Fast start to CEC tennis season

The Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls tennis team has a new head coach and an early season schedule that has them jumping into the proverbial frying pan. The Lumberjacks had a 4-3 record after just the first week of the season.

"We have a lot of girls out who played last year, and we have a lot of seniors," said first-year coach Emily Hallgren. "Some of those seniors are new, but many of them have some varsity playing time from the last year or two."

CEC opened the season on Aug. 19 at Mora, where they went 1-2 against Aitkin, Mora and North Branch.

In their opening 7-0 win against Aitkin, the 'Jacks got singles wins from Emilie Mattinen, Paige Goranson, Ellie Krube and Eryka Morgan. In doubles, the No. 1 team of Rylie Goranson and Emma Parks won 6-3, 6-3. The No. 2 doubles team of Grace McIlvain and Madison Erickson won 6-3, 6-2 while the No. 3 doubles team of Erin Keating and Morgan Olesiak won 6-3, 6-4.

"So far, the girls are patient and understanding with me as a first-year coach," Hallgren said. "They are a very coachable group and they are willing to learn and grow."

CEC followed up its first win with a tough 5-2 loss to Mora. The 'Jacks got wins from Erickson at No. 3 singles and Dru Danielson at No. 4 singles.

The Lumberjacks were shut out in their final match against North Branch.

Last Wednesday, Aug. 21, CEC played at home at the new Members Cooperative Credit Union athletic complex, to the din of road construction nearby, as they defeated Stella Maris Academy of Duluth, 7-0.

"It was fun to be at home despite the road work going on right next to the courts," Hallgren said. "We've had fun with it and the girls are really embracing being able to play at such a great facility."

Winners in singles play for CEC were Mattinen, Paige Goranson, Ellie Krube and DJ Vernon. Rylie Goranson and Madison Erickson won at No. 1 doubles while McIlvain and Olesiak triumphed at No. 2 doubles. At No. 3 doubles, the CEC team of Danielson and Erin Keating were also winners.

"My goal is to bring a positive experience to the girls," Hallgren said. "We look forward to giving the girls another sports option that they maybe hadn't thought of playing in the past."

On Saturday, the 'Jacks took on a trio of teams, downing Forest Lake 4-3, losing to Rock Ridge 7-0 and losing 7-0 to host St. Francis.

Against Forest Lake, the 'Jacks got all four of their wins in singles play from Mattinen, Paige Goranson, Rylie Goranson and Eryka Moran.

As Hallgren begins her tenure as head coach, she was quick to give a big shout-out to assistant Nick Lind, a CEC boys player in the early 2000s.

"Nick is incredibly supportive of me being the coach, and he is a huge asset to our program," Hallgren said.

Hallgren is also in the process of instituting a youth program in the hopes of introducing young players to the sport.

"It is a sport you can play for the rest of your life," said Hallgren, a former tennis star at Belle Plaine High School in southern Minnesota. "We hope as the kids grow that they make friends for life and build relationships that will last a lifetime."

CEC defeated Duluth East 4-3 and St. Anthony Village in Duluth Monday, then fell to Hibbing 6-1 on Tuesday at Hibbing. They play at Hermantown Tuesday. Their next home meet starts at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 against Rock Ridge.