Tennis team tops NLS to claim WCC title
Sports | Published on May 6, 2024 at 2:39pm CDT
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The Minnewaska Area boys tennis team earned another WCC title as the Lakers swept New London-Spicer in a key conference match last Tuesday night, 7-0.
With the win, the Lakers closed out the WCC schedule with a perfect 6-0 record, while NLS and Montevideo tied for second with 4-2 marks.
One day earlier, the Lakers suffered their first loss of the season with a 5-2 setback at Sartell.
Minnewaska Area is now 16-1 heading into the WCC Tourney, which was set for Friday at NLS. A recap of the conference meet will appear next week.
The Lakers were also set to compete at the St. John’s triangular, Thursday, but that competition was canceled due to rain. This week, the Lakers close out the regular season with a pair of triangulars. Minnewaska Area was set to compete at Alexandria, Tuesday (tomorrow) and at Detroit Lakes, Thursday, May 9.
Carter LeClair is still undefeated for the Lakers with a 15-0 record, while Tenzin Dahl took his first loss last week and is 15-1 overall and Drew Bleick (14-2), Marshall Kopp (14-2), Landon Schiffler (15-2) and Xavier Johnson (14-2) all have just two losses. All the Laker regulars are at .500 or better.
Other teams in Section 8A this year are NLS, East Grand Forks, Perham, Crookston, Thief River Falls, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls and Osakis. The Lakers have defeated all the section teams, except for Detroit Lakes, which it will play this week.
The Lakers have been ranked sixth in state Class A the last few weeks, while Thief River Falls, whom the Lakers beat 4-3 to open up the season, is ranked 10th.
The Section 8A Tourney is set to begin May 20.
Sartell 5, Waska 2
The Lakers suffered their first loss of the season with a 5-2 setback at Sartell last Monday night.
Minnewaska Area earned its only two points with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) win by Drew Bleick at third singles and a 6-2, 6-1 victory by Carter LeClair at fourth singles. All seven matches were decided in straight sets, but most of the matches were very close.
Connor Quelle fell short of another point, losing 7-5, 6-3 at first singles, while Tenzin Dahl also lost for the first time this season with a 6-4, 6-1 setback at second singles and Marshall Kopp and Landon Schiffler also lost a close match at second doubles, 6-2, 7-5.
Waska triangular
The Lakers won both matches at a home triangular last Tuesday night, sweeping NLS in one match, 7-0, and also earning a victory over Osakis in a match shortened due to rain, 4-0.
The victory over NLS clinched the WCC title for the Lakers. Connor Quelle led the victory with a 6-4, 6-0 win at first singles, while Tenzin Dahl gave up just one game in winning 6-1, 6-0 at second singles, Drew Bleick had little problem in winning 6-1, 6-1 at third singles, and Carter LeClair gave the Lakers a sweep in singles with a 6-1, 6-3 win at fourth singles.
In doubles, Riley Thorfinnson and Tyler Kohn prevailed in two close sets at first doubles, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, Landon Schiffler and Marshall Kopp won 6-0, 6-3 at second doubles, and Xavier Johnson and Carson Beyer made it a sweep with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at third doubles.
• In the other match, Minnewaska earned four quick wins over Osakis to earn the victory before rains halted the rest of the action.
Carter LeClair picked up a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, Landon Schiffler won 6-0, 6-0 at second singles, Xavier Johnson prevailed 6-0, 6-0 at fourth singles, and the Lakers got a fourth point by Tyler Kohn and Carson Beyer at third doubles with a forfeit win.
The Lakers went 6-0 in the WCC this year to earn another conference title and Minnewaska also raised its season mark to 16-1.
at Sartell 5, Waska 2
SINGLES results:
(1) Jack Michaud, Sar def Connor Quelle 7-5, 6-3 (2) Dane Kenning, Sar def Tenzin Dahl 6-4, 6-1 (3) Drew Bleick, Min def Collin Otto 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) (4) Carter LeClair, Min def Isaiah Williams 6-2, 6-1
DOUBLES results:
(1) Braden Biersheid-Will Gerads, Sar def Riley Thorfinnson-Tyler Kohn 6-3, 6-2 (2) Adam Paulson-Chase Woods, Sar def Marshall Kopp-Landon Schiffler 6-2, 7-5 (3) Jaden Otto-Braydon Schneider, Sar def Xavier Johnson-Ethan Klick 6-0, 6-0
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Minnewaska triangular
at Minnewaska 7, NLS 0
SINGLES results:
(1) Connor Quelle, Min def Jackson Barber 6-4, 6-0 (2) Tenzin Dahl, Min def Henry Vetsch 6-1, 6-0 (3) Drew Bleick, Min def Jovial Martinez 6-1, 6-1 (4) Carter LeClair, Min def Lucas Christopherson 6-1, 6-3
DOUBLES results:
(1) Riley Thorfinnson-Tyler Kohn, Min def Austin Okuly-Adam Palmer 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 (2) Landon Schiffler-Marshall Kopp, Min def Vaughn Hanson-Lucas Poverud 6-0, 6-3 (3) Xavier Johnson-Carson Beyer, Min def Ethan Wenke-Isaac Palmer 6-3, 6-2
at Waska 4, Osakis 0
SINGLES results:
(1) Incomplete (2) Carter LeClair, Min def Preston Steinert 6-1, 6-0 (3) Landon Schiffler, Min def Dylan Hetland 6-0, 6-0 (4) Xavier Johnson, Min def Skylar Larson 6-0, 6-0
DOUBLES results:
(1) Incomplete (2) Incomplete (3) Carson Beyer-Tyler Kohn, Min win by default
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