MANKATO -- The Rochester Century boys tennis team picked up its first win of the season despite the absence of two starters Friday afternoon against Mankato West.
Century defeated Mankato West 5-2 in its first Big Nine Conference match of the season, overcoming losses at first and second singles. The Panthers were without top singles player Matt VanOostren and Alex LaForgia, half of the first doubles team. They were on a school science trip to Chicago.
"It was just a great win; the kids went out and played aggressively and really rose to the occasion in the absence of two starters," said Century coach Kevin Allen.
Century won with a shuffled lineup, and got a key win from Grant Collins and Paul Ronningen at third doubles. They were brought up from junior varsity for the match, and rebounded from a loss in the opening set.
Century (1-1) will play John Marshall on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Rochester Outdoor Tennis Center.
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ROCHESTER CENTURY 5, MANKATO WEST 2
Singles -- Jesse Brauer (MW) def. Jon Piepho 6-4, 6-1; Colin McGuire (MW) def. Kevin Huss 6-0, 6-0; Steve Lantz (RC) def. Ross Goody 6-3, 6-2; Nelson Cheung (RC) def. Sam McCullough 6-3, 6-1. Doubles -- Andrew Wille/Mike Elwood (RC) def. Dan Smith/Cory Anderson 6-1, 6-2; Peter Wieben/Jon Lee (RC) def. Joey Meyer/Luke Roger 6-2, 6-4; Grant Collins/Paul Ronningen (RC) def. Matt Hinke/Chris Lowry 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Mayo opens with sweep
MANKATO -- The Rochester Mayo boys tennis team got off to a strong start on its season, making quick work of Mankato East in a Big Nine Conference match. The Spartans won 7-0, and took all seven matches in straight sets.
Mayo coach Lorne Grosso said East was more competitive than last season, when the Spartans also won 7-0.
"I think they were a better team; their top singles player, Nick Polzin, gave Andrew Schwartz a tough match, but Andrew played really well (in a 6-2, 6-2 win)," Grosso said.
"For our first match everyone started out a little nervous, but then the kids got rolling."
Mayo will be busy next week, starting with a home match Tuesday against Austin. The Spartans host Northfield Wednesday, and travel to Winona Thursday to meet the only team that beat Mayo last regular season.
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Next Saturday, Mayo is at a tough four-team event at Eden Prairie, along with Willmar and Minneapolis South, the defending Class AA state champ.
ROCHESTER MAYO 7, MANKATO EAST 0
Singles -- Andrew Schwartz (RM) def. Nick Polzin 6-2, 6-2; Rob Trousdale (RM) def. Dave Linder 6-1, 6-2; Tony Miller (RM) def. Cole Schumacker 6-1, 6-1; Philip Loprinzi (RM) def. Evan Meyer 6-2, 6-2. Doubles -- Zach Smith/Josh Tomashek (RM) def. Ken Willaert/Jonathan Lee 6-1, 6-0; Drew Erie/Drew Tomashek (RM) def. Chris Goettl/Art VanDuynhuer 6-1, 6-1; Peter Carr/Forrest Raffel (RM) def. Tyler Freyberg/Johanness Pilkhau 6-2, 6-2.
Lourdes falls
NORTHFIELD -- The Rochester Lourdes boys tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to Northfield in a non-conference match. The Eagles are off to a 1-1 start in non-conference play.
Lourdes won three of the four singles matches, but was swept in doubles play. Two of the doubles defeats were in three sets. Brian Welch didn't lose a game in his win at second singles.
"We had several close matches which could have gone either way," said Lourdes coach Kevin Rust. "It was good to get the kids in those kinds of situations early in the season. This can only help us later in the season."
Northfield 4, Rochester Lourdes 3
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Singles -- Matt Keesey (N) def. Paul Johnson 6-3, 6-1; Ben Habermann (RL) def. Kevin Malecha 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; Brian Welch (RL) def. Bobby Sabyan 6-0, 6-0; Nick Pearson (RL) def. Dave McIntosh 6-0, 6-3. Doubles -- Jake Graff/Dave Narvaez (N) def. Ryan Kennedy/Andrew Huettner 6-4, 6-0; Alex Week/Brad Nelson (N) def. Matt Welch/Joe Beatty 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4; Matt Clark/Adam Meierbachtol (N) def. Richard Cockerill/Cole Patterson 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
