CEDAR RAPIDS – Riley Galbraith lives to compete in moments like the one he experienced Friday.When the Cedar Rapids Kennedy junior tennis standout seized the moment, it became even more special.
Galbraith won his first two matches, including an exciting three-set quarterfinal victory over Bettendorf’s Kyle Johnson in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A state singles and doubles tournament at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center.
“I’m just really happy,” Galbraith said. “This is what I play for.”
Galbraith made his state debut with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Rex Ju of Cedar Falls. He then faced Johnson, who had been a state finals regular placing second in doubles two years ago and playing on the 2011 championship doubles team with David DeSimone. Johnson owned a 68-2 career singles record in high school before taking on Galbraith. The district runner-up wasn’t intimidated.
“I play all these guys in the summer and other tournaments,” Galbraith said about the tough field. “We’re all pretty close.”
Johnson’s 6-3 set win was sandwiched between a pair of 6-2 set victories by Galbraith. An early advantage helped Galbraith relax while increasing the pressure on his opponent.
“It was definitely key,” Galbraith said about capturing the opening set. “It’s such a confidence booster.”
Momentum shifted to Johnson in the second and the Bulldogs’ senior forced a third set. Kennedy Coach Craig Bova admitted he said little to Galbraith during the break, but tried to keep him loose.
“Not a whole heck of a lot,” Boca said. “It’s just a matter of refocusing.”
The fiery Galbraith let his emotion out with an occasional fist pump or briefly yelling encouragement to himself. He said that’s how he is and it cannot be contained. He had plenty to be excited about in the third, rebounding after a 1-0 deficit in the decisive set. He maintained his poise and then took control of the match.
“He doesn’t lay down and die,” Bova said. “He doesn’t let one point bother him. He just keeps moving on.”
Avoiding falling behind 2-0 late helped Galbraith move on as well. Galbraith fought off a service break early in the third to tie it and spark a 6-1 streak to close out the match and secure a top-four finish. Saving the service break and breaking Johnson’s serve powered him to a win highlighted by a drop-shot winner and an ace in the final point.
“I think getting that was big,” Galbraith said. “I got him, I broke him and was on the way from there.”
Galbraith faces Des Moines Roosevelt’s Naveen Nath in the semifinals, and they are joined by Iowa City West’s Kyle Appel, who topped Galbraith in the district final. Appel earned straight set wins over Ottumwa’s C.J. Ray and Davenport Central’s Jon O’Leary.
Appel admitted to some early nerves because he had never beat Ray before the first round, but overcame them for a 6-2, 6-3 win. He will face top-seeded Elliott Baker of West Des Moines Dowling on Saturday.
“This was my goal,” Appel said. “I played as hard as I could to make it to the next day.”
Appel placed sixth last year as a freshman and has already improved upon that, assuring a spot in the top four. He feels good about how he is playing, especially with the level of competition.
“I feel it’s a little tougher this year,” Appel said. “All these kids are good. It’s a great tournament.”
Appel anticipates a hard-fought match against Baker and a lot of action with both looking to use their power.
“Looks like he’s a big hitter,” Appel said. “I like that, a back and forth, ground-stroke match.”
Linn-Mar, which also qualified from the 2A district in Cedar Rapids, moved its doubles team of Tyler McCann and Gavin Young into the semifinals. The No. 4-seed didn’t drop a set in its first two wins. McCann and Young dropped Ankeny’s Brandon Ballard and Matt Peterson, 6-3, 7-5, to reach the top four.
“Our season goal is to make the finals,” said McCann, who was on the Lions’ sixth-place doubles team last year. “We’re one step closer.”
They didn’t start the season as partners. According to Young, they were teamed together after three meets and immediately meshed well with complementing styles and good communication.
“So we new we were a good doubles team,” Young said. We didn’t have to do much experimenting for that.”
Their performance was inconsistent at times Friday, but the Lions were able to score points when they needed them most, including closing the first set against Ankeny with two straight points. McCann said the effort was shaky at times. The goal is to advance and the Lions will take a win any way they can get it.
“We’re trying to compete as hard as we can,” McCann said. “Sometimes you have an off day. Hopefully, we’ll turn it around (Saturday).”
The Lions first-round win over Muscatine’s Austin Czerwiec and Bryson Cale was Young’s first state match. He admitted to some early nerves but those subsided as play progressed. The Linn-Mar senior is grateful to end his prep career at state.
“It feels great,” Young said. “It’s nice to make it to state and be in the top four.”
McCann and Young play top-seeded Will Hemminger and Harrison Kruse in the semifinals. Hemminger and Kruse were the 2009 state doubles champs. They advanced to the semifinals with straight set wins as well. The Lions aren’t happy with just reaching this point.
“Our philosophy is we’re going to give everything we’ve got. That’s worked for our team this season,” Linn-Mar Coach Chris Wundram said. “We’re not satisfied. There is no consolation for being in the semifinals. We’re playing to win.”
Victor Wang and Calvin Song of Ames advanced to the other semifinal against Max Bramer and Andrew Hartman of Pleasant Valley. Wang and Song, seeded third, notched a straight set win in the quarterfinals, opening with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Cedar Rapids Washington’s Clayton Hoyt and Mitch Anderson. Bramer and Hartman posted a 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal win over West Des Moines Valley’s Joey Maigaard and Mason Bear, who beat second-seeded Collin Schares and A.J. Naanep of Johnston in the first round.
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