For the first time in six years, a new state champion was crowned in North Dakota high school girls tennis.
The graduation of six-time state champion Liza Wischer from Grand Forks Red River left a void for somebody new. Wischer's former teammate, and last year's runner-up, Callie Ronkowski assailed to the top Saturday, defeating Fargo Shanley's Andrea Rognlien
6-4, 6-4 at Courts Plus to claim the individual singles crown.
"I was pretty tight, but I just held on. I took my time and slowed down," Ronkowski said.
The state final was an unexpected matchup. Rognlien defeated No. 1-seeded Hallie Welk from Bismarck Century earlier in the day to advance to the championship match.
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Rognlien fell behind 4-1 against Welk in the first set before coming back to take the first set and then the match.
"I started off a little slow, but I was able to come back and win the first set," Rognlien said. "That was exciting, because I had never taken a set off Hallie Welk before. I was overjoyed (with the win). I started crying. It was very exciting."
The victory will remain a memory for Shanley coach Vern Baardson.
"(Andrea) just stayed strong, played her game and things turned her way," Baardson said. "That was certainly a highlight for both of us."
After finishing fifth the past two years at state, Rognlien said she just wanted to win state, but playing good tennis was the main goal.
"She absolutely did that," Baardson said. "We're very pleased with her tournament. ... No disappointment in her. She just played a tremendous match."
After an emotional semifinal, it would have been easy to lose focus for the championship match. But Rognlien said that wasn't the case.
"I think I was ready," she said. "Callie's just a good competitor. She knows where to put that ball. I felt I was mentally fine. She was just a better player today."
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Red River made it a clean sweep of the state tournament titles. In addition to Ronkowski's title, the Roughriders captured the team title on Friday and the doubles title on Saturday afternoon.
Catie Mullally and Samantha Anderson defeated Dickinson's duo of Tiffany Reisenauer and Chelsey Galipeau
6-2, 6-2 in the doubles final.
"They played really well. Catie and I, this was probably our best match of the tournament," Anderson said. "We just went out there and played as best we could."
Singles
Championship
Ronkowski, Grand Forks Red River, def. Rognlien, Fargo Shanley, 6-4, 6-4
Third place
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Horner, Bismarck Century, def. Welk, Bismarck Century, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Semifinals
Rognlien, S, def. Welk, BC, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
Ronkowski, GFRR, def. Horner, BC, 6-2, 6-3
Consolation championship
Marasinghe, GFRR, def. Janes, BC, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-2
Consolation semifinals
Janes, BC, def. Musland, Jamestown, 6-1, 6-0
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Marasinghe, GFRR, def. Oberlander, Bismarck, 6-0, 6-1
Loser out
Janes, BC, def. Sween, Grand Forks Central, 6-1, 6-0
Musland, J, def. Porter, Mandan, 6-3, 7-5
Marasinghe, GFRR, def. Smith, GFRR, 6-0, 6-1
Oberlander, B, def. Delaney, Fargo South, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
Championship
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Anderson/Mullally, Grand Forks Red River, def. Reisenauer/Galipeau, Dickinson, 6-2, 6-2
Third place
Hennessey/Jundt, Williston, def. Goodin/Bosch, Bismarck Century, 6-3, 6-4
Semifinals
Reisenauer/Galipeau, D, def. Hennessey/Jundt, W, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Anderson/Mullally, GFRR, def. Goodin/Bosch, BC, 6-3, 6-4
Consolation championship
Kyllo/Ryckman, W, def. Thomas/Pearson, Minot, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
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Consolation semifinals
Thomas/Pearson, Minot, def. Bergstrom/Paramarta, Fargo North, 6-4, 6-4
Kyllo/Ryckman, W, def. Anderson/Doggett, West Fargo, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
Loser out
Bergstrom/Paramarta, FN, def. Lutgens/Paulson, Valley City, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
Thomas/Pearson, Minot, def. Moe/McGuigan, Fargo South, 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
Kyllo/Ryckman, W, def. Kemmet/Bjone, Jamestown, 6-1, 6-4
Anderson/Doggett, WF, def. Swanberg, Whitman, BC, 6-0, 6-1
Readers can reach Forum reporter Brian Kimmes at (701) 451-5651
