APLINGTON — The second verse was nowhere near the same as the first.

The Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck boys’ tennis team trounced Aplington-Parkersburg 5-0 on Saturday in the Class 1A preliminary substate round to advance to next weekend’s substate finals in Dubuque.

The Spartans (8-2) defeated the Falcons (7-4) for the second time in as many meetings this spring, though by a much more decisive margin than the 6-3 victory in North Iowa Cedar League action, to reach the substate finals for the second year in a row.

GC/G-R made it through last year’s preliminary substate match by beating North Polk 5-3 in Grundy Center before falling to Le Mars in the substate finals in Fort Dodge.

On Saturday, the best-of-nine format didn’t even advance as far as doubles play because GC/G-R got its fifth win during singles competition. Three of the Spartans’ victories were of the straight-set variety.

Sage Klar, who recently committed to play at Loras College, defeated Aaron Price 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, and Garret Weldon was a 6-2, 6-4 victor at No. 3. Nick Voss, a sophomore, triumphed in three sets at No. 4 singles, and both Landon Graham and Tjaden Meester followed suit to seal the 5-0 sweep.

Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck will now advance to meet perennial power Dubuque Wahlert next Saturday in Dubuque in the substate finals. The Golden Eagles (11-3) have qualified for the last two state team tournaments and 13 overall, winning their most recent of eight state championships in 2016.

The meet will begin following the 8 a.m. coaches meeting, and the winner will advance to the first round of state one hour later against either Waverly-Shell Rock or Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck 5, Aplington-Parkersburg 4

At Aplington

Singles

Sage Klar (GCGR) def. Aaron Price, 6-4, 6-3

Tjaden Meester (GCGR) def. Jacob Abbas

Garret Weldon (GCGR) def. Grant Truax, 6-2, 6-4

Nick Voss (GCGR) def. Alec Oberhauser, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Landon Graham (GCGR) def. Carter Cuvelier