T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - South Tama’s Kaden Timm makes a forehand return during Wednesday’s opening day of play at the Class 1A boys’ state tennis tournament at Byrnes Park Tennis Center in Waterloo.

WATERLOO — Tennis has transformed Kaden Timm.

The South Tama County senior poured himself into the sport and his dedication was rewarded by ending his high school career at the Class 1A state tennis tournament on Wednesday.

Timm did not advance in the 1A singles bracket, but felt pride in putting South Tama back on the map as its first state tennis qualifier in 14 years.

“Being one of 16 to qualify for state singles was really exciting, especially after the district I played,” Timm said. “I’ve been working at this for four years and it’s been super exciting.”

The sport has also allowed Timm to lose almost 100 pounds from his freshman year to now.

“I used to be super out of shape,” Timm said. “This got me really in shape and it helped build a lot of relationships with my team and other teams like Marion or Independence. It’s been a really good experience.”

Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s Tyler Grote defeated Timm, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round and Carroll Kuemper’s Mason Reicks won, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round of consolations.

Grote, a tall, lanky lefty, put Timm on his heels to start bracket play.

“That first match was basically just Kaden’s nerves,” STC head coach Ander Rutledge said. “And he was able to get over that and adjust his swings and serves, but tall kids and lefties are hard to play against.”

Timm was still willing to put in the extra effort to hustle for every point and show up for a considerable contingent of Trojan fans in attendance.

That hustle carried over into consolations, where Reicks and Timm had a much closer battle.

“I think that kid played a lot like Timmer, played his style of tennis,” Rutledge said. “They were kind of an equal match and I think it would’ve been a really good first match for him. … He’s a fighter. He’ll go after every ball, no matter where it is. He’s determined and wants to win.”

Timm had an interesting district tournament where, after playing in some marathon matches to reach the finals, he had to default out of the final against A-P’s Tate Neymeyer to seek medical attention for severe dehydration.

“I just made sure to have a lot of Gatorade and had some liquid IV and felt recovered in two or three days,” Timm said.

Timm plans on studying kinesiology at Iowa State and would like to get involved in intramural tennis on campus as well.

His commitment to the sport shows the younger Trojans what is possible.

“He put in a lot of work outside the season, took it upon himself to get private lessons during the winter,” Rutledge said. “I know the younger kids were excited to practice with him and now they see how they have to work to get to where he is.”