Skip to main content

Cardinal tennis ups record to 15-1

Lead Summary
By
Jason Berghorst for the Star Herald

The Luverne High School boys’ tennis team remained unbeaten among Minnesota opponents this week by defeating Pipestone Area 6-1, Benson/KMS 6-1 and Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle Valley 7-0. 
The Cardinals are now 15-1 on the season, with their only loss to Sioux Falls Lincoln, the No. 1 team in South Dakota Class AA tennis. 
Luverne was scheduled to face the St. Peter Saints (8-3) in the Big South Conference championship in St. Peter Tuesday after this edition of the Star Herald went to press. 
LHS will then travel to a tournament in St. James on Saturday before hosting the first round of the Section 3A team tournament on Monday. 
A win on Monday would send the Cardinals to Redwood Falls on Tuesday for the Section 3A team semi-finals. The section team championships are scheduled for May 26 in Redwood Falls. 
 
LHS 6, Pipestone Area 1
The Cardinals defeated their rivals from the north, the Pipestone Area Arrows, 6-1 at home on Thursday, May 12. 
Luverne swept the matches that were completed before the No. 4 singles match was ended due to severe weather. When the match was called, Pipestone’s Isaac Stiles was leading Luverne’s Ethan Nath and was awarded the win. 
Pierce Cunningham defeated Tony Wacker 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. 
At No. 2 singles, Griffen Jarchow downed Ryan Woodbury 6-2, 6-1.
Blake Frahm defeated Cole Paulson at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-1. 
In doubles play, Logan Ommen and Chance Tunnissen defeated Jaden Lorang and Owen Minet in the No. 1 slot, 6-3, 7-6. 
At No. 2 doubles, Kyle Ferguson and Jase Arp won over Lucas Zupp and Cody Norberg 7-6, 6-0. 
Luke Bosch and Spencer Kracht defeated Makhi Winter and Mathew Swenson 6-2, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles. 
 
LHS 6, Benson/KMS 1
Luverne traveled north on Saturday to take on two different teams and earned two decisive victories during the travels. 
In the first meet of the day, the Cardinals defeated Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg 6-1 Saturday morning. 
“The match was a lot closer than it looks; everything that could have gone our way did,” said Luverne head coach Lucas Larson. 
“Benson is a solid team, though, and should be good competition for us at sections next week. Our doubles teams were just clutch for us today.” 
Both the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches went into third sets, and both of those matches were won by Luverne. 
At No. 2 doubles, Ferguson and Arp defeated Tyler Hadfield and Harold Habben 6-1, 6-7, 10-5. 
At No. 3 doubles, Bosch and Kracht also won a hard-fought victory over Isaac Carlson and Logan Schauer 4-6, 6-3, 10-7. 
A tough Benson No. 1 doubles team of Matthew Thompson and Mason Bakke defeated Ommen and Tunnissen 6-1, 6-0. 
Luverne swept all four singles matches against Benson. 
At No. 1 singles, Cunningham bested Taylor Duncan 6-4, 7-6 in a competitive match. 
Jarchow defeated Hunter LeClair 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. 
Frahm won at No. 3 singles over Alberto Vargas 6-2, 6-1 and Nath defeated Alex Carlson 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. 
“Ethan has really improved this season. He’s playing some great tennis,” Larson said. “Overall, this win over Benson was a good one for our team.” 
 
LHS 7, D-B/LQPV 0
After the win in Benson Saturday morning, LHS traveled a few miles down the road to Lac Qui Parle Valley High School to take on Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle in an afternoon contest.
The Cardinals swept D-B/LQPV 7-0. 
At No. 1 singles, Cunningham remained undefeated on the season, winning 6-1, 6-1 over Jackson Buer. 
Jarchow defeated Liam Risch 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Frahm won 6-1, 6-1 over Mathew Martinson at No. 3 singles and Nath swept Luke Stock 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. 
In doubles play, Ommen and Tunnissen defeated Levi Olson and Gavin Stulz 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 1 slot. 
At No. 2 doubles, Ferguson and Arp defeated Wyatt Wiebe and Nate Gruwell 6-0, 6-3. 
Bosch and Parker Carbonneau bested Garrett Kostad and Gunnar Olson 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 doubles.

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.