WORTHINGTON -- One day after playing and winning a four-hour match in Fairmont, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, Worthington High School tennis players Cade Lindner and Kipton Jenson eased past their opponents 6-0, 6-0 Tuesday in Worthington.
The result helped the Trojans to a 7-0 team victory over Blue Earth Area.
Lindner and Jenson, who hadn’t played doubles together until this season, showed patience and perseverance in their road win on a sunny and mild Monday. The weather was cold and windy on Tuesday, but the Trojans’ No. 1 doubles duo took care of business, maintaining the same efficiency in their one-sided win against BEA’s Jonathan Hill and Marcos Gonzalez that they demonstrated the day before.
“We were laser focused to hit our shots,” said Lindner, saying neither he nor Jenson cared how long it took.
On Monday, the twosome were the first ones on the court and the last ones off.
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“We were there a while,” Lindner said. “Our teamwork was great. And the other team showed a lot of resistance.”
“It was hard coming back from 5-1 (in the third set). That was a good mental game. It was fun,” said Jenson.
“They hit some great shots,” explained Lindner.
“So we had to come back with better shots,” Jenson said.
The two sophomores say they’re well suited for each other as doubles partners, and after their 2018 start, who can disagree? Lindner’s the one who’s an attacker with his forehand, and Jenson brings a strong backhand to the court.
Tuesday’s team result was much more satisfying than Monday’s 5-2 loss to Fairmont. Because of an unseasonably cold and snowy April, the Trojans (2-1) hadn’t even had a legitimate outdoor practice thus far. The BEA match was the squad’s first match in Worthington, and it was passed with flying colors.
At No. 1 singles, Worthington’s Blaine Doeden earned a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Buccaneers’ Jack Frundt. Doeden seemed to have trouble with the wind in the second set as he fell behind 4-1, but he won the last five games and served out the clincher at love.
Sully Merrigan beat BEA’s Parker Kienitz 6-1, 6-1 at second singles. Pokwar Taw won 6-3, 6-4 at third singles over Vern Johnson. And No. 4 WHS singles player Kyle Janssen was a 6-1, 6-2 victor over the Bucs’ Nick Frundt.
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At No. 2 doubles, Worthington’s Ryan Newman and Max Langerud prevailed 6-3, 6-0 over Jacob Olson and Jack Barke. At No. 3 doubles, Anwar Farra and Bobby Souwankham won 7-5, 7-5 over the Bucs’ James Greer and Calvin Farrow.
Merrigan was impressive in his match with Kienitz, hitting crisp shots throughout and refraining from over-swinging.
“I was just trying to do some serve and volleying. I wanted to slow down the point, because I knew that he was going to be a wall and just hit it back,” Merrigan said.
Knowing that he wasn’t likely to put Kienitz away quickly, Merrigan became extra determined to exhibit patience.
“I tried to wait for the right moment to make the finishing shot,” he said. “Last year I was kind of just swinging at the ball more than I needed to be. And this year I’m setting up the point.”
