First-Ever Boys’ Dual Win has Cyclone Tennis Starting Hot

First-Ever Boys’ Dual Win has Cyclone Tennis Starting Hot -

(4-9-25) – A promising season of Cyclone tennis has started off with history.

The Harlan Community boys’ tennis team won their first-ever dual when they defeated Southwest Valley 5-4 to open their season.

Harlan Community Tennis Coach Michael Rueschenburg said he and Co-Coach Dillon Stane were confident that this could be a very good boys’ team.

“Both Coach Stane and I were just really excited to finally get that dual win just over another team,” Rueschenberg told KNOD Sports. “Not an individual win at the Conference or District Tournament, which are always great to have. But just simply going out and you know, playing just one other team and then coming away with the win. So, we were really excited about that.”

It's certainly been a confidence boost for his athletes.

“Just seeing you win against another opponent just gives you more confidence for the next time and the next time that you can go do it. And when you lose over and over again, like we've struggled the past few years, you know, it can just get into that self-fulfilling prophecy of it's really hard to win and we don't want them to believe that. They put in the time. They put in the work. So, it's just great to see them, win.

Although they lost their next match against Abraham Lincoln, 7-2, the Cyclone boys’ tennis team has already compiled 7 match victories on the year. To put it in perspective, they’ve won a total of 11 regular season matches in their first 3 years COMBINED.

Sophomore Kobe Klaassen has been part of four of those wins this season, with two individual and two doubles victories. Rueschenburg likes the progress Klaassen has made early this season.

“There was like a 12-shot rally that him and his opponent had and Kobe was probably in the wrong spot about 3 or 4 times, but he ended up winning the point because he was athletic enough and, you know, got to the net and hit a volley away. So that's what we really pushed about. Kobe is he's still learning and he’s still raw, but he just refuses to lose.”

Rueschenburg and Stane also have faith in this year’s girls’ team. Their varsity line includes Anastasia Kay, Chloe Swensen, Naia Ojeda, Julia Pando, Rebecca Christensen, and Alexa Powers.

“The girls are finally ready to have a meet. (There has) been lot of practicing against each other these past few weeks. You know, Coach Stane and I are excited for them to finally play somebody other than themselves.’

The Cyclone girls’ will begin their season at home Thursday against Denison-Schleswig. Meanwhile, the Cyclone boys’ will be on the road to face the Monarchs.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats