Here are the results from the district boys tennis competition in Storm Lake on May 10:
Team Standings:
1. Spencer – 20 points (automatically advance to substate team competition in Ft. Dodge on May 18)
2. Spirit Lake-Okoboji – 17 points (host preliminary substate match on May 11 to qualify for Ft Dodge)
3. Cherokee – 11 points (play at Spirit Lake-Okoboji on May 11)
Singles:
Champion – Brandon Stoll, Spirit Lake-Okoboji (individual state tournament qualifier for 3rd time)
Runner-up – Brett Walker, Cherokee (first time individual state tournament qualifyer)
3rd place – Ross Dewerff, Storm Lake
Doubles:
Champion – Michael Gabhart/Jordan Pleuger, Spencer (Gabhart 3x state qualifyer, Pleuger 1st time)
Runner-up – Matt Ellefson/Evan Richards, LeMars (1st time state qualifyers)
3rd place – Andrew Ites/Trystan Wiedow, Spirit Lake-Okoboji
Full Results of Spirit Lake-Okoboji place finishers:
Brandon Stoll:
R1 – defeated Josh Sluiter, Lemars 6-0,6-0
R2 – defeated Joe Sherbon, Spencer 6-0,6-0
Semifinals – defeated Ross Dewerff, Storm Lake 6-4,6-0
Finals – defeated Brett Walker, Cherokee 6-1,6-2
Ites/Wiedow:
R1 – defeated Stone/Liewer, Bishop Heelen 6-4,3-6,6-3
R2 – defeated Kinsey/Pauley, Denison 6-2,6-3
Semifinals – lost to Gabhart/J Pleuger, Spencer 5-7,0-6
3rd place match – defeated Kaldahl/B Pleuger 7-6 (8-6), 7-5
Other Spirit Lake-Okoboji results:
Singles – CJ Kent lost to Dustin Dorhout, Bishop Heelen 3-6,1-6
Doubles – Ryley Smith/Michael O’Brien d. Maurer/Dodd, Cherokee 6-2,7-6; then lost to Kaldahl/Brady Plueger, Spencer 0-6,2-6
Comments:
This was a great day of tennis for the team. We finished in 2nd, just behind Spencer, 20 team points to 17, which is the difference of just one doubles victory. Spencer had their top 4 players in the doubles draw, and doubles victories are worth 3 points compared to the two points for each singles victory. So even though we had a first place and a third place, and Spencer had a first place and a 4th place, they still acquired more team points and automatically advance to team substate in Ft. Dodge. Because we got 2nd, we can still qualify for Ft Dodge, but need to win a dual meet against 3rd place Cherokee on Saturday. We defeated Cherokee both times we played this year – 9-0 the first time, and 7-2 the next, so I’m confident we will qualify for team substate and open with St. Edmunds, who finished in 2nd place in the team state tournament last year, and who beat us in the substate final last year. But they guys have worked hard all year long, and I would love the opportunity to give it another shot against them. Today Brandon played extremely well, winning 5 of his 8 sets played 6-0, and only losing 7 games all day long. And whether he ends up receiving a top seed at the state tournament or not, I believe he can give even the top guys some serious problems, and is a serious contender to finish in the top 4. Andrew and Trystan also had a great day of tennis. They got off to a little slow start in their first round match. The Heelen team was pretty competitive, very athletic, and lobbed well, which for the first two sets gave our guys a few problems and got them a little frustrated, leading them to lose the 2nd set after winning set 1. But they rebounded and regrouped well and pulled out the 3 set win. They played very strong tennis the rest of the day, winning handily in Round 2, and putting up a good fight against the eventual champions from Spencer. The first set was very close, but as commonly happens in a tennis match, if the first set is close the team that drops it often has a dip in play, and it was tough for them to get anything going in set 2. But they came back strong in the 3rd place match, and though it was close, they came away with the victory against their opponents from Spencer and earned a 3rd place medal. Ryley and Michael got 3 important team points for us by winning their first round match. And CJ just had a tough draw. His opponent was the #1 player from Heelen, who wasn’t seeded, but was a very strong opponent. CJ kept it close, particularly in the 1st set, and fought hard as he always does. Overall I’m extremely satisfied with their performance today. They got a pretty good draw, and took advantage of the opportunities they were given by winning matches they were capable of winning and favored to win. I’m very proud of them, not only for their success on the court, but for being an excellent group of guys. It is a privilege and a joy to be their coach!
The singles and doubles state competetion will be May 24th and 25th in Waterloo
