By Pat Ruff
pruff@postbulletin.com
Rochester Lourdes will try to continue its recently rich tradition of producing state doubles champions when senior Paul Johnson and junior Ben Habermann team up beginning today in the state Class A individual state tournament at the Northwest Athletic Club in Burnsville.
Johnson and Habermann, who played No. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, during the team portion of their season, won the Section 1A doubles title last week. They began their state-title quest at 10 a.m. today, when they took on the Waseca combination of Andrew Somers and Shane Milbrath. A win there would put Johnson/Habermann in today's 1 p.m. quarterfinals.
Semifinals are 8 a.m. Friday, followed by finals and third-place matches at 10:30 a.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lourdes has produced the doubles champion in Class A two of the last four years. Phil Johnson (brother of Paul Johnson) and Jarett Cascino won the title in 1998 and '99. Cascino went on to win the state singles title last year.
Habermann is confident that he and Paul Johnson can keep Lourdes' title tradition alive.
"I think Paul and I can win it," said Habermann, who, like Johnson, possesses a strong serve, something vital in doubles. "We are both playing well right now, and if we can play our best tennis in this tournament, I think we can win it."
Breck's Brandon Fenn returns to defend his doubles title. His teammate is Alex Clark. Last year he claimed the title with Jake Brenk. Fenn and Clark are in the bracket opposite of Habermann/Johnson.
state Boys Tennis Tournament
(At NW Athletic Club 98th Street, Bloomington and Nicollet Tennis Center, Minneapolis)
Class AA TEAM
Tuesday/Quarterfinals
ADVERTISEMENT
Edina 7, Henry Sibley 0
Mounds View 4, Minneapolis South 3
Winona 5, Elk River 2
Eden Prairie 6, Duluth East 1
Wednesday/Semifinals
Edina 4, Mounds View 3
Eden Prairie 4, Winona 3
Wednesday/Championship
ADVERTISEMENT
Edina 4, Eden Prairie 1
Wednesday/Third-place
Mounds View 6, Winona 1
Wednesday/Consolation semifinals
Minneapolis South 5, Henry Sibley 2
Elk River 4, Duluth East 3
Wednesday/Consolation championship
Minneapolis South 6, Elk River 1
Class A Team
Tuesday/Quarterfinals
Rochester Lourdes 6, Litchfield 1
Blake 7, Waseca 0
Minnehaha Academy 5, Yellow Medicine East 2
Virginia 5, East Grand Forks 2
Wednesday/Semifinals
Blake 6, Rochester Lourdes 1
Virginia 4, Minnehaha Academy 3
Wednesday/Championship
Blake 6, Virgina 1
Wednesday/Third-place
Rochester Lourdes 7, Minnehaha Academy 0
Wednesday/Consolation semifinals
Litchfield 5, Waseca 2
Yellow Medicine East 4, East Grand Forks 3
Wednesday/Consolation championship
Litchfield 7, Yellow Medicine East 0
Class A and aa INDIVIDUAL
Today/Singles
First round, 8 a.m.
Quarterfinals, 1 p.m.
Today/Doubles
First round, 10 a.m.
Quarterfinals, 1 p.m.
Friday/Singles and Doubles
Semifinals, 8 a.m.
Championship, 10:30 a.m.
Third place, 10:30 a.m.
