Alia Randt and Megan Thorfinnson fell one set short of advancing to the State Girls Tennis Tourney.  Randt and Thorfinnson lost a close three-set match in the Section 6A “Final Four” semifinals and, despite coming back later to win in three sets in the third-place match, the Laker duo were unable to play for true-second and had to settle for third place.

The Litchfield duo of Isla Dille and Olivia Olson won the section doubles’ title with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Delaney Hanson and Madisyn Claseman, the players from NLS who ended the Laker duo’s season.

Randt, a sophomore, ended the season with a team-best 18-7 record, while Thorfinnson, a junior, ended the season 17-8.

•  The Lakers had the team portion of their season end with a 5-2 loss to NLS in the Section 6A semifinals.  The Wildcats went on to earn the section team title with a 4-3 win over Osakis in the finals.

The Lakers ended the season with a 12-7 record, which included a perfect 8-0 record in the WCC to earn the Lakers their ninth-straight conference title.

Minnewaska Area coach Tara Reichmann now has an unofficial 493 wins in her career coaching both boys and girls tennis and could pick up win No. 500 this spring during the boys tennis season. 

The only senior lost to graduation from this year’s Minnewaska Area girls tennis team is Brianna Erickson.

Section 6A Individuals

Alia Randt and Megan Thorfinnson won their first two doubles’ matches during the Section 6A Tourney and were set to play in the semifinals last Tuesday at Rogers.

In the semifinals, Randt and Thorfinnson lost 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3 in a very close match to send the Laker team into the third-place match with still a chance to make it to state.

The Lakers would have to win their third-place match against Madeline and Lauren Anderson, of Osakis, and Randt and Thorfinnson came through with a hard-earned 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win.

However, they also needed Hanson and Claseman to beat the Litchfield team in the finals and they were unable to do that, losing 6-1, 6-4.

That meant the Lakers wouldn’t have a chance to play for true-second and their season immediately ended.

Winning the Section 6A singles’ title was Leah Maddock, of Osakis, with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Amyra Gamez of NLS.

Also playing in the individual tourney for the Lakers but losing out during the first day, were Olivia Danielson and Avarie Uhde in doubles, and Katy Vold and Rachel Rankin in singles.

NLS 5, Minnewaska 2

SINGLES results: 

(1) Alia Randt, Min def Amyra Gamez 6-2, 6-1  (2) Ella Wieland, NLS def Megan Thorfinnson 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 tb  (3) Emily Ruter, NLS def Rachel Rankin 6-1, 6-3  (4) Addy Heid, Min def Emma Friedel 6-4, 6-2

DOUBLES results:  

(1)  Delaney Hanson-Madisyn Claseman, NLS def Olivia Danielson-Avarie Uhde 6-1, 7-5  (2) Brianna Wileman-Jadyn Proehl, NLS def Katy Vold-Katie Sorenson 6-4, 2-6, 6-2  (3) Heidi Taunton-Averie Turner, NLS def Norah VanZee-Kaylen Blair 6-2, 6-3

—————————————————-

Section 6A Individuals

Minnewaska Area results

SINGLES results: 

•  Katy Vold lost to Ella Wieland, NLS 6-2, 6-2 (eliminated)

•  Rachel Rankin def Emma Wuotila, Litch 6-1, 6-3; lost to Amyra Gamez, NLS 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) (eliminated)

Final Four:  Leah Maddock, Osakis def Bria Hoffarth, Osakis 6-1, 6-0; Amyra Gamez, NLS def Ella Wieland, NLS 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2

Championship:  Maddock, Osakis def Gamez, NLS 6-1, 6-1

Third place:  Wieland, NLS def Hoffarth 1-6, 6-3, 6-4

DOUBLES results:  

•  Olivia Danielson-Avarie Uhde def Skylar Knight-DeWeerd-Izzy Graham, BBE 6-2, 6-0; lost to Madeline Anderson-Lauren Anderson, Osakis 6-2, 6-4 (eliminated)

•  Alia Randt-Megan Thorfinnson def Alayna Neal-Varrsha Chenthuren, SJP 6-0, 6-1; def Jessica Pohlmann-Anessa Redepenning, Mel 6-0, 6-3

Final Four:  Isla Dille-Olivia Olson, Litchfield def Madeline Anderson-Lauren Anderson, Osakis 6-3, 6-1; Delaney Hanson-Madisyn Claseman, NLS def Alia Randt-Megan Thorfinnson, Minnewaska 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3

Championship:  Dille-Olson, Litchfield def Hanson-Claseman, NLS 6-1, 6-4

Third:  Randt-Thorfinnson, Minnewaska def Anderson-Anderson, Osakis 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!