Sarea Gu repeats as North Dakota state singles champion

May 30—GRAND FORKS — Sarea Gu thought there was one main difference between last year’s North Dakota state singles tournament and this year’s event.

“This year was a lot less stressful,” she said.

Gu, a West Fargo Sheyenne junior, cruised to her second straight singles title Saturday, beating Minot’s Kyllie Fettig 6-1, 6-2 in the championship at Choice Health and Fitness.

Gu did not drop a set in the state tournament and was rarely threatened.

Her closest match was a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Bismarck Century’s Jenny Pitcher in the quarterfinals.

Gu beat Williston’s Avy Ator 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals Saturday morning, then topped Fettig, the West Region singles champion and North Dakota’s Senior Athlete of the Year.

“This year, especially during the finals, I was less tentative,” Gu said. “I was worried about being aggressive rather than just holding back and trying not to lose.”

Gu dictated the match with her powerful forehand.

“I always just try to keep the rally going until I see an opportunity to go and finish it with my forehand,” Gu said.

The last player to win back-to-back singles titles was Gu’s older sister, Mimi, who won in 2021 and 2022.

Next year, Gu will have a chance to become North Dakota’s first three-time singles champion since Red River’s Shaelyn Johnson (2016, 2018 and 2019). The last to win three in a row was Red River’s Liza Wischer, who won six titles from 2002-07.

Gu said she felt some relief when she clinched her second title.

“Honestly, I was kind of relieved I didn’t double-fault the last point,” she said.

Valley City senior Kailee Nielsen finished her high school basketball career by winning back-to-back state championships with her younger sister, Skye.

She ended her tennis career the same way.

The sisters from Valley City won their second North Dakota state doubles title in a row Saturday, beating West Region champion Ava Thuner and Grace Olson of Minot 6-0, 6-3 in the final at Choice Health and Fitness.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Kailee said. “We weren’t really expecting to win, because it’s really hard to go back-to-back. But I’m glad I ended on a high note for my career.”

The Nielsens became the first back-to-back doubles champions since Minot’s Sofia Egge and Eden Olson in 2021 and 2022.

The road to get there wasn’t easy, though.

The Nielsens had to win a three-set match in the semifinals against Bismarck Century’s Ava Dunlop and Sophia Edland. The Nielsens dropped the first set 6-4 before rallying to win the final two sets 6-2 and 6-1.

“We had a hard match in the semis,” Kailee said. “We just wanted to go out there (in the final) and give it our all and smack everything.”

After clinching the title, the sisters yelled and embraced.

“I screamed, then I started crying, per usual,” Kailee said. “It was very exciting.”