Luverne competes in Section 3A tennis tournament

The LHS girls’ tennis team competed in the first two rounds of the Section 3A individual tournament in Sioux Falls Thursday, Oct. 14.
Luverne had two individuals playing singles and two doubles teams competing for the right to move on to semi-finals and finals that were scheduled to be played Tuesday, Oct. 19, in St. Peter.
In singles competition Thursday, Mia Wenzel, the No. 1 section seed, defeated Malinda Peterson from MACCRAY COOP 6-1, 6-0 in the first round and Cameron Myers of Montevideo 6-2, 6-1 in the second round. 
The second singles player for Luverne was Sarah Stegenga, who lost to Madelyn Matthies of Lac Qui Parle Valley 6-1, 6-3 in the first round. 
“Mia played great in both of her matches, and I think she has a great shot at making it to the state tournament,” said LHS coach Jon Beers.
In doubles play, Kristin Rud and Olivia Wieneke beat Annie Marquardt and Brooke Hilden from Montevideo 6-1, 6-2 in the first round and lost to Elise Duncan and Hannah Helms of Benson 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2 in the second round.
Hope Thorson and Katharine Kelm also competed in doubles for LHS and were beaten by Eleanor Habben and Bella Quisberg of Benson 6-3, 7-5.
“Kristin and Olivia lost a heartbreaker in their second match of the day, but I could not be more pleased with how they played,” Beers said. “The first two sets of the match were some of the best tennis they have played this year.”
Wenzel will continue her season on Tuesday in St. Peter with a chance to represent LHS in the State Tournament in Minneapolis on Oct. 28 and 29.