A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Cal Pertler stretches for a ball earlier this season at Hermantown. Pertler was half of the No. 1 doubles team along with Travis Berg in the team tournament. Although they defeated Marshall Friday at home, the pair fell to Virginia Saturday.
The Cloquet boys tennis team opened the Section 7A boys tennis tournament by thumping Duluth Marshall 7-0 on Friday and then being bounced out of the playoffs 4-3 on Saturday by Virginia.
"Getting that 7-0 quarterfinal winner over Duluth Marshall was nice," said Cloquet coach Derek Johnson. "They beat us 4-3 in playoffs last year so it felt good to return the favor this year with a sweep. The team played great all around."
Peter Tomhave got the ball rolling in the right direction by taking an impressive 6-1, 6-1 win over Andrew Pavola at No. 1 singles. That was followed by a win at No. 2 singles from Kade Bender who downed Aiden Bachland 6-3, 6-1. No. 3 singles Dennis Genereau followed up Bender by winning 6-3, 6-4 over Conner Sengbush, and Mason Langenbrunner wrapped up the singles sweep by downing Kristian Hall 6-4, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.
In doubles play, the Lumberjacks started swiftly with a thrilling 6-1, 3-6, 10-3 at No. 1 singles from Travis Berg and Cal Pertler over Danial Klatt and Keyer Dhungana. At No. 2 doubles it was Eli Benson and Adam Blesener taking a 6-3, 6-0 victory. That was followed up by Andy Acers and Johnathan Muhvich who won 6-1, 6-1 in No. 3 doubles.
On Saturday the Lumberjacks bowed out of the section tournament with a tough 4-3 loss to Virginia despite Cloquet picking up 3 of 4 wins in singles play.
"We battled in the semifinals against Virginia but in the end we came up short," Johnson said, pointing out that the winners were the three senior captains who have each been with the program at least three years. "They knew what was at stake and did what it took to win their match. They've been very strong for us all season."
Tomhave continued his dominance at No. 1 singles by winning 7-5, 3-6, 10-6 over Joe Hafdahl. Bender got by Caleb Bialke 3-6, 6-2, 13-11 at No. 2. At No. 3, it was Genereau slipping by Branden Gulbranson 6-4, 6-3. Gavin Benz gave the Blue Devils their only singles win by beating Mason Langenbrunner 6-2, 6-3.
Virginia won all three matches at doubles to secure the win. First it was Ryan Sherf and Jace Westergug beating Pertler and Berg at No. 1 doubles 6-3, 6-2. At No. 2 it was Brady Seppala and Jack Elliott defeating Blesener and Benson 3-6, 6-2 and 6-2.
"Tennis can be about momentum and sometimes when a player or doubles team gets hot they can rattle off and win a few games in a row," explained Johnson. "That exactly how the No. 2 doubles match went."
At No. 3 doubles it was Gavin Flaim and Kyle Williams of Virginia downing the Cloquet team of Muhvich and Acers 6-3, 6-1.
Johnson was happy with the effort by the 'Jacks, who lost to the Blue Devils earlier this season.
"Our effort was definitely there today and just came up short," he said. "In the regular season we lost to them 5-2, so it was an improvement. But the guys were definitely bummed that we lost a close one. Absolutely proud of the guys and how far they've come in such a shortened season."
Virginia went on to the championship where they fell to Hibbing in the title match.
Singles play began on Tuesday in Duluth at Longview Tennis Center and continued Wednesday as this issue of the Pine Knot News went to press.
