Metro challenges BV netters

By: 
Jill Meier Journal editor
The Metro Conference Championships is typically the single most challenging day on the Lynx boy’s tennis schedule, and this year was no exception, as the Sioux Falls schools claimed the top four team placings, with Lincoln taking the title.
 
“We always grow up a little bit from this tournament,” coach Mike Zerr said. “The Sioux Falls schools this year, especially, are really deep and talented, as all four teams look to be in the top 6-7 in the state, and our guys showed they are capable of competing with those types of teams in stretches.”
 
Despite earning 14.5 points, Zerr said the team played well. “The point totals are not indicative of our level of play on the day as a team, but we have to be able to finish tight matches and find ways to win when we earn opportunities in tiebreakers and in close matches with lots of deuce points.”
 
BV’s 14.5 points were acquired from a trio of third-place finishes; Evan Talcott (flight 4 singles) and BV’s flight 2 and 3 doubles teams.
 
“Evan gets to be part of two of our three wins on the day and continues to compete and bring out the best in himself when he gets the opportunity,” Zerr said.
 
The effort from BV’s Jacob Frantzen (flight 3) was a bright spot, Zerr said. “Dropping a third-set tiebreak in his first round and then competing well against one of the best No. 3 players in the state in Yousef from O’G, he is really showing some signs of hitting his stride right now,” Zerr said.
 
Grant Ellis also produced a solid comeback against Roosevelt’s Gerit Ludens, after trailing in the second set. He battled to win the set and force a third.
 
“He is never going to beat himself, and forces players to really have to play well to beat him,” the coach said.
 
“I do not believe in moral victories, so today is a loss, for sure, but losing can often be a better teacher than winning for a competitor. It forces you to focus on what you can and need to work on in order to improve. Our guys have a great mentality, and I know they will come back and be ready to go with a big ESD week ahead of us,” he said.
 
BV heads to Aberdeen Thursday to compete for the ESD Conference title before closing out the year May 17-19 at the state tournament.
 
Metro Championships
Team scores: 1.) SF Lincoln 66.5; 2.) SF Roosevelt 58; 3.) O’Gorman 52.5; 4.) SF Washington 42.5; 5.) Brandon Valley 14.5.
Lynx results - Singles - Flight 1: Tory Shafer (SFW) def. Matthew Schmitz 6-3, 6-3; Cade Damgaard (O’G) 6-1, 6-3. Flight 2: Chris Harris (SFW) def. Carson Mork 6-1, 6-1; Aiden Nguyen (RHS) 6-2, 6-2. Flight 3: Landon May (RHS) def. Jacob Frantzen 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-8; Michael Yousef (OG) def. Frantzen 6-3, 7-5. Flight 4: Rahul Giri (SFL) def. Evan Talcott 6-1, 6-1; Talcott def. Noah Morgans (SFW) 6-3, 6-1. Flight 5: Gerit Ludens (SFR) def. Grant Ellis 6-1, 6-7(4), 10-8; Clayton Poppenga (SFW) def. Ellis 0-6, 6-4, 10-8. Flight 6: Garrett Mayer (sFW) def. Andrew Hanson 4-6, 6-4, 10-8; Gabe Dally (OG) def. Hanson 6-4, 3-6, 10-2. Doubles – Flight 1: T. Shafer/Harris (SFW) def. Schmitz/Mork 6-3, 6-2; Dobbs/Gohl (SFL) def. Schmitz/Mork 6-2, 6-0. Flight 2: Frantzen/Talcott def. May/Ludens (SFR) 6-2, 6-7(5), 13-11; Yousef/Ridl (OG) def. Frantzen/Talcott 7-5, 6-4. Flight 3: Barr/McKenzie (SFR) def. Ellis/Hanson 6-2, 6-2; Ellis/Hanson def. Sanchez/Dally (OG) 6-3, 6-3.
 

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