Anthony Schulte and Dylan Schulte likely played plenty of times against one another on the tennis courts despite a significant age gap.
However, the Cedar Rapids Prairie brothers recently did it on the biggest stage in Iowa, competing against one another for the Class 2A Iowa high school state singles championship.
In the end, the elder Schulte, Anthony, closed out his senior season with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over younger brother Dylan, a freshman, in Iowa City. It marked the first time in the 97-year run of the event that siblings collided for gold.
Anthony Schulte, who is headed to Coe College in the fall to continue playing tennis and school, survived a tough match in the semifinals where he knocked off Jake Nelson of Waukee Northwest. Dylan Schulte topped Nelson’s teammate, Kellan Croatt, in the final four.
Nelson and Croatt came into the year having won back-to-back state tennis doubles titles, but opted for the singles draw this season.
“It really means a lot to me and this has always been a life goal,” Anthony Schulte told the Cedar Rapids Gazette. “Never thought I would actually do it, but I did.”
Last year, Anthony Schulte finished third overall in singles.
Winning the 2A doubles crown was the duo of Karthik Ganesh and Jatin Kodavatiganti of Pleasant Valley. Cedar Rapids Xavier swept gold in 1A, as Charlie LeGrand won singles with Bennett Link and Jacob Schmit claiming doubles.
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