THE GLOBE
REDWOOD FALLS -- A much-anticipated boys tennis rematch between Worthington and Luverne went the way of the No. 1 seed on Wednesday, as the Cardinals took down the second-seeded Trojans by a 6-1 score in the finals of the Section 3A team tournament.
Thus, it’s Luverne that will advance to the state Class A tourney June 5-6 at the University of Minnesota.
In section semifinal matches Wednesday, Luverne defeated Yellow Medicine East 4-3 and Worthington disposed of Lac qui Parle Valley 4-3. That result set up a showdown in the finals, allowing Worthington the chance to avenge a 7-0 regular season loss to the Cardinals.
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The improved Trojans were unable to pull it off, however. The WHS third doubles team of Anwar Farra and Michael Schnieder won its match against Matt Sehr and Graham Cunningham in three sets, but Luverne won all the other bouts.
At No. 1 singles, Mark Robinson defeated Blaine Doeden 6-4, 7-5. At No. 2, Cade Ver Steeg won 7-5, 6-2 over Sully Merrigan. At No. 3, Jim Erickson won 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 over Kipton Jenson. And at No. 4, Trey Baustian won 6-0, 6-2 over Cade Lindner.
Luverne’s Luke Jarchow and Matt Jelken beat Worthington’s Pokwar Taw and Kyle Janssen 6-3, 6-3 at first doubles. And the Cards’ Cole Stoltenberg and Ethan Thorson edged Max Langerud and Ryan Newman 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
In the semifinals against Lac qui Parle Valley, Doeden downed a tough No. 1 opponent, Ryan Borstad, 6-4, 7-5. Merrigan won 6-3, 6-3 over his opponent at second singles, and fourth singles entry Lindner won 6-1, 6-0. Jenson lost his match at No. 3 singles.
Farra and Schnieder won their No. 3 doubles match 6-2, 6-2. Taw and Janssen at No. 1 and Langerud and Newman at No. 2 were defeated.
Section 3A individual competition begins today (Thursday). The finals are set for Tuesday. Doeden and Merrigan will participate in singles matches for Worthington. In doubles, it’s Taw and Janssen and Lindner and Jenson.
“We will be heading back to Redwood tomorrow morning for individuals,” said WHS head coach Mike Marquardt. “We have strong teams. Just have to show up and play to our ability level, and we should be able to have a team or two advance.”
