McGuigan and Moe are names familiar to Fargo South tennis fans.
Ryan McGuigan and Eric Moe have been key figures for the boys team the last few seasons.
Their younger sisters - Rachel McGuigan and Karen Moe - made their mark for the girls team last weekend, placing second in doubles at the East Region tournament.
"If it hadn't been for my brother I would not be playing tennis," said Karen Moe, an eighth-grader whose brother, Eric, is a sophomore.
"I sat there watching them all the time and I'm like, 'I want to play. I don't want to sit here,' " said McGuigan, a sophomore, whose brother is a senior.
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The Bruins are the No. 2 seed from the East Region for the North Dakota state girls tennis tournament, which starts Thursday in Minot with team play. South plays Williston at 2 p.m. Thursday in the state team quarterfinals.
McGuigan and Moe are the No. 2 seed from the East for doubles. Individual play at state tennis starts Friday.
"They are around the tennis courts a lot and it does show and it helps," said South coach Jason Thiner, in his eighth year as head coach.
A family-type feel is one reason the Bruins are having one of their most successful seasons since Thiner has been head coach.
South has a 9-3 record heading into the state meet, finishing second at the East Region tournament to seven-time defending state champion Grand Forks Red River. Two of the Bruins losses this spring came against Red River.
"We have a lot of team spirit and we really want to do it and do our best," South senior Anna Wanzek said. "We're all there for each other. We're ready to play."
Wanzek is one of three seniors on the South roster and placed fifth at the East Region in singles. She is one of the three nominees from the East Region for senior athlete of the year.
"We all know each other so well and that makes a difference," said Rachel McGuigan. "Everyone is friends so it's not just like some people are off to the side. We all support each other."
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513.
Peterson's blogs can be found at www.areavoices.com
