Cotter boys not an aberration at state tennis anymore

May 19—ROCHESTER — A trend?

Maybe. After all, after Lourdes had dominated boys tennis in Section 1, Class 1A for decades, here comes Winona Cotter. The Ramblers have now won the section title for the second time in three years.

They did it just barely on Tuesday at the Rochester Athletic Club. The Ramblers, who beat Waseca 6-1 in the semifinals (Lourdes beat Red Wing 5-2), needed three sets at No. 3 doubles to secure that win and ultimately the team title.

But, the Ramblers got the job done and now advances to the state tournament at Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center for the second time in three years.

The Ramblers are elated.

“This senior class, we had five seniors play today,” Cotter coach Jeff Besek said. “They’ve been working hard; some have been on the varsity for six years, some for five. But they have been working hard for this, including playing a lot of tennis in the off-season. They’ve been working their butts off, and today it paid off.”

The match ultimately came down to what happened at No. 3 doubles, where Lourdes had senior Guiherme Favarete and sophomore Oliver Engler. Cotter countered with senior Bobby Fitzgerald and freshman Ben Matthews.

Lourdes built a nice lead in that one, winning 7-6 (7-2 tie breaker) in the first set before Fitzgerald and Matthews found a groove.

“After that first set, we were just going to battle as best we could,” Matthews said.

“Once we won the second set, I was pretty confident we could do it, and into that third set I was really confident.”

It was the second time this season that Lourdes and Cotter had met in a tennis dual. The score was the same last time, only then it was Lourdes doing the edging, winning 4-3.

“We played smart (today),” Matthews said.

“We didn’t overhit the ball and when it was a good ball to hit we just smoked it.”

Matthews says going to state is a unique opportunity. He cherished it last time and knows he will again.

“It is a whole different environment, a lot more cheering,” he said. “It’s the best teams in the state and everyone is really trying. It’s just a lot more fun.”

After Lourdes had won at No. 1 singles and doubles, things were looking good for the Eagles. It was star Evan Witter who came through at No. 1 singles, beating Logan Granseth 6-4, 6-1 and it was the powerful combination of 6-foot-5 Joseph Palen and fellow sophomore Easton Ackley who easily dispatched their opponent with a 6-2, 6-0 win, Palen crushing things at the net.

Witter was near his best in his match. He exploded with some of his forehands, something he’s become better and better at over the past year.

“I think I had it all along,” said Witter, who finished second at that state individual tournament a year ago. “It just took a while to unleash it.”

The loss came as a bit of a surprise to Lourdes. It felt like it was playing its best tennis leading up to the section semifinals and finals.

Losing wasn’t easy on them.

“We were very hungry to get back to state,” Ackley said. “It is a thing in our program. State is always the end goal for us. It is very important to us. It is that big stage, and also just being up there and hanging out with the guys. You can’t beat it.”

That will be Cotter’s privilege this season. The Rambers earned it. They’ll bring with them a 14-3 record into the state tournament, June 2-3.

SEMIFINALS

Lourdes 5, Red Wing 2

Singles: Evan Ritter (L) def. Walter McCoy 6-0, 6-0; Andy Fink (L) def. Austin Hosfeld 6-0, 6-0; Anton Ackley (L) def. Seth Malyon 6-1, 6-1; Chrstian Hanson (RW) def. Jude Smith 6-3, 6-1. Doubles: Easton Ackley/Bobby Fitzgerald (L) def. Eli Flattum/Luke Farrar 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7); Santiago DuVaught/Ian Teshirogi (L) def. Bo Doyle/Rocco Dohle 7-6 (7-3), 6-2; Ben Matthews/Rhyan Pulos (L) def. Zach Mikkelson/Graiden Mueller 7-5, 6-1.

Winona Cotter 6, Waseca 1

Singles: Logan Granseth (C) def. Henry Huttemier 6 — 2, 6-3; Everett Engler (C) def. Armaan Bhatti 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (7-4); Keenan Collins (W) def. Michael Row 6-3, 6-0; Oliver Engler (C) def. Korbin Collins 6-2, 6-3. Doubles: Hamilton Brewer/Carter Knesel (C) def. Allen Kopetzki/Nolan McQuery 6-0, 6-1; Zeke Jaworski/Hunter Schroeder (C) def. Bryghton Rugger/Carson True 6-0, 6-1; Damon Miller/Guiherme Favarete (C) def. Nick Nelson/Jacob Harguth 6-0, 6-4.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Cotter 4, Lourdes 3

Singles: Evan Ritter (L) def. Logan Ganseth 6-4, 6-4; Hamilton Brewer (C) def. Santiago DuVaught 6-1, 6-1; Everett Engler (C) def. Ian Teshirogi 6-1, 6-1; Carter Knuesel (C) def. Ryan Pulos 6-0, 6-2. Doubles: Joe Palen/Easton Ackley (L) def. Michael Row/Damno Miller 6-2, 6-0; Andy Fink/Anton Ackley (L) def. Zeke Jaworski/Hunter Schroeder; Bobby Fitzgerald/Ben Matthews (Cot) def. Oliver Engler/Guiherme Favarete 6-7 (7-2), 7-5, 6-3.