Boys tennis roundup: NLS moves into Section 3A semifinals

May 18—NEW LONDON — The New London-Spicer boys tennis team had little trouble advancing to the next round of the Section 3A playoffs Monday.

Second-seeded NLS beat seventh-seeded Pipestone 7-0.

Only Wildcats singles players Jowell Gamez, Jovial Martinez, Jameson Dragt and Coleman Davis had matches and all won in straight sets.

The Arrows forfeited the three doubles matches.

NLS plays third-seeded Benson in the 3A semifinals on Tuesday at Redwood Falls. Benson beat Yellow Medicine East 7-0. On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded Redwood Valley beat No. 8 Luverne 7-0 and No. 4 Montevideo knocked off No. 5 Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd 7-0.

Redwood Valley plays Montevideo in the other semifinal Tuesday at Redwood Falls. The semifinal winners play for the championship at Redwood Falls.

Play begins at noon.

At stake is a berth in the state Class A team tournament June 2-3 at the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis.

Third-seeded Benson beat sixth-seeded Yellow Medicine East at Benson.

The toughest point for the Braves came at No. 1 doubles. Brooks Groinus and Cian Klucas defeated the Sting’s Cyril Chase-Pendleton and Elliot Lingle 6-0, 4-6, 10-4.

Fourth-seeded Montevideo swept past No. 5 Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd at Montevideo.

At No. 2 doubles, Montevideo’s Brayden Johnson and Alex Fultz defeated Thatcher Johnson and Gannon Thesing 7-5, 7-6.

Second-seeded Litchfield edged top-seeded Southwest Christian to claim the Section 2A championship at Gustavus Adolphus College’s Wilkinson Tennis Center in St. Peter.

Litchfield, which won both matches that advanced to a third set, earned its first state berth since 2022. The Class A tournament begins on June 2 at InnerCity Tennis in Minneapolis.

It was Tommy and Andy Wittrock who won the third-set matches for the Dragons.

Tommy secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win against Davis Wurst at No. 1 singles. Andy claimed a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Caden Thomas at No. 3 singles.

The duos of Josh Blomberg and Matthias Bruning and Matt Defries/Grayson Swenson also picked up wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles for Litchfield.

Second-seeded Litchfield picked up three singles wins and two doubles victories to get past third-seeded St. James at Gustavus Adolphus College’s Wilkinson Tennis Center in St. Peter.

Matthias Bruning earned a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win against Tristan Shores at No. 3 singles. Others claiming singles wins for the Dragons were Josh Blomberg and Max Grabow at Nos. 2 and 4.

Everett Carlson and Zeke Bruning, Litchfield’s third doubles team, secured a 6-3, 6-7 (8), 6-2 win against Dylan Vite and Kalen Hanson.

Top-seeded Minnewaska picked up seven points by straight sets to beat fourth-seeded East Grand Forks at Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The closest match came at No. 3 singles. Carson Beyer won 6-1, 7-6 against Oliver Kalenze.

Minnewaska plays second-seeded Crookston in the Section 8A championship at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Grand Forks, North Dakota. Crookston beat Detroit Lakes 4-3 also on Monday.

Top-seeded Minnewaska dropped four games as it cruised past eighth-seeded Fergus Falls at Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Drew Bleick won 6-0, 6-0 against Leo Scheirer at No. 1 singles to lead the Lakers.

Carter Myrom and Easton Palmer and Tyler Kohn and Aidric Vold also earned clean sweeps at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles for Minnewaska.