This it for Kent Toland. All his work on the tennis court this season, and all the seasons before, are going into his goal of winning a state tennis championship.
On Friday, the Iola High senior opens up his bid for the 2010 Kansas Class 4A State Tennis singles championship. He is one of two undefeated players going into the tournament hosted by Pratt High School.
“Last year it was about getting into the regional championship match. I did that but lost,” Toland said after winning the 2010 Class 4A regional championship last Saturday at Parsons.
“This year it was about getting the regional championship and being a No. 1 seed going into the state tournament.”
Toland has a lot on his plate this weekend. He is involved in Iola High’s Little Oscars celebration Saturday night then Sunday he and his classmates graduate from IHS.
But first Toland, who is 27-0, has to finish up his athletic business.
“I’m in a good position going into the state tournament,” Toland said. “If I take care of business, I won’t see another No. 1 seed until the semifinals.”
The top seeds are the four regional champions, who along with the four second-place players from regionals earn first-round byes. The state tournament field was increased from 16 to 24 players this season.
Pairings won’t be determined until the coaches’ meeting Friday morning at 10 o’clock.
Matches begin at 11:30 Friday morning at Pratt’s Walter Blake Tennis Complex. Semifinal play begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“Kent just adjusts quicker than anyone else on the court,” said Lyle Kern, Iola High boys’ tennis coach. “The strokes have always been there for him. His mental game is so sharp this season.
“Wind bothers other people but not Kent. Wind is Kent’s friend on the court. He plays well going into the wind or with the wind behind him.”
And most of the matches this season have been played in windy conditions. That included last Saturday’s semifinal and final in the regional tournament at Parsons.
Quinn Dippel, a sophomore from Smoky Valley High School, is 30-0 and placed third at the 4A state tournament last year. Andrew Konetzni, a senior from DeSoto, is 31-2.
Toland lost to Konetzni in the last year’s state fifth-place match. Toland defeated Jesse Voth-Gaeddert last year to reach the fifth-place match.
Voth-Gaeddert, a junior from Hesston, won his regional. He comes in with a 25-7 record.
“You take no one for granted at state. I’m just going out and play my game,” Toland said. “I play it one point at a time, one game at a time, one match at a time.”
This is Toland’s fourth appearance in the Class 4A state tournament. He placed 11th as a freshman and as a sophomore. He broke through last year to earn the sixth-place medal.
Toland heads to 4A tennis state
