Benda ends state run Wednesday

WATERLOO – Fort Madison junior Rowan Benda was the first Bloodhound to qualify for the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s boys' state tennis tournament since Sam Avery did it in 2019.
Benda advanced to the Wednesday-Thursday tournament at Byrne Tennis Center in Waterloo after finishing runner-up at the Fairfield Class 1A District qualifier on May 16.
The morning started with the Bloodhound facing Luke Daoust of Shenandoah. Benda got off to a nice start in the first game with some big service points, but Daoust would find a way back when Benda would miss on the first and then have to shorten up the second serve to get it in play. After battling to a 30-all tie in the first game, a shot from Daoust painted the right sideline and slid through for a 40-30 lead.
From that point on, Daoust was able to work through the two-set sweep with Benda suffering some unforced errors, while Daoust stayed behind the baseline for the most part, just keeping the ball in play, waiting on the errors.
Benda said being in the midst of those players was a little intimidating and it got in his head a little bit.
"It was a little different. Everything felt high stakes and everybody there was really good and it was nerve wracking," he said.

"I was kind of disappaointed in myself. I was down a little and thought I could have done better, but in the end, I got there, so I'm happy about that."
Benda couldn’t find his way back into the match and suffered the sweep, sending him to consolation play in the double elimination format.
Knoxville’s Josh Toledo was Benda’s opponent in the consolation side. Benda would work one game in each set before ending his run with a 6-1, 6-1 loss.
The Hound also played doubles this year and said he enjoys playing at the net, which was evident in the first match with Daoust where Benda would move up on short balls, but didn't have a whole lot of luck.
"I should have stayed back a little more, but I just like to play at the net," he said. "But the main thing we talked about was staying out of my head and not thinking about the last shot. If I thought about that last shot, it would just keep happening over and over again."
Benda ends the year with a 65-99 game record and he went 5-12 in set play playing at No. 1 singles while also playing platooning with the Bloodhounds' golf team, also during the spring season.