Page 11 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 6/3/2015

“At State, I tried not to think about it (re-
venge). I just tried to play normal and trust
my game and good things would happen.”
CLHS Tennis
State Champion
Sam Jones
Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
Clear Lake State Champions
Jones
wins Class
1A State
Tennis title
Sam Jones capped an unde-
feated season with the Class 1A
State Tennis Singles title in Wa-
terloo on Saturday. Jones beat
defending state champion Sam
Stickles, of Fairfield Maharishi,
in the championship, 6-2, 6-4.
He finished the year with a 19-0
record after finishing fourth in
last year’s tournament. Stickels is a hard-hitter who may of Sam’s strengths are his consis-
Jones said that for more
than 300 days leading up to
the State Championship he was
looking for revenge. But when
the State Tournament began,
that thought went out of his
mind.
“At State, I tried not to
think about it (revenge). I
just tried to play as normal and
trust my game and good things
would happen,” said Jones, who
was the third seed at the cham-
pionship.
Jones opened the tourna-
ment playing Devan Michels,
of Camanche. He won in con-
vincing fashion, 6-1, 6-0.
It was more of the same
in the second round, when he
posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory over
Alex Kaldahl, of Spencer.
The semifinals were played
inside at Black Hawk Tennis
Club because of rain. Jones
said the switch to indoor tennis
didn’t necessarily affect his game.
He has some experience play-
ing indoors at Ames, he noted.
Jones was paired against Cam
Long, of Dubuque Wahlert.
Last year Long defeated Jones in
the consolation match, but this
time Jones got the hard-fought
win, 6-3, 6-4. The victory set
up a rematch from last year with
defending champion Sam Stick-
els, of Fairfield Maharishi.
The match with Stickels
was moved back outside. Jones
noted the return to outdoor ten-
nis was a bit challenging, as con-
Hopes of a return trip to Boys State Soccer Tournament dashed
Clear Lake’s hope of re-
turning to the Boys State Soc-
cer Tournament were dashed
Thursday with a 3-1 loss to
Benton Community in a game
played at Waverly Thursday,
May 22.
The Lions, 11-3 and ranked
fourth in their class, were upset
by number seven ranked Ben-
ton Community in the second
round of Regionals. The Lions
received a first round bye.
Jack Finn got the Lions out
to a quick start with a goal in
the ninth minute of the contest.
The goal was the only good news
of the day, as Benton responded
with three goals of their own in
the first half.
“We lost Finn to a hard
collision in the first half and
we did not play with the spirit
and drive it takes to win games
against tough competition,” said
Coach Matt Anderson. “This
certainly was not the match it
should have been, as we were
certainly talented enough to
win this match and many more
afterwards.”
Gladbrook-Reinbeck, a
team the Lions beat 5-1 to get
into State last year, defeated
Benton Community on Sat-
urday to punch their ticket to
State.
“If we played to our abil-
ity we would have hosted the
match against Gladbrook and
we’d have three games left to
play in Des Moines. Could of,
would of, should of.... didn’t-- a
Clear Lake
Baseball &
Softball
Results
Page 12
June 3, 2015 • Page 11
Waldron comes
from behind to
claim golf title
Clear Lake High School senior Dane Waldron won
Clear Lake’s Sam Jones finished the season with a perfect 19-0 record the Class 3A boys state golf championship on Saturday, Clear Lake’s Dane Waldron battled adverse weather to claim the Class 3A boys state
and a State tennis title to his credit. -Submitted photo May 30, in Livermore. Waldron had the first-day lead golf championship. Submitted photo
with a 69, and his 81 was good enough to hold off two- ing, especially in some of the conditions and weather that we usually have to play
ditions went from hot and hu- this year at the State Tourna- time state champion Alex Moorman, of Centerville, by in. But this is a prime example of how you never ever, ever give up!” he said.
mid indoors to cold and windy ment. He did not let anything a stroke. Waldron used a two-under 34 on the back Waldron said it was also great to have teammates Jon Carew and Tanner Stor-
outdoors. Jones said he thought distract him of his goal of win- nine on Saturday to finish with a two-day total of 150. beck on the course with him. “Tanner came out both days to support and encour-
the weather might alter Stickels’ ning a state championship,” said Waldron did very well on the back nine both days. age me. That is always very helpful. Some of the players had at least 10-15 people
game more than his own, since Coach Rich Peters. “A couple On day two, his confidence in his own ability and per- following them and cheering them on.”
formance on the back nine gave him the title. Coach Perry and Waldron also credited time spent in the weight room for suc-
have to adjust to the wind. tency, mental toughness, and his “The wind and the cold on Saturday definitely had cess on the course.
“I tried not to get too dis- forehand. Sam had continued some effect on my game,” said Waldron. “This year “Dane has worked very hard in high school to attain this goal,” said CLHS
tracted by the indoor or outdoor to add power to his game, espe- we have had some not so great weather for a lot of our Coach Eric Perry. “He has worked tremendously in the off-season, primarily on
court. The court is the same size cially on the serve and forehand meets. I can play in the weather, but I guess I wasn’t his golf swing, but also in the weight room. Jesse Collins has helped so many Clear
wherever you play. I just had to side. He has worked extremely fully prepared for Saturday wind.” Lake athletes excel.”
concentrate on my game,” he hard on and off the court to After Waldron shot a 47 on the front side Saturday, “It has completely changed my game. I am more stable, can control the club
said. get this point. He earned the his lead was slipping away. In fact, Waldron was seven through my entire swing, can over power the course,” added Waldron. “I was pretty
Jones won the match, title. I am very proud of what strokes back. dedicated to working out all winter to stay in shape and get stronger. It made a huge
played outside at Byrnes Park, Sam was able to accomplish this “Since Dane was ahead of the rest of the field, we difference.”
6-2, 6-4. year. I believe he is the first state did not know this. I remember standing with him on Waldron added that in his senior year he learned how to score and win. That,
“Sam was very focused champion in tennis at CLHS.” the 10th tee to start his back nine. I told him to finish and playing with the Lions against some tough competition has helped him prepare
the last nine holes of his high school career the best he for college and the road ahead. Northwestern College Golf Coach Aaron Aberson
could. I even mentioned to play smart and earn a med- has recruited Waldron to play golf next season. Aberson attended the State Meet
al finishing in the top seven,” recalled Perry. “Dane’s Friday to see Waldron play.
emotions said it all. He agreed with me and never pan- “This state tournament was a lesson to everybody to never give up. I have
icked. learned a lot the past four years. There is always going to be better players than you,
Clear Lake Coach Eric Perry said day two was but that is what makes you try harder to improve your game, to win. I’ve been very
where he saw his player’s maturity shine. fortunate to have played golf for Clear Lake.-- strong traditions of great teams and
“As a sophomore and junior, his mentality was in big wins.”
question, this is where Dane struggled. You could really
see how our program at Clear Lake helped him in that
regard. A sign of great maturity.”
“It was a rough first nine, that’s for sure,” said Wal-
dron. “At the turn I had to let go of the stress and
start to have some fun. Coach said to not give up, but
to relax and enjoy my last State tournament. ‘Smile,’
he always says. So that’s what I did, and things turned
around.”
Waldron asked his coach several questions during
his rounds, something he had really not done during
the year.
“I could tell he was really focused and wanted reas-
surance,” said Perry. “In the tough conditions, every-
one struggled to hold the lead on Dane, but I really
think his mental approach was better than theirs. I was
proud of Dane, not just for winning a state title, but
how he handled adversity and drive forward. The back
nine has some shorter holes where Dane can use his
length off the tee,” explained Coach Perry. “His short
game really came through with good chips and great
putting.”
Waldron said that despite his rough start, he never
feels he is out of a competition.
“You never know how the other players are do-
terribly disappointing ending to those extra matches. We’ll cer- the match prior. tried to get past them. I was lead was short lived, as Webster “This was a hard loss to
the 2015 season,” said Coach tainly look for teams to fill our Jack Finn brought the in- impressed with how well Zeke City tied the match at 1 to 1 go- take,” said the coach. “It’s not
Anderson. 2016 season and get us the time tensity, finishing a goal in the Branstad, Ryan Faught, and ing into the half time. very often you’ll lead in ev-
The Lions finished with an needed in match play. We have first half for a 1-0 lead. The goal Spencer Orr played. They came In the second half, the Li- ery offensive category and still
11-4 season record, which is the a lot of young talent so hopeful- would prove to be all the Lions in and gave the team some really ons dominated possession time, take a loss. Unfortunately we
third best in Clear Lake High ly we can rebuild, fill the gradu- needed, as the defensive line of good minutes to keep us fresh attacks on goal and corner kicks. had twice as many fouls called
School soccer history. ating gaps, and improve for next Luke Maring, Zach Zwiefel, and running at full speed.” “We did everything we against us, one which gave the
“Coming into the end of season,” said Anderson. Justin Sholly, and Parker Pitzen, Webster City 1, CL 0 needed to do to win the con- Lynx the go ahead score. If we
the season, we were playing CL 1, IFA 0 along with goal keeper Jacob The soccer boys traveled to test except get a ball across their get an obvious hand ball called
teams that had played five more The Lions traveled to Iowa Hogan, shut out the Cadets for Webster City on May 19. The line,” said Coach Matt Ander- in our favor or a penalty kick
matches than us. We lost two Falls on May 22. The team was a 1-0 victory. Lions got out to a 1-0 lead when son. when Ernie Miszewski is tackled
matches this season when the a little short sided, with Ernie “Our defense won this Tanner Berger deflected a loose In the 74th minute Webster from behind inside the six-yard
Boone Tournament was can- Miszewski injured and on the match for us,” said Coach Matt ball in front of the Lynx goal City was awarded a direct kick, box, this match ends much dif-
celed due to weather. There is sidelines after being mauled in Anderson. “They were spot on keeper back into the net. The which they converted for a score ferently.”
a lot of experience you gain with and won every ball Iowa Falls and a 2-1 win.
Clear Lake’s Ian Gonzalez (15) runs down a ball in the forward position during the Iowa Falls-Alden game- The Lions met their match in Benton Community in the second round of Regionals. Clear Lake was upset,
played on Friday, May 22. Submitted photo. 3-1. Pictured for Clear Lake is Spencer Orr. Submitted photo.