PARSONS — It’s a subtle ritual for Kent Toland. Unless a person is watching the Iola High senior just before he takes the court, they wouldn’t notice it.
Toland reached down in his bag, sitting at courtside, and held something just before he went on the court Saturday morning. This is what he had been working for all season, an opportunity for a regional championship.
Not many singles players figured out Toland this season. With a 6-1, 6-1 win over Max Manley of Coffeyville Saturday, Toland became Iola High’s third regional champion since 1999.
“It’s just a note card with several things I jotted down. My older brothers did it and I picked up the habit. It’s got a couple of things that when I read it, I know if I do those things and focus on those, I’ll do well,” Toland said following his first regional championship.
“Max is a tough opponent. He has played me to 8-4 and I knew I had to concentrate and bring my A game to beat him.”
Manley served the first game of the match and won. Then Toland reeled of six straight games to take the first set.
In game four, Toland served an ace on the second point. He said normally Manley out aces him in matches.
“I tried for that spot several times in the match but couldn’t get it. Even on the next to last serve of the match. I was up 40-0 and decided to go for it,” Toland said.
He didn’t get the ace so he served at 40-15 and won the point, the game, the match and the 2010 Kansas Class 4A Regional Singles Championship.
Toland had a 3-0 lead in the second set and Manley held serve for his only game victory. Toland won the next three for the match.
That means Toland will make his fourth consecutive trip to the Kansas Class 4A State Boys’ Tennis Tournament. The 2010 state tournament is this Friday and Saturday in Pratt.
Toland finished 11th as a freshman and a sophomore. He earned the sixth-place medal in 2009.
He goes into the state tournament at 27-0.
“That was never a goal this year, going undefeated, but it’s nice,” Toland said. “I’m pleased with the way I’ve play the last two weeks.
“The goal has always been to win a state championship. It’ll be tough because there’s a lot of very good singles players at state.”
Toland opened the regional tournament Friday with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Blake MacKenson of Columbus. In the quarterfinals, Toland dispatched Payton Hays of Parsons, 6-1, 6-2,
Also on Friday, senior Michael Middleton won his play-in match for singles competition. Middleton beat Joe Garrett 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). Then he lost 6-0, 6-0 to Nick Romans of Independence.
Same was true for Iola High’s two doubles teams on Friday. The top six doubles teams and top six singles players qualified for the state tournament.
Chase Vaughn and Alec Peterson, both seniors, defeated Holeman and Spainhower of Columbus 2-6, 6-4, 8-6. They lost 6-3, 6-1 to Coffeyville’s Eastman and Mitchell.
Freshman duo Zeph Larney and Garrett Catron beat Columbus’ Niegisch and Lee 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. They lost 6-0, 6-0 to Robertson and Hurley of Parsons.
“The whole team played some excellent tennis Friday,” said Lyle Kern, IHS tennis coach “I don’t think I have ever had a group improve so much in just 10 weeks.”
Kern said the four freshmen on the team can’t wait to play next year and they have promised to practice a lot over the summer.
“Michael, Chase and Alec played some excellent tennis but the SEK has many good players and should represent us at state well,” Kern said.
In Saturday’s semifinal, Toland set the tone early by breaking Mason Posch’s serve in the first game of the match. Toland went on to win 6-1, 6-1.
In the second set and on serve, Toland was down 40-0 and held to win the game.
“That was key to the match. Anytime a player can come back from 40-love and win is big,” Toland said.
Toland kept his opponents off balance by changing speeds on his shots throughout the day. He said he does that as the game and pace dictates.
“This is great,” he said of winning the regional championship. “I had Lyle as a coach to help me through this season. My mom and my brother, Scott, are here to share this with me. This is special.”
As for those “keys to success” written on his note card.
“I won’t reveal those just yet. That can wait until after next weekend.”
Toland captures 4A regional championship
