Atlantic’s Nile Petersen has qualified for the Class 1A State Tennis Tournament. Petersen picked up a semi-final win in Atlantic over JD Hitt of Clarinda 6-2, 6-0. Creston’s Dustin Merritt then forfeited the final due to cramping, making Petersen the District champion. Meritt advanced to the final with a 3-set win over Atlantic’s Kalob Flory in the semis. Merritt defeated Flory 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 to earn a state berth.

Petersen will compete in the Class 1A State Tournament in Waterloo on May 25th and 26th. His teammates Grant Podhajsky and Cooper McDermott had already qualified for state in doubles play earlier in the day.

Atlantic clinched the District Title as a team as well and will head to Sub-State competition on May 19th at Kuemper Catholic. That Sub-State site will include winning teams from the Atlantic and Denison District sites.