankeny Centennial; 12 — Urbandale; 19 — Waukee Northwest; 21 — at Ames; 25 — at Boone; 26 — Des Moines Lincoln; 28 — Mason City.

May 3 — at Marshalltown; 5 — at Des Moines East.