Central's Beckert won't say if he'll play singles or doubles
No one is saying just yet whether Davenport Central senior Mitch Beckert will play singles or doubles at today’s Class 2A district tennis meet at Pleasant Valley.
That is, at least not until today’s seed meeting is complete.
Either way, his chances for making the state tournament in two weeks are pretty good. Beckert has placed every year, finishing second in singles last year and seventh in 2005. He teamed with Scott Stegemann, who graduated from Central a year ago, to win the 2A doubles state title in 2006.
And he’s ready for one more run.
“I’m pretty happy with how things have panned out so far,” Beckert said of his senior season, which included a sweep of the No. 1 singles and doubles flights at last week’s Mississippi Athletic Conference meet at Davenport West.
“My singles game has improved, and (doubles teammate) Jon (O’Leary) and I have grown together since the first day of practice (in March).”
Beckert, who gave a verbal commitment to Iowa over the winter to play tennis for the Hawkeyes next year, can’t worry about what his competition is doing. Even if it’s Des Moines Roosevelt junior Charlie Caris, who beat Beckert for the state singles title a year ago.
“I know that Charlie spent a semester in Florida, but I’m just trying to worry about myself right now. If I spend time trying to think about that (what the competition is doing), it doesn’t help me,” Beckert said.
What Beckert brings to the table is considerable.
“One of our things we do at Central is that we don’t have to play well until May 1,” coach Larry Jacobsen said. “By May 1, we’re trying to get everyone’s game as sound as we can. After the MAC conference meet, he’s close to the top of his game right now.”
As much success as Beckert has seen, he’d like to see his teammates get to share in it over the next couple of weeks. The Blue Devils are the defending state champions.
“I’m not too worried about the guys,” Beckert said. “They all know what it takes; they know they need to play their best tennis (today). Hopefully, they’ll keep doing it over the next couple of weeks.”
MAC teams take to PV and Muscatine for district meets today. In addition to the Blue Devils and Spartans, Davenport West, Davenport North, North Scott and Clinton will meet at Pleasant Valley, while Bettendorf will travel to Muscatine and meet up with Ottumwa, Burlington, Iowa City High and Iowa City West.
In Class 1A, Davenport Assumption, Camanche and Maquoketa will compete in district competition at Dubuque Wahlert.
In both classes, top two singles and doubles entries advance to individual state. Team runners-up at each district meet will compete in preliminary substate competition on Saturday, with team champions advancing directly to the substate round, which begins May 17.
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