'Jacks win conference title

The Lumberjacks boys team continued its march toward tennis domination Tuesday, and captured the Lake Superior Conference championship as a result.

The Lumberjacks shut out Hermantown 7-0 at Hermantown High School, squeaking the match in before the rains came Tuesday evening.

Senior Peter Tomhave won over Ethan Halgren 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 singles, senior Kade Bender took a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nolan Brickson. No. 3 singles player Dennis Genereau (also a senior) defeated Chase Sams 6-0, 6-0. Sophomore Adam Blesener completed the singles sweep for CEC by beating Ben Kangas 1-6, 6-0 and 7-5.

In doubles the 'Jacks No. 1 team of Mason Langenbrunner and Cal Pertler took a 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 win to start a run of three straight wins for CEC's doubles teams. At No. 2 doubles the Lumberjacks duo of Eli Benson and Travis Berg won 6-1, 6-4. The CEC No. 3 doubles team of Andy Acers and Jonathan Muhvich won 6-2, 6-3.

"I'm very pleased with everyone's attitude and effort," CEC coach Derek Johnson said. "It really has been a rough spring with a handful of practices and a lot of rain and snow days. Our senior leaders have really stayed focused and gotten the job done in matches and I am very proud of how they've handled things."

Still, it hasn't been all sunshine for the 'Jacks. In the days prior to the meet against Hermantown, CEC picked up a 4-3 win over Eveleth-Gilbert, fell to Hibbing 6-1 and then wrapped things up with a 6-1 win over Duluth Denfeld on Saturday.

Against Eveleth-Gilbert the Lumberjacks won all four singles matches and lost all three doubles matches in taking the victory. Tomhave won at No. 1 singles by beating Noah Sandinas 6-1, 6-2, followed by Kade Bender taking a win at No. 2 by beating Jared Delich 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. Dennis Genereau took No. 3 singles for CEC by beating Dylan Niemi 6-1, 6-0 and the sweep in singles was completed by Mason Langenbrunner who downed Jake Bradach 6-4, 6-4.

At No. 1 doubles, the CEC team of Cal Pertler and Travis Berg dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Rob Licari and Gavin Maki. CEC's Eli Benson and Adam Blesener fell 6-3, 6-2 to Blaine Mortenson and Bryce Vest. At No. 3 doubles, the CEC team of Andy Acers and Ethan Doty was beaten by Cole Anderson and Nathan Tassoni of E-G 6-4, 6-4.

"The match against Eveleth-Gilbert was a tight match which started on May 2 and got suspended because of rain with the score tied at 2-2," Johnson said. "We were able to finally finish the match this past Friday."

Also Friday, the Lumberjacks struggled against Hibbing, losing a 6-1 decision with CEC's lone win coming from Peter Tomhave at No. 1 singles over Carter Anderson of the Blue Jackets 7-6 (5), 7-5.

It was a huge win, according to CEC assistant coach Tom Proulx, who said Tomhave is the player to beat for other teams.

"Hibbing is the top team in our section and they are very well rounded," Johnson said. "They don't really have a weakness in their lineup. They're pretty solid from top to bottom of the lineup."

Genereau fell at No. 2 singles to Ryan Osborne 4-6, 6-3 and 10-6 in a classic match.

"Dennis played a really solid first set and played smart and kept his composure," said Johnson of the match. "In the second set, his opponent became more consistent and ended up edging Dennis out."

Fellow seniors Muhvich lost at No. 3 singles to Dominic Warzecha 6-1, 6-0 and Acers dropped a 6-4, 7-5 decision to Nic Cichhi of Hibbing at No. 4 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, the CEC team of Bender and Mason Langenbrunner lost 6-2, 7-5 to Joe Dwyer and Mark Borland. Pertler and Berg lost to Isaac Hildenbrand and Jack Grysbowski at No. 2 doubles 6-2, 6-3. At No. 3 doubles, Benson and Blesener fell 6-3, 6-4 to Luke Lundell and Kaleb Stoffel.

On Saturday, the Lumberjacks bounced back from the Hibbing loss with an impressive 6-1 victory over the Hunters by sweeping all the singles events and taking two of three victories in doubles play.

Tomhave took a break against Denfeld and Bender moved to the No. 1 singles position. Bender took a 6-2, 6-0 win, while Mason Langenbrunner pitched a shutout in a 6-0, 6-0 win over his opponent. Eli Benson, playing at No. 3 for CEC, won 6-1, 6-3 over Jack Davis and Ethan Doty won 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles.

The No. 1 doubles team of Genereau and Pertler easily won over their opponents 6-1 and 6-1. Landon Langenbrunner and Acers picked up an easy 6-0, 6-1 win over the Denfeld duo of Shane Redenbaugh and Hayden Hollinday at No. 2 doubles. CEC's lone loss came at No. 3 doubles where Muhvich and Blesener lost 7-6 (7), 3-6, and 6-2.

The Lumberjacks appeared to be peaking at the right time heading into team playoffs Thursday.