Rare is the occasion that you can learn so much without having to receive said lessons the hard way.

The full scope of what the Marshalltown boys’ tennis team gained from Tuesday’s non-conference match with Class 1A No. 4 Waverly-Shell Rock might not be known for some time, but the Bobcats will get a chance to put forth that education when their four-meet week concludes at home on Thursday.

Until then, MHS can relish in the fact that it improved to 6-0 this spring with a 7-4 triumph over their first ranked opponent this season.

Marshalltown won a pair of third-set tiebreakers during singles play to take a 5-1 lead that was quickly converted into a team victory when the first two doubles matches to end went the Bobcats’ way.

Waverly-Shell Rock (5-1) won the final three bouts, however, to leave the Marshalltown Court Complex with a piece of the Bobcats’ pride.

“Losing 1-3 doubles left a sour taste in our mouth,” said MHS head coach James Christensen. “We have a few things to clean up coaching-wise tomorrow at practice and they’ll be ready to go on Thursday for two more meets.”

The Go-Hawks did the bulk of the winning after Marshalltown clinched the team victory, but Christensen was enthused about how his Bobcats got to that point. Three-set singles victories for Isaac Benscoter at No. 1 and Elliot Kodis at No. 5 propeled MHS to the eventual dual win.

“Isaac Benscoter and Elliot Kodis came in clutch with tiebreak victories,” said Christensen. “Seeing that from a senior is one thing, but for a sophomore like Elliot to really turn it on in the second and third sets is pretty great.”

Marshalltown got straight-set singles wins from Adam Boone at No. 2, Caleb Rasmussen at No. 3 and Jacob Christen at No. 4. Benscoter outlasted fellow senior Matthew Judka at No. 1, 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), (10-8), while Kodis rallied for a 2-6, 6-3, (10-7) triumph over senior Isaiah Franzen at No. 5.

“Boone battled back from a tough performance against Fort Dodge with a great performance in singles today,” Christensen said. “Rass continued his steady play at 3 while Jacob grinded out a tough win at 4.”

And before Waverly-Shell Rock could put the pressure on with doubles wins at Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Kodis and fellow sophomore Evan Roush secured the match-winning team point with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 5 doubles.

“Evan Roush and Kodis might have played the best of all doubles teams today,” Christensen said. “They have really been improving.”

Not long after, Kyle Smith and Will Swartz captured the seventh team point with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) triumph at No. 5 doubles.

Waverly-Shell Rock won the remaining three matches left on the courts, including two in third-set super-tiebreakers.

The Bobcats get the chance to put their education to the test on Thursday, as Des Moines Lincoln, Mason City and Ottumwa visit for a double dual. MHS meets Lincoln at noon and Ottumwa at 4 p.m. back at the Marshalltown Court Complex.

Marshalltown 7, Waverly-Shell Rock 4

SINGLES

Isaac Benscoter (MHS) def. Matthew Judka, 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), (10-8)

Adam Boone (MHS) def. Brady Willis, 6-1, 6-3

Caleb Rasmussen (MHS) def. Liam Jerome, 6-2, 6-2

Jacob Christen (MHS) def. Daniel Becker, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

Elliot Kodis (MHS) def. Isaiah Franzen, 2-6, 6-3, (10-7)

Trevor Beck (WSR) def. Kyle Smith, 6-1, 7-5

DOUBLES

Judka and Willis (WSR) def. Benscoter and Christen, 6-3, 6-2

Jerome and Franzen (WSR) def. Boone and Rasmussen, 2-6, 7-5, (10-1)

Becker and Beck (WSR) def. Tayven Dutton and Isaac Seberger, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, (10-5)

Smith and Will Swartz (MHS) def. Frederick Yang and Jack Wedemeier, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

Kodis and Evan Roush (MHS) def. Gritters and Jackson Oswald, 6-1, 6-2