In the interest of playing to win, the Marshalltown boys’ tennis team had to be willing to lose some points.

For Tuesday’s season-opening dual meet against Fort Dodge, it had to be more about level of play than points on the scoreboard for the Bobcats.

Marshalltown head coach James Christensen implored his squad to go for it — hit winners rather than safe return shots — to set a standard for the spring season to come. If challenging for the Iowa Alliance Conference crown and advancing through the postseason are the standards, then the quality of the Bobcats’ tennis must rise to meet those expectations.

Marshalltown mowed Fort Dodge 11-0 in Tuesday’s opener at the Marshalltown Court Complex, getting only one match victory in a 6-0, 6-0 sweep as the Bobcats sacrificed points to push for finishing shots first and foremost.

The Bobcats still blew through the Dodgers on a chilly and windy day on the courts, but the final scores weren’t as convincing as they potentially could have been.

“Before the meet even started, I told the guys this is about us and how we’re going to play,” said Christensen. “No matter who they’re playing, they need to play at the level that they’re going to need to execute at the whole season. So I told them, even if you could go out there and, you know, dink and dunk and win the point, I want you to go out there and rip shots, even if that means you lose a couple more points or a game here or there that you might not otherwise.

“That’s the level you’re going to have to play at, so stay at that level.”

Marshalltown scored a sweep in doubles play to start the day, taking a 5-0 lead thanks to a relatively familiar roster. The No. 1 doubles team of juniors Elliot Kodis and Evan Roush racked up a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Fort Dodge’s Corbin McHone and Jaxton Jones, and the No. 2 doubles tandem of seniors Caleb Rasmussen and Kyle Smith scored a 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Drew Essman and Jayden Stanley.

Bobcat juniors Jacob Seberger and Parker Christen paired up at No. 3 doubles for a 6-0, 6-1 sweep of Jaxon Price and Kyran McCrady, while it was a slate of newcomers in the last two doubles spots for MHS.

Junior Aaron Hunter and freshman Ben Wirin went 6-0, 6-1 over Eli Johnson and Easton Minkoff at No. 4, while junior Micah Goodwin and senior Rowan Ham added a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 5. It was the first varsity wins for all four Bobcats.

“Those are the guys that have been winning challenge matches, and there’s some people creeping up on their heels,” Christensen said. “Our top JV guys are right there with them, so I think we will see a lot of competition over the next couple days.”

In singles play, Marshalltown’s experienced players dismantled the Dodgers with their aggressive play while also sacrificing points and even games along the way.

Rasmussen, who was 13-0 in varsity singles last year, beat McHone 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, while Kodis clipped Jones 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2. Roush, who played just one varsity singles match last spring, put away a 6-1, 6-3 win over Price at No. 3.

Smith moved up from No. 6 to 4 for the Bobcats in Tuesday’s opener and breezed by Essman, 6-1, 6-2, while Seberger and Christen both debuted in varsity singles with 6-0, 6-1 wins at Nos. 5-6.

“Our top six guys this year have varsity experience, so that’s very key coming back,” said Christensen. “A lot of these guys moved up multiple spots, everybody moved up multiple spots on the ladder due to people graduating. So that’s the biggest test to come.”

The next test for MHS will be Thursday at Mason City. The Bobcats are back at home on Tuesday, April 7, to host Des Moines East.

Marshalltown 11, Fort Dodge 0

SINGLES

Caleb Rasmussen (MHS) def. Corban McHone, 6-0, 6-0

Elliot Kodis (MHS) def. Jaxton Jones, 6-1, 6-1

Evan Roush (MHS) def. Jaxon Price, 6-1, 6-3

Kyle Smith (MHS) def. Drew Essman, 6-1, 6-2

Jacob Seberger (MHS) def. Jayden Stanley, 6-0, 6-1

Parker Christen (MHS) def. Sawyer Evans, 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES

Kodis and Roush (MHS) def. McHone and Jones, 6-3, 6-2

Rasmussen and Smith (MHS) def. Essman and Stanley, 6-0, 6-1

Seberger and Christen (MHS) def. Price and Kyran McCrady, 6-0, 6-1

Aaron Hunter and Ben Wirin (MHS) def. Eli Johnson and Easton Minkoff, 6-0, 6-1

Micah Goodwin and Ronan Ham (MHS) def. Evans and Jenson Litwiller, 6-3, 6-1