Red River captures 15th straight team state tennis title

BISMARCK - Grand Forks Red River captured its 15th consecutive North Dakota state boys team tennis championship on Friday.

Joey Anderson has contributed to the last five titles, and the junior said it hasn't gotten old.

"Every year the goal is to win a state championship. That's how everybody should want to end the season," Anderson said. "There's just no better way to end it."

Anderson and Andre Caoili were winners in No. 1 doubles on Friday as the Roughriders downed the Minot Magicians 4-1 at Capital Racquet and Fitness Center in Bismarck. Red River has claimed 24 state titles overall - 20 in the last 24 seasons.

"The streak is something that we're really proud of," Anderson said. "We actually don't talk about it that much. We just go out, play our game and whatever happens, happens. But none of us wants to be part of the team that loses it."

The Roughriders clinched the title after the third singles match. No. 1 singles player Greg Wischer opened with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Isaac Massey. Jake Kuhlman followed with a

6-3, 6-1 win over Lane Vendsel at No. 2. Andrew Godon then defeated Jordin Gardner 7-5, 6-1 at No. 3 to seal the deal.

Anderson and Caoili were in the process of defeating Hunter Oothoudt and Dustin Foster when Godon's match ended. The No. 2 doubles match also was in progress.

"Knowing we had clinched it kind of took some of the pressure off me and Andre, and the other doubles team," Anderson said. "But you still want to win. We kept the pressure on (Oothoudt and Foster)."

Anderson and Caoili won by scores of 6-2, 6-1.

Minot avoided a shutout when Peter Wilson and Landon Klein outlasted Mitchell Kuhlman and Danny Pierce 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

It was just the second match loss of the tournament for the Roughriders, who lost a total of four sets. They posted nine straight-set victories.

"This tournament was a total team effort," Anderson said. "Everybody had a hand in it."

Team tournament

Championship

Grand Forks Red River 4, Minot 1

Singles: 1. Greg Wischer, RR, def. Isaac Massey, 6-0, 6-1. 2. Jake Kuhlman, RR, def. Lane Vendsel, 6-3, 6-1. 3. Andrew Godon, RR, def. Jordin Gartner, 7-5, 6-1.

Doubles: 1. Joey Anderson-Andre Caoili, RR, def. Hunter Oothoudt-Dustin Foster, 6-2, 6-1. 2. Peter Wilson-Landon Klein, Min, def. Mitchell Kuhlman-Danny Pierce, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Third place

(Thursday)

Century 3, Mandan 2

Singles: 1. Joe Janes, C, def. Kyler Vogel, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). 2. Nathan Berger, Man, def. Casey Beck, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. 3. Jackson Wenstrom, Man, def. Tanner Anderson, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles: 1. Sam Mastel-Brian Swanberg, C, def. Ben Wanner-Brandon Schaner, 6-4, 6-0. 2. Evan Warren-Grant Ehli, C, def. Erik Porter-Austin Tweet, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3).

Fifth place

Bismarck 3, Fargo North 2

Singles: 1. Willi Ulness, B, def. Andy Ficek, 7-6 (10-8), 4.6, 10-8. 2. Ben Mostad, FN, def. T.J. Irey, 6-2, 6-3. 3. Nate Jacobson, FN, def. Scott Pomeroy, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles: 1. Jaden Wirrenga-Austin Meuchel, B, def. Ethan Woods-Austen Strom, 6-2, 6-2. 2. Andrew Krecklau-David Keys, B, def. Ben Swanson-Johann Landman, 6-2, 6-2.

Singles tournament

Opening round

Hunter Oothoudt, Minot, def. Ander Sawchuck, Fargo Shanley, 6-2, 6-1. Andy Ficek, Fargo North, bye. Marcus Osman, Fargo Davies, def. Casey Beck, Century, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. Greg Wischer, GF Red River, def. Brian Swanberg, Century, 6-0, 6-0. Willi Ulness, Bismarck, def. Andrew Godon, GFRR, 6-3, 6-0. Brady Ballweber, West Fargo, def. Jordin Gardner, Minot, 6-0, 6-1. Austen Strom, North, def. Ben Wanner, Mandan, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Joey Anderson, GFRR, def. Brandon Schaner, Mandan, 6-0, 6-1.

Quarterfinals

Ficek def. Oothoudt, 6-1, 6-2. Wischer def. Osman, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. Ballweber def. Ulness, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2. Anderson def. Strom, 6-0, 6-1.

Consolation

Quarterfinals

Sawchuk, bye. Swanberg def. Beck, 6-2, 6-3. Godon def. Gardner, 6-2, 6-0. Wanner def. Osman, 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles tournament

Opening round

Joe Janes-Sam Mastel, Century, def. Ethan Woods-Nate Jacobson, North, 6-1, 6-0. Landon Klein-Dustin Foster, Minot, def. Brendan Sailer-Kyle Folson, GF Central, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. Erik Porter-Kyler Vogel, Mandan, def. Keyan Farahmand-North Knewtson, West Fargo, 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3. Dylan Alderman-Patrick Strom, Shanley, 6-0, 6-2. Jared Wirrenga-Austin Meuchel, Bismarck, def. Dane Poppe-Sean Thompson, Davies, 7-5, 6-3. David Youngs-Davis Lawley, Fargo South, def. Nathan Berger-Jackson Wenstrom, Mandan, 6-3, 6-4. Andrew Krecklau-David Keys, Bismarck, def. Mitchell Kuhlman-Danny Pierce, GFRR, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3. Andre Caoili-Jake Kuhlman, GFRR, def. Lane Vendsel-Peter Wilson, Minot, 6-3, 6-1.

Quarterfinals

Janes-Mastel def. Klein-Foster, 6-4, 6-1. Alderman-Strom def. Porter-Vogel, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Youngs-Hawley def. Wirrenga-Meuchel, 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4. Caoili-Kuhlman def. Krecklau-Keys, 6-1, 6-1.

Consolation

Quarterfinals

Sailer-Folson def. Woods-Jacobson, 6-4, 6-3. Warren-Ehli def. Farahmand-Knewtson, 4-6, 6-1, 10-8. Poppe-Thompson def. Berger-Wenstrom. Kuhlman-Pierce def. Vendsel-Wilson, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 10-3.