Bobcat head coach John Fiscus simply wanted Grimm and her No. 2 doubles partner Olivia Ryan to perform to the best of their ability.

Both parties got the response they were looking for.

After Fiscus finally informed Grimm that Thursday’s CIML Iowa Conference dual meet and season opener had already been decided, Grimm and Ryan finished off their Fort Dodge counterparts to help the Bobcats capture an 8-3 triumph — Marshalltown’s first CIML divisional victory since 2012.

“She goes, ‘is this important for us to win?'” Fiscus said of his conversation through the fence with Grimm. “No, we’ve already won,” he replied, “but I want you to win so we go 8-3.”

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE • Marshalltown senior Acacia Brown makes a forehand return during the No. 3 doubles match Thursday at the MHS Tennis Courts. Brown and teammate Sarah Jacobs scored a 6-1, 6-0 victory to help the Bobcats top the Dodgers 8-3.

Swapping sides of the net with a 1-0 lead and a 4-3 advantage in the second set, Grimm hustled over to find out just how important those last two points were for her Bobcats.

Fiscus balked at her initial query.

“Since they were pretty close to us and it was an even match, I really wanted to make sure we didn’t lose,” said Grimm. “[Fiscus] didn’t want to tell me the score. He said, ‘you’re fine.'”

Two games later, Grimm and Ryan broke service and closed out a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Raven Breiner and Kathryn Cochrane to end the match.

A year after falling 8-3 to the Dodgers, Marshalltown’s season-opening victory was something to behold. The Bobcats won four out of six singles matches and four of five doubles bouts, with Fort Dodge senior Beth Murman accounting for both Dodger wins. The three-time state singles and doubles qualifier won at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, but her team was outmatched in the end.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

“I think it shows that we have more density,” Grimm said, “that we’re all really close amongst our numbers. Our No. 2 doubles team was our No. 3 and 6 [singles players] and we beat their Nos. 2 and 4, so that was good. I was surprised to say the least.”

All four singles wins for MHS were sweeps, highlighted by 6-0, 6-0 triumphs for Sarah Jacobs at No. 4 and Ryan at No. 6. Acacia Brown converted a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles, while Grimm won 6-3, 6-4, over Emma Bloom in the most dramatic singles match of the night.

Murman and Bloom bagged a 6-0, 6-4 win over Emily Miller and Kaitlyn Martin at No. 1 doubles, but the rest went to the Bobcats. Brown and Jacobs dominated for a 6-1, 6-0 triumph at No. 3, while the 6-1, 6-1 sweep by Aubrey Hala and Libby Loney at No. 4 sealed the team win for Marshalltown.

Julieta Cano and America Dominquez also prevailed in their varsity debut at No. 5 doubles, 6-1, 6-1, before Grimm and Ryan closed out the contest.

“It’s just great to get on the court,” Fiscus said. “We don’t care how cold it was tonight because the wind wasn’t blowing, and that makes a big difference.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

“It was a very successful first match out, and [I’m] pleasantly surprised and happy. They beat us 8-3 last year so it’s kind of nice to flip it around. You can always build on a win, and that’s what we want to do.”

The Bobcats hope to have that opportunity today with a trip to Newton, but the inclement spring weather will have the final say.

Marshalltown 8, Fort Dodge 3

At Marshalltown

Singles

Beth Murman (FD) def. Emily Miller, 6-0, 6-1

Kathryn Cochrane (FD) def. Kaitlyn Miller, 6-2, 6-1

Maggie Grimm (MHS) def. Emma Bloom, 6-3, 6-4

Sarah Jacobs (MHS) def. Raven Breiner, 6-0, 6-0

Acacia Brown (MHS) def. Michelle Chen, 6-2, 6-0

Olivia Ryan (MHS) def. Sierra Bethke, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

Murman and Bloom (FD) def. Miller and Martin, 6-0, 6-4

Grimm and Ryan (MHS) def. Cochrane and Breiner, 6-4, 6-3

Brown and Jacobs (MHS) def. Chen and Lunde, 6-1, 6-0

Aubrey Hala and Libby Loney (MHS) def. Bethke and Baker, 6-1, 6-1

Julieta Cano and America Dominquez (MHS) def. Black and Clay, 6-1, 6-1